Bad accident at Grayling MI?
- Thread starter old abe
- Start date
D
Deleted member 10829
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Other than a complete waste of time and money, this is another reason I do all I can to avoid letting my groomers go out during the middle of a BUSY WEEKEND day! At night, this would have a MUCH less chance of happening due to the warning lights on the groomer!! This sounds like a good spot for a groomer warning sign from each direction. Oh wait, if it isn't an arrow or curve ahead sign, can't post it in Michigan.
Never ride faster than your eyes can see. Expect groomers to be out at all times, no need to have a sign. Michigan doesn't need to be like Wisconsin where there is a sign for every damn thing you can think of.
Mark, there are 3 good reasons why grooming is beneficial in the daylight hours:
1) If you cannot groom all the miles in your system in the overnight hours (our issue in the Keweenaw).
2) If you have to open up the plow banks at road crossings to allow for safe crossing (also an issue in the Keweenaw). Some can get 3-4 feet high and if they use the snow-go, it can be a straight wall of snow.
3) This one is way to lengthy to explain in this forum, but next time we see each other, remind me to explain.
1) If you cannot groom all the miles in your system in the overnight hours (our issue in the Keweenaw).
2) If you have to open up the plow banks at road crossings to allow for safe crossing (also an issue in the Keweenaw). Some can get 3-4 feet high and if they use the snow-go, it can be a straight wall of snow.
3) This one is way to lengthy to explain in this forum, but next time we see each other, remind me to explain.
Mostly agree, X2! Can't go with the complete wast of time as John has some very good reasons also! However at night the beacons/flashing lights are easier to see! Even as reflections. But, xxxx still happens.
There is a bind hill on 6w/e after the Phelps/Conover/Lando trail junction. I’ve been thru there 100s of times posted 25 mph. Yes I’ve played on that hill with buddies you can get a ton of air either way. When we did play at our risk we always spotted at the top of the hill just can NOT see what’s coming. This was a horrible accident sound like wrong place wrong time and space. I hope everyone gets well soon!
goofy600
Well-known member
Never ride faster than your eyes can see. Expect groomers to be out at all times, no need to have a sign. Michigan doesn't need to be like Wisconsin where there is a sign for every damn thing you can think of.
Skylar I can agree with you on never drive faster than you can see, there are many areas that have blind hills and corners but I disagree about the signage. Yes for the stupid people a sign won’t help but for someone new to the area or as a new rider it may be the thing that can save an accident or life.
Didn't you hit a groomer?
Never ride faster than your eyes can see. Expect groomers to be out at all times, no need to have a sign. Michigan doesn't need to be like Wisconsin where there is a sign for every damn thing you can think of.
Agreed on a low speed.
The damage in the pics is minor even if the sleds are totaled (doesn't take much, twist the tunnel that's it).
Bear
They all hit the groomer, so they were all at fault. If you can't stop in time for the accident in front of you, then you were following too closely. And since it was quite warm out, I doubt that the snow dust was bad.
D
Deleted member 10829
Guest
Mark, there are 3 good reasons why grooming is beneficial in the daylight hours:
1) If you cannot groom all the miles in your system in the overnight hours (our issue in the Keweenaw).
2) If you have to open up the plow banks at road crossings to allow for safe crossing (also an issue in the Keweenaw). Some can get 3-4 feet high and if they use the snow-go, it can be a straight wall of snow.
3) This one is way to lengthy to explain in this forum, but next time we see each other, remind me to explain.
#2 does make sense for up there, but not something we run into often down here.
How many groomers do you have available for the Keweenaw? I thought I had read 3. How many miles do you have to groom?
We typically have 5 machines in our fleet. MI designates one machine per 50 miles. We are down to 4 as we donated one of our machines to the club Running Bear is part of a few weeks back, as they had serious issues with their machines. We are handling things just fine as we are down to around 190 miles in our system due to the trails still closed from the flooding.
One would think that with 4 machines, we would be able to do the 190 miles in one overnight shift, but due to the layout of our trail system (we have a route that is 90 miles round trip), it cannot be done. We have all racked our brains in how to do it! Like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole!
I will agree with you 100 percent that night grooming provides the best results by far and is also considerably safer for possible groomer/sled interactions. We do groom about 85% of our system overnight. Some of the busier trails get hit twice in a 24 hour period to keep the moguls from getting way out of hand.
One would think that with 4 machines, we would be able to do the 190 miles in one overnight shift, but due to the layout of our trail system (we have a route that is 90 miles round trip), it cannot be done. We have all racked our brains in how to do it! Like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole!
I will agree with you 100 percent that night grooming provides the best results by far and is also considerably safer for possible groomer/sled interactions. We do groom about 85% of our system overnight. Some of the busier trails get hit twice in a 24 hour period to keep the moguls from getting way out of hand.
D
Deleted member 10829
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We have 2 4WD tractors to cover about 90 miles of trails, so that seems about right. I just got a price on a new Pisten Bully and it came in at $255,000.00! Too much for our little club. I would sure love one of them but probably overkill for our area.
G
G
Guest
255 is for the big horse. Do you need that much?
D
Deleted member 10829
Guest
It was for the 100 Trail, which is the smaller of the 2 models they sell. 253 HP, way more than we need. The 400 Trail has 370 HP!!
