Cost of grooming

[snohawk]

[QUOTE=snoway;18708]Seeing as how this thread is being misunderstood as "snoway is against smooth trails" topic...LOL...listen up....
I am not.....just wanted to open up discusson on the cost of grooming WI trails and how the pot of trail maintenance funds are distriputed.
[/QUOTE]

Snoway, it is a very good topic to bring up because a lot of snowmobilers believe the state pays for them or they just appear every year. I do agree with you that a little less grooming could be done during the week I just don't know how much the trails are used during the week because I am not one of the lucky ones to be off during the week.

Snowmobiling is promoted as a family sport and most families can not ride during the week but only on the weekends. All of the clubs in the area have been doing a very fine job keeping the trails smooth during the weekend when most families ride and letting them enjoy the sport. I hope that they can continue to maintain the trails at the level we are use to. I really enjoy getting on the trail Sunday morning and going for a short ride before we head home on trails that are not all bombed out.

With that said I think that clubs should take a close look at grooming needs during the week Tuesday - Thursday and maybe cut back unless it would make for some awful trail conditions for the weekend. I would think that if 1000 sleds past one area on a weekend day that it may take two to three days for the same traffic on a weekday grooming could be reduced during the week and the money saved could go towards trail improvements, additions and bridge replacements.

I know that clubs only get reimbursed $250.00 per mile for the whole year from the trail fund. This pays for all the signs, grooming and trail bushing so the money gets used very quickly and the need to over groom is needed to help offset the equipment costs needed to groom. The $250.00 per mile really needs to be update to work with today's costs not from 1970 costs.

Very good topic and I am with you also, I like to have some bumps. Gets me in shape and helps lose some winter fat

[Curly]

Have a couple of Comments / Questions on this issue:

How would you actually know that a trail does not need to be groomed because it is smooth after the groomer went through?

My wife and I live in the area, pay property taxes in Forest County are retired and we enjoy mid week riding.

A. I am offended by the inference that we do not deserve the same conditions that all week end warriors expect every time they on load on Friday.

B. Conditions are not always superb as is assumed by some of my fellow snowmobilers. Have had more close calls and torn up trails during the week than week ends. My only explanation is that those out riding are of the opinion they are alone on the trails, can go balls out, stay right doesn't apply to them and tearing the hell out of the trails is a mid week recreational activity!

C. Traffic is not as light as assumed, I put on over 3,000 miles per year, take multiple saddle bag trips and can attest to the fact that mid week riding is alive and well!

I concur that this is not a cheap sport, new sled prices have more than doubled in the last 20 years, gas, oil, belts and parts have beat that trend yet registration fees and club dues are relatively flat.
I think the cost frustration may be misplaced and this is a case of barking up the wrong tree!


Two potential solutions for those that enjoy a few bumps are Vilas & Oneida Counties!

Finally:
Thank you to all those "Active Club Members" that bust there butts to Brush, Sign, and Groom the trails.
Please keep up doing too good of a job!

[ralphie]

we know better than that Curly, Chicago is right, this is a ridiculous topic, there are always a few geniuses that know everything about any topic brought up.

I will just add that I run a few miles a year also, guess the thought never crossed my mind that the trails were over groomed, even mid week.

Keep up the good work everyone involved in grooming.

thats it

[Z1 TURBO]

I think if a person is complaining about the little bit we pay for registration then that person can't really afford to snowmobile because that cost is probably the cheapest part of snowmobiling!!! Also I wonder what the percentage is of riders that belong to a club and pay dues to help support the trails?? What a person pays for dues to belong to a club is probably the second cheapest part of snowmobiling. The 100 Mile Snow Safari Trails are probably one of the best around and everybody involved should be proud of this trail system!!! Nothing like a nice SMOOTH trail!! GOOD JOB !!! :thumbup:

[ghostrider]

Here! I will settle the grooming issue right now!:redgrin: All one has to do is stop at one of the fine establishments to get an awesome meal. A meal where you probably ate toooo much. But the meal was PHENOMENAL! Now ride on a set of trails that do not take pride in grooming. That meal will kill you something fierce if the trail is rough(big moguls and everything else), making for a very long ride.:thumbdown: But now after the same meal ride the trails that take pride in their trails(100 miler) and are relatively smooth even after alot of traffic. The ride is enjoyable, relaxing, and you are not re-eating your meal.:thumbup:
The moral of the story: When it comes to grooming, LET IT GO! LET THE CLUBS DO WHAT THEY DO BEST! GIVE US GREAT TRAILS TO RIDE!:tucker::tucker:GROOM AWAY BOYS!!!!!!:thumbup:

Oh! By the way! If you are going to complain, complain about fuel costs! not the awesome trails we ride!:biggrin::sledder::tracksidedown:

[Jim]

[QUOTE=ghostrider]The ride is enjoyable, relaxing, [/QUOTE]

Hear! Hear!!

[snoway]

[QUOTE=Jim;18716]I have added a poll to this thread based your original question:



But modified it slightly for more input:



Perhaps, we should start another poll based on your other question:



Then maybe we'd find something that we could all agree with! [/QUOTE]

yes i have passed groomers and found as excellent riding in front of it as behind (sometimes better due to not overheating as easily as on the concrete ribbon) , not only on the 100 miler but everywhere we ride on Sunday to Wed....not every trail mind you but yes in general.

the questions I asked were for you groomer drivers, because you would know what you groom....I guess? You tell me.

The answer to the last question is an absolute yes...I am nuts about snowmobiling...have been for 45 years.

put away the rope fellas. i'm sorry for all of you that were "'offended".

[Jim]

[QUOTE=snoway]the questions I asked were for you groomer drivers, because you would know what you groom....I guess? You tell me.[/QUOTE]No, I don't.

[I Doo]

I would be happy although impossible to have groomers out 24/7. As stated smooth trails are great when you are two uping it with the wife. She doesn't go very often and last weekend really enjoyed the smooth trails that were provided by all the clubs from Antigo to Laona. We had fantastic trails and made for a great weekend trip!! It was our club trip families and kids. Remember it is suppose to be a family sport. The trails belong to everyone not just the weekend warrior! We met our share of them last weekend as well. They must have paid more to use the entire trail:mad: [B]Too smooth of trails never heard of it!!! [/B]Oh, and I do groom trails for our club!