Mauricie Snowmobile Club
Prepares for Grooming

Dec 1st 2007: All the executive and the groomer guys of the Mauricie snowmobile club, got together this morning to learn about the art of grooming a snowmobile trail successfully. Attending their meeting gave me a new appreciation of the work these men do, and for the volounteers that back them up. Meet the executive committee here.

Click here for a video clip!

Now meet the boys that actually spend countless hours out on the trails, pulling the heavy scrappers.

Click here for another cool video clip!

I learned that in the Mauricie, the groomers practice, is to groom the trails at night only. This way it avoids most of the accidents, because the snowmobilers are able to easily see the lights of the groomer ahead. Having said that, always keep your head up, night or day for the groomer. You never know, he may be doing an odd day run. The beacons that beep in your helmet, are not reliable, because there are several manufacturers, and they all broadcast their beeps on different radio frequencies. The safest practice, is for you to ride sober, and ride at the speed of the posted speed limits in Quebec. (I believe that is 70 kms pr hr, unless otherwise posted.)

Bernard from Motel Safari with the trail signage in the club's trailer.

Apart from the actual grooming, there are hundreds of hours of volounteerism that happen before the snow flies, posting up the pickets that identify the trail and keep you safe in case of strong side winds that blur your vision, and hundreds of trail signs that indicate turns, bridges, hotels, and dangers. If you run too fast, you miss important information. (I know this from personal experience- DUH!) This winter, slow down, and avoid trouble.

Club members Talk Here Video Clip

I learned alot at the snowmobile grooming seminar. The executive members of this club are very sharp, and run a tight ship. There are strict procedures for the driver operators to follow out on the trail and back at the shop, which include everything from how to fill out a time sheet, to maintenance reports and schedules, and grooming techniques, like for example, the trail should never be wider than 18 feet. There are very good reasons for everything that is taught, conventions and procedures and policies that have been passed down from previous generations of snowmobile club experience. Quebec snowmobile clubs are arguably the best in the world, the result of decades of hard work, and dedicated effort.

When I think about the disastrous season last year, and see the big snow that is falling this year, I marvel at the resilience and tenacity of this Mauricie Snowmobile Club, in particular. Money is always in short supply even in a good year, how the hell did this club get through the snow drought of last year? The sale of snowmobile trail passes was way down last year, and yet life went on for this club. They got through difficult times with the wise council of a bunch of very talented, focused, and wise old guys, that are unmoved by difficult situations - Difficult? Hell, last years was a bomb blasting disaster! But the old-timers shook it off like water off a ducks back. They are solid, strong, and impressed the crap out of me. I left the seminar fully impressed that the Mauricie Region's snowmobile club is practically bullet proof.

Having said that, I should add that they need your support, not only for you to purchase your trail passes early, but to be respectful of the trail. For example, stud or no studds, be careful not to rip the shit out of the trails in corners or on hills. Also, respect the land owners that make the trails possible, by staying on the trails, and keeping quiet when riding past a residence. These people don't want excessive noise. Leave your noisy pipes in New York. You will get a ticket for that. Hey, here's an idea. Why not bring up a work team from New York or PA next summer? Call Bernard and schedule a volounteer work weekend with a bunch of your pals. I am sure Bernard can find a project to keep you busy.

One more COOL video clip here!

I would like the thank the President of the club and Bernard,
for the invitation to the closed session. I learned alot! I hope you did too.

Mauricie Region snowmobile website Here

 

 

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