Good reading on "why aren't the trails open?"

groomerdriver

New member
This was posted on the Facebook page of a club in the northwestern part of Wisconsin. The guy that runs the grooming operation for that club wrote this and it should be required reading for every snowmobiler:

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Of course the question on everyone's mind is: When will trails open? The answer is; soon.

We have begun grooming but as anyone in a club knows, we encounter a few problems and breakdowns at the start of the winter season, and we're having our share.

The biggest thing that slowed us down was snow, and lots of it all at one time. We all have homes and families too and we not only have to dig ourselves out but we also have to dig out our shops and equipment.

It's important to note that while we get funded for our time maintaining trails, we don't get funded to maintain the equipment required to maintain those trails. We use a lot of our own resources, equipment and tools to do what we do on a volunteer basis, and our own personal requirements come first.

Lets put it another way.

The snow comes and everyone has to shovel out their walks and drives. Then some dig their sleds out and want to ride the next day.

As club members we spend that second day digging out our shops and equipment AFTER our regular work day. Then when something breaks; we have to fix that. We've already spent all year long preparing trails doing signing, brushing, etc., and we're tired.

Sorry; but you're gonna have to wait because our magic wands are buried somewhere in cold storage, our crystal balls that we predict the weather with have been malfunctioning, and we can't afford an Information Technologies Team. These are tough times.

Nobody wants these trails open more than we do because that's another item off of our list of things to do. If there are those of you want trails to open sooner, you could volunteer some of your time to make it happen.

We're still pullin and as always;
We'll leave the lights on for you

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momoney2123

New member
Not every club is the same........certain clubs have funded maintance and payed groomer drivers. For the businesses that missed 2-3 weeks of possible income, they are the real losers. This club must not have very many bars/retaurants hotels on the trail system as I would think getting the trails ready would be higher priority than plowing my sidewalk and driveway. Cant use this article as a generalization of all area's that are shutdown......
 

momoney2123

New member
Dont get me wrong, i understand how much work it takes to get the trails ready, and that essay there makes complete sense for that club, given that it is volunteers. People have lives outside of the trails, completely understand. But if I had a business that thrived off snowmobilers and the DNR was not keeping them from opening with deer hunts, I would have a hard time sleeping at night if I didnt get them opened. so instead of plowing the driveway for my family, I could put food on the table. Maybe my priorities are backwards:eek:
 
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Dont get me wrong, i understand how much work it takes to get the trails ready, and that essay there makes complete sense for that club, given that it is volunteers. People have lives outside of the trails, completely understand. But if I had a business that thrived off snowmobilers and the DNR was not keeping them from opening with deer hunts, I would have a hard time sleeping at night if I didnt get them opened. so instead of plowing the driveway for my family, I could put food on the table. Maybe my priorities are backwards:eek:

Yea and watch, by the time they are going to open the trails, you'll have a warm spell and the snow will go to heck. its time to ride when the snow is on the ground. They must need more help. Yea if I had a business I'd be peed off also
 

Banks93

New member
I think it way past time to start paying groomer drivers full time and have them panning and grooming when it snows. Leaving it to the volunteer club members is not the best way to maintain quality trails.

Maybe put a groomer driver hotline together statewide. If you want to get paid to run the groomer in XXXXX county call this hotline. There are several other groomer drivers around the state that are not grooming anything. They would be able to help out.

Charge more for registration to pay for it.
 

Tankjo

Member
If you can"t get your own driveway cleaned first,how can you get out to put food on the table!!! Yet alone get the kids off to school or go to work?? You might want to rethink your priorities again. Or maybe YOU can go and volunteer your time to help get the trails opening faster. I know I went out yesterday to finish signing in the 0 degree weather.. If we ALL would work together,and mother nature does her part we can all have fun this winter!! THINK SNOW!!
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Dont get me wrong, i understand how much work it takes to get the trails ready, and that essay there makes complete sense for that club, given that it is volunteers. People have lives outside of the trails, completely understand. But if I had a business that thrived off snowmobilers and the DNR was not keeping them from opening with deer hunts, I would have a hard time sleeping at night if I didnt get them opened. so instead of plowing the driveway for my family, I could put food on the table. Maybe my priorities are backwards:eek:

Wrong agency not DNR!!!! HINT: think county & follow the money & you will get to the bottom of trail closings. I learned a lot this week I didn't know before....... don't be sheep. :)
 

groomerdriver

New member
Not every club is the same........certain clubs have funded maintance and payed groomer drivers. For the businesses that missed 2-3 weeks of possible income, they are the real losers. This club must not have very many bars/retaurants hotels on the trail system as I would think getting the trails ready would be higher priority than plowing my sidewalk and driveway. Cant use this article as a generalization of all area's that are shutdown......

