Posts Tagged ‘trail grooming’
Unwarranted Optimism
Overnight Friday, into Saturday, we received a plowable amount of snow. Somewhere between 4-5 inches when it ended on Saturday afternoon. During a walk with Asher on Sunday, I was surprised to discover the snowmobile club had run a groomer along their trail that passes over a corner of our property.
One benefit of having almost no snow the last two winters is that we have enjoyed the absence of the annoying whine of dozens of snow machines racing past our land every hour.
I wondered if the grooming of the paltry amount of snow on the trail meant we would be seeing sleds zooming back and forth again soon. Then I looked across the road where the trail continues over a neighboring field.
Unlikely. There wasn’t enough snow over the cultivated dirt to create a reasonable base. As much as the club members must be longing to get out and play on their snowmobiles, that trail just isn’t ready. I think that grooming the measly snow cover was overly optimistic.
We’ve entered another span of below-zero overnight temperatures that led us to putting blankets back on the horses yesterday. I think they understood the situation and were very accommodating when we busied ourselves around and underneath them to hook latches and thread buckles.
A couple of nights ago, we had the surveillance camera display on the bedroom TV, looking at the horses under the overhang for the sheer joy of being able to watch them. We witnessed Light falling asleep standing up and not locking her knees. It surprised me that the first jolt she experienced didn’t wake her, and she drooped her head right away again and tilted forward so far we thought she would fall on her face. It looked to me like she might have scraped her knees before recovering to her hooves again.
Cyndie did a little research and found instances where nerve damage might make it difficult for a horse to engage the “stay apparatus” mechanism that allows them to relax their muscles and enter a light sleep while standing. We have long suspected that Light may have had her front legs restrained (hobbled) at some time in her life, which could have resulted in long-term issues that seem consistent with the difficulties we’ve witnessed.
Maybe she isn’t getting enough deep sleep sessions while lying down during this period when she is looking to claim the role of overall herd leader.
At first glance in the photo above, it looks like there are just two horses.
Zooming in reveals Mix and Swings doing some deep-sleep napping on their sides.
After consulting with our rep from This Old Horse, we’ve started giving Light some pain relief medication to see if discomfort might be interfering with a healthy sleep routine. I will be paying closer attention to their activity to watch for Light getting a turn for some REM sleep while lying on her side.
Except for the hours when I’m busy catching my own ZZZZs.
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Too Warm
I was not entirely prepared in my mind for the temperature to be as warm as it was yesterday. It turned out to be the second day in a row with temperatures around 40° (F). Regardless, I decided to take a crack at pulling the groomer behind the ATV in the morning.
I did a little research to learn what time of day might be the best for grooming. Naturally, I found results for both early morning and end of the day. It hinged on how much trail use could be expected to occur afterward.
Basically, desired results require an overnight of sub-freezing temperatures for the groomed snow to achieve a firm set.
When the sun came up high enough to light the day, it revealed a thin glaze of ice on all the surfaces. I held half a hope that it might provide a crust on top of the snow that would help my cause.
I was much too late for that by the time I made it outside. In fact, the moment I finally stepped out the door, I bagged the idea of using the 4-wheeler, because that glaze had become nothing but wetness.
I took Delilah to the side yard and worked on splitting some wood.
Then Cyndie came out. With her support and encouragement, I changed my mind and decided to give the ATV a shot after all, while she occupied Delilah.
My suspicion that it was too warm was confirmed, but I forged ahead anyway. I was able to coax the ATV forward after I got stuck the first time, but not the second time. I unhooked the pallet/fence panel and turned the Grizzly around.
Hoping to break down a path to eliminate the stopping points, I revved my way back in the direction from which I’d just come, then turned around and covered the same ground a third time. Next, I hooked up the fence panel again and tried a grooming pass, one last time.
It was a mess, but I learned enough to be satisfied this will work nicely when done frequently, soon after snow falls, and doing so from the very beginning of the snow season.
Yesterday was too little, too late, and just plain too warm.
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Trail Grooming
After the rain that fell over the weekend, we received a nice finishing touch on Sunday night, in the way of 4 inches of new snow. Of course, that meant, once again, I would spend most of Monday (my extra day off from the day-job) plowing and shoveling.
In addition to the driveway and sidewalk projects, I also freshened things up around the house in preparation for Cyndie’s return from Arizona. That doesn’t mean I didn’t squeak in a little time to work on grooming my ski trail in the woods, though.
Grooming in process
Snowshoes and a dragged shovel
…create a nice enough finish
Post Storm
As soon as I got home from work yesterday, I jumped on the tractor to clear the snow from in front of the barn, and around the new loop we have planned. I still haven’t figured out a system I like for plowing that area. It is kind of a quick drop down from the asphalt, and working up to the barn doors limits what can be done. It is also currently made more complicated because of the trailer of fence wood that is still parked there.
I’m not entirely pleased with my results, but I think it will be sufficient. Daytime temperatures will be well above freezing in the coming days, and that will melt much of what I missed.
After a quick bite to eat, I headed back into the woods on my skis. I would be very pleased with myself if I were able to make skiing a daily exercise, but I doubt that will happen. This late in the year isn’t the best time to start a goal like that, anyway. Already, after just 1 day, I recognized very noticeable change in the snow, both out in the open where it is exposed to a lot of sun, and in the woods.
It changes so quick that it makes the beauty and splendor of that just-after snowfall scenery extra special. The slightest breeze, or a clear sunny day, will dry up those tree branches in a blink. It will look like it never even snowed.
I tried packing additional length of trail, but I started just after sunset, and it became increasingly difficult to see as the light grew dim, so I’m not too sure how well I did. It got me to thinking, though, that I should search online to see if there are any suggestions for a way to groom a ski trail using human power. Trying to pack it with skis is just too inefficient.
I always like it when the search box pops up hints that match what you enter, taken from the history of search terms. I started by entering “human powered trail…” and it had one for trail groomers! The internet is a great thing.
There were several styles, but I am particularly intrigued by this one: HPTG. Seems like they’ve thought of everything.
I believe I will be saving up to get me one of those for next year. I have a feeling I am going to enjoy working on making a groomed trail even more than I will skiing on it.
Relative Something 