Big ?

[Roger]

This weekend while grooming I was thinking if anyone passing the groomer ever signals other sleds coming that there is a groomer coming. Is there a unversal sign that lets other riders that the groomer is out there. Just wondering.Roger

[Red Baron]

I think the big smile on my face is a signal to the other riders.

seriously, that is a good idea. Let's think up a sign to warn oncoming riders they are about to see the groomer soon. How about the same signal we give the driver? Thumbs up:thumbup:

[DickP]

Good idea!!! It should be required that all helmets have the radio receiver installed.
That way the locator beacon sent by the groomers beacon would be heard by the snowmobiler.
While its true that some of the beacons signal don't travel very far because of terrain, location on the groomer, quality of the originating beacon, to name a few factors, I believe alittle advanced warning is, by far, better than nothing.
Way too many surprises for both the groomer driver and the sledder!

[I Doo]

That's funny you brought that up. We were in the UP of MI this last weekend. As we were riding we met the groomer. I was thinking that there should be a hand signal to let other sleders know there is a groomer coming. Come up with one and we will use it. The trick is to get the info to everyone.

Brian

[Jim]

I was thinking more along the line of a solar powered radio blazer,
that would be capable of receiving the groomer warning beacon at 900 MHz,
which would set off a warning strobe for a predetermined about of time.

[ghostrider]

i was riding this last weekend up in three lakes, st. germain, manitowash waters(big trip) and came up on about 8 groomers. i had no problem seeing them. the reason? i seen all the lights shining because they were grooming at night. its easy to see them with all the lights!:lol: how about having more clubs do that, groom at night where it is easier to see them coming?:D

[Sackman]

I can usually tell by the fact that the trail is very smooth..............:lol:

A universal sign would be good. Maybe some sort of a caution signal, it could be to also warn of other danger like other stopped sled around the corner or obstacle.

[Kevin]

I too think a signal would be great!! I would always try to do a horizontal flat hand (flat trail) and point backwards(oncoming) Im sure people thought what the ***** is that:lol::lol: Heres a the only signal for groomer on the trail :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:See you on the trail this weekend! If you get a thumb up from me the Groomer is coming up soon:thebomb:

[Keemez]

[QUOTE=ghostrider;9559]i was riding this last weekend up in three lakes, st. germain, manitowash waters(big trip) and came up on about 8 groomers. i had no problem seeing them. the reason? i seen all the lights shining because they were grooming at night. its easy to see them with all the lights!:lol: how about having more clubs do that, groom at night where it is easier to see them coming?:D[/QUOTE]

I've suggested this before, in combination with officially closing trails from say midnight to 6am.
A) Name one good reason why anybody needs to be riding during that 6 hour block.
B) Trails would last far longer if they had time to set up before being ripped to shreds by idiots.

My pack was headed south on the NST between Carter and Townsend on Sunday- encountered a groomer (RedArrow, I believe it was) which is all well and good, but it takes all of 4 or 5 machines to come along and wreck that ribbon even if they aren't riding hard. The only benefit I see to daytime grooming is knocking the rough spots out- which there'd be a lot fewer of if numbskulls didn't stop in the middle of the trail and then dig up a 150-yard long rut repeatedly. What AILS those schmucks anyway?

On a positive note- I was up from Friday evening thru this afternoon and the 100 miler sections of trails along with some of the stuff headed west out of Crandon were by far in better condition than a bunch of the LMT system. That's not a dig at LMT- just an extra thanks to the heroic efforts of the 100M gents. :thumbup:

[Jim]

[quote=Keemez;9562]I've suggested this before, in combination with officially closing trails from say midnight to 6am.
A) Name one good reason why anybody needs to be riding during that 6 hour block.
[/quote]Because the bars are opened until 2:30 am!

But on a serious note, very rarely do we see much traffic on our Armstrong Creek trails after midnight. It seems to be commonplace for me to groom the night before, and then be the first one the next day to break my own ribbon! :redgrin:

Next time you're up here Keith, give me a shout and let's ride! :hi:

A small group of us locals were out the other night riding when it was -20.

Not a poser in sight! :thebomb: