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Groomer Guide GUIDELINES for SNOWMOBILE TRAIL GROOMER OPERATOR TRAINING A Resource Guide for Trail Grooming Managers and Equipment Operators Produced by 2005 GUIDELINES for SNOWMOBILE TRAIL GROOMER OPERATOR TRAINING Project Manager: Kim Raap – Trails Work Consulting [email protected] 4015 S. Brady Court Sioux Falls, SD 57103 (605) 371-9799 Request Copies from: American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) www.snowmobilers.org 271 Woodland Pass, Suite 216 East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-4362 This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. The contents of this manual do not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This resource guide has been produced with financial assistance from the Recreational Trails Program administered by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) with additional funding from the International Association of Snowmobile Administrators (IASA). The International Association of Snowmobile Administrators and the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA), as well as the individuals within those organizations and others are recognized for their input, project coordination, support, and suggestions in the development of this resource guide. A special mention is given to Kim Raap and Trails Work Consulting for project management, writing, and photographs. A special thank you to the snowmobile trails programs in the states of California, Colorado, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, South Dakota, and Wyoming, as well as the provinces of Alberta and Ontario, for sharing their snowmobile trail grooming training and educational materials and for allowing them to be incorporated into this project. Special recognition is given to the many companies whose photos and/or materials have been used for demonstration purposes in this project. Sponsors of this project do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade and manufacturer’s names appear in this document only because they are considered essential to the object of the document. The purpose of this publication is educational only, with no other intent but to expand snowmobiling and grooming professionals’ knowledge base. It should not be assumed by the reader that all contributors agree with every written word, but are opinions only. The authors, contributors, FHWA, Trails Work Consulting, IASA, ACSA and their members accept no liability resulting from the compliance or noncompliance with the procedures or recommendations given herein, or for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. Snowmobilers must understand that snowmobile trails are not engineered roadways and therefore will not always be uniformly maintained with every potential hazard removed. Individual snowmobile operators and passengers must take responsibility for their own safe riding behavior, always being mindful that snowmobiling takes place in the unpredictable natural environment, and recognizing the effects of weather on trails. The intent of publishing this document is to provide entities involved with snowmobile trail grooming a framework to train and certify their equipment operators. However, all decisions on local operator training content, as well as certification requirements, are reserved for implementation by local jurisdictions and local trail grooming managers consistent with local priorities and resources. Copyright © 2005 Owned by the International Association of Snowmobile Administrators All Rights Reserved. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements . iii List of Figures, Tables, and Photos with credits . vi CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION TO TRAIL GROOMING . 1 Purpose of this Resource Guide . 1 Groomer Operator Training – Core Components Checklist . 3 Introduction to Snowmobile Trail Grooming . 5 Trail Grooming Objective . 8 The Physics of Snow and Snow Surface Preparation . 9 Formation of Snow . 9 The Snowpack and How It Changes . 9 Grooming Snow, Physical Properties, and Metamorphism . 11 Additional References on Snow Physics and Metamorphism . 13 Trail Grooming Principles . 14 Mogul Formation . 14 The Four Steps of Trail Grooming . 16 Step 1 – Removal of Moguls . 16 Step 2 – Processing the Snow . 17 Step 3 – Compression of the Processed Snow . 19 Step 4 – Trail Set Up . 20 Chapter Quiz . 22 CHAPTER TWO – GROOMING EQUIPMENT . 23 Grooming Drags . 23 Multi-Blade Drags . 24 Drag Width and Length . 25 Typical Features of A Multi-Blade Drag . 26 Frame. 26 Side Rails and Spring Tripping Blades . 27 Cutting Blades and Tongue . 28 Compactor Pan and Skegs . 29 Vibrating Pans . 30 Wheel Assembly and Quick Release Features . 31 Single Blade Drags . 32 Tillers . 33 Compactor Bars . 35 Grooming Tractors . 36 Grooming Tractor Components . 37 Tracks . 37 Steering, Engine, and Tractor Cab . 38 Front Blade and Cargo Deck . .39 Important Characteristics of Grooming Tractors . 40 Ground Pressure and Overall Weight . 40 Engine Horsepower and Torque . 40 Center of Gravity, Tractive Effort & Coefficient of Friction 41 iv Snowmobiles and ATVs as Grooming Tractors . 42 Chapter Quiz . 43 CHAPTER THREE – MANAGING GROOMING OPERATIONS, EQUIPMENT, AND SAFETY . 45 The Grooming Program Manager . 45 Establishing Grooming Priorities . 46 Operator Selection and Training . 47 Operator Safety . 48 Common Operator Guidelines and Policies . 53 Preparing the Trail . 54 Chapter Quiz . 56 CHAPTER FOUR – OPERATING GROOMING EQUIPMENT . 57 General Operating Guidelines . 57 Grooming Basics . 58 Tips for Effective Grooming With a Drag . 61 Proper Use of the Front Blade . 69 Tips for Grooming With a Tiller . 70 Tips for Operating Tracked Vehicles . 74 Tips on Avoiding Equipment Damage . 75 Use It, Don’t Abuse It! – Ten Common Operator Abuses . 76 Chapter Quiz . 78 CHAPTER FIVE – MAINTAINING GROOMING EQUIPMENT . 81 Preventative Maintenance . 81 Types of Maintenance . 82 General Tractor Maintenance Tips . 84 Chapter Quiz . 85 CHAPTER SIX – RECORD KEEPING . 86 Recommended Forms . 86 Chapter Quiz . 87 CHAPTER SEVEN – RECOMMENDATIONS for GROOMER OPERATOR CERTIFICATION . 88 Purpose and Who Should Be Certified? . 88 How Long Should Certification Be Valid? . 88 Levels of Operator Certification . 88 Operator Certification Core Subjects . 89 GLOSSARY OF TERMS . 90 RESOURCES . 92 REFERENCES . 95 APPENDIX – SAMPLE FORMS . 96 Weekly Grooming Schedule . 97 Daily Grooming Log . 98 Vehicle and Equipment Report . 99 Vehicle/Equipment Monthly Maintenance Records . 100 Grooming Equipment Maintenance Requests . 101 Corrective Action Request . 102 Groomer Operator Training Record . .103 v LIST of.
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