Snow grooming

A small snow groomer.

Snow grooming is the process to manipulate snow for recreational uses, usually using a snow groomer vehicle. This can be a tractor, truck or snowcat towing specialised equipment to move and manipulate snow. The process is used to maintain ski hills and snowmobile trails by grooming (moving, flattening and compacting) the snow on them.

VMC 1500 with 8 way hydraulic trail grooming blade

When a large amount of snow has fallen, or dispersed by snow-making equipment, a groomer will usually go out to pack the snow and improve skiing and snowboarding and snowmobile trail conditions. The resulting pattern on the snow is known as corduroy in ski and snowboard slang, and is widely regarded as a good surface on which to ski or ride. Snow groomers can also move snow made by snow machines. Groomers are mostly sent out during the night time after the close of the ski area as not to interfere with daily and night skiing.

Environmental effects

Aktiv Snow Master grooming snow at the 1972 Olympic Games in Sapporo, Japan

Snow grooming and the associated snow packing is known to have negative effects. The compaction reduces porosity, permeability and water holding capacity of the mountain slopes, while heat flow rates and length of snow retention are seen to increase. This combines to produce longer and deeper frost prenetration into the soil, causing negative effects on the underlying tussock. It is suggested that the compacted areas be marked and shifted over time to reduce the ecological effects.

References

See also

• Bombardier
• Bombardier Recreational Products
• Logan Machine Company
• Thiokol
• Sno-Cat
• Snow Trac
• Snowcat
• Snowmobile