Thanks Gary! It's a great pic. I'm downloading it for my screen wallpaper.
I do have a couple of groomer questions and this might be a good place to ask. Grooming has come a long way since the bed spring behind the Johnson Skee Horse. Just a few years ago I would have never imagined that I would be seeing some of the same equipment on the trails that I’m seeing at ski areas. I’m curious about the “ballpark” cost of a big New Holland, John Deere, Tucker, or Pisten Bully grooming setup, also the operating cost per mile for a typical grooming operation.
The second is kind of half-observation, half question. I know a couple of groomer operators and they are absolutely passionate about the job. I’m pretty sure it’s not the money and it doesn’t seem very glamorous (although Thom Beers could probably make it seem so) but pride in one’s work seems to be a common thread among operators. I remember a post by Groomer Dave about a year ago in which he told of an incident in which a group of riders waited at a bar for him to arrive and then went out and tore up his freshly groomed track. He was so frustrated he was ready to quit. Granted, this was an extreme act of disrespect on the part of the riders but it showed how much he cared. I’m impressed that operators can maintain this level of professionalism considering the hours they seem to work, which finally brings me to my second question. In a given week, how many hours do operators spend on the job (both grooming and maintenance) and how long are the days/nights?