Wow....I'm not even going to bother to comment.
 

renegade

Active member
The DNR does not require that the trails be closed during the hunting season at all. The clubs decide when to open, and most, if not all, keep them closed out of respect of the landowners. There may be other reasons, too. But the DNR does not close the trails for hunting. They do, however, add seasons and force the clubs to decide.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
The DNR does not require that the trails be closed during the hunting season at all. The clubs decide when to open, and most, if not all, keep them closed out of respect of the landowners. There may be other reasons, too. But the DNR does not close the trails for hunting. They do, however, add seasons and force the clubs to decide.

You are right not the DNR.....Close but not entirely correct yet but no trails are opening without the clubs that is for SURE!
 

surtrack

New member
I am 75 years old and still brush, groom trails, attend meetings, have fun raisers, etc. I am slowing down after 32 years with one club. We need new YOUNGER BLOOD !!!! !If and when clubs start shutting down, you none club riders have no place to ride, then you can go to a ex club member and shovel their drives. Enough said.
 

RHFD547

Member
You are a better man than me "Groomerdriver". The one thing I do know is, "It's better off to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are stupid, than to open it, and remove all doubt'! I do appreciate all the sacrifices that all volunteers make even though some do not. I would bet that some who comment on this thread have never volunteered for anything, but yet, like to tell those that do what they are doing wrong.
 
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united

Active member
I don't understand, trails are not marked or not groomed? They certainly do not need to be groomed to be open. If there is a water hazard, crops still in, deer hunting, or other hazard just close that certain section and open up the rest of the county. I always thought it nuts that a small corner of a county had a small issue and they would close the entire county. All I can say is talk to the county president or run for county president.
 

neldogmxz

Member
Now, once the trails are open and groomed, the same ones that griped about them not being opened or groomed will be on here griping about the price of the trail stickers which some of the proceeds from the trail stickers of course go to the aid in opening and grooming trails, etc.....................
 
I will just add this to this pot of trail stew. In our local County (Wood), we have one club that is dying due to lack of members. They have a very long portion of trail from the north end of the county to the middle. Yesterday, as I was driving, I noticed that their portion of trail isn't even marked yet! My question is, how in God's name will they ever get some conduit pounded into the terra VERY firma after this cold snap? We are truly about 5 inches from having enough to open the trails and they haven't begun doing things that should have been done three weeks ago. I would gladly help them even though I'm not a member. Think Snow!
 

Admin

Administrator
Staff member
I will just add this to this pot of trail stew. In our local County (Wood), we have one club that is dying due to lack of members. They have a very long portion of trail from the north end of the county to the middle. Yesterday, as I was driving, I noticed that their portion of trail isn't even marked yet! My question is, how in God's name will they ever get some conduit pounded into the terra VERY firma after this cold snap? We are truly about 5 inches from having enough to open the trails and they haven't begun doing things that should have been done three weeks ago. I would gladly help them even though I'm not a member. Think Snow!

Idea... Pound a 8-12" piece of re-rod into the ground, leaving enough to slip the conduit over it.

-John
 

EXCESSIVE FORCE

New member
I think it way past time to start paying groomer drivers full time and have them panning and grooming when it snows. Leaving it to the volunteer club members is not the best way to maintain quality trails.

Maybe put a groomer driver hotline together statewide. If you want to get paid to run the groomer in XXXXX county call this hotline. There are several other groomer drivers around the state that are not grooming anything. They would be able to help out.

Charge more for registration to pay for it.

Where do you plan on getting the funds to pay this "new breed" of groomer driver ? How high should registrations go?Why should I pay more when i already do A LOT for the local club?The state has a lot of "missing money" and claim they're broke !! By reading a few of the posts on this thread you can see how many people really don't get it...LOL....

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I will just add this to this pot of trail stew. In our local County (Wood), we have one club that is dying due to lack of members. They have a very long portion of trail from the north end of the county to the middle. Yesterday, as I was driving, I noticed that their portion of trail isn't even marked yet! My question is, how in God's name will they ever get some conduit pounded into the terra VERY firma after this cold snap? We are truly about 5 inches from having enough to open the trails and they haven't begun doing things that should have been done three weeks ago. I would gladly help them even though I'm not a member. Think Snow!



Do like we did and drill a hole first with a LONG wood bit.
 

renegade

Active member
We use a hammer drill bit, works well. We are so used to having to drill first its almost second nature. There are several more reasons why a section is not marked yet. Hunting is a major issue. There are landowners who don't let you on there land til after all the seasons, including bow. There are ones who want to know the exact time when you will be on there land because someone is hunting. Now add to the fact of corn crops not getting planted til late, or a fall when corn won't dry and prices are low so no one drys. The planets have to be aligned just right to get all the trails marked before the gun deer season, then after its almost always drilling holes for posts. Then throw the fact that club members are dwindling and it becomes 5 or 6 guys working 4-5 differant saturdays to get the job done. It's not one problem its several that lead to the difficulty of marking trails and getting them open.
 
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