The Seeley Lake Driftriders have two groomers this year that are ready to go for the season. Groomer Chairman Shawn Ellinghouse appreciated Todd Johnson, Pyramid Mountain Lumber and Gary Overman for their help, equipment and large area to unload the new groomer and assemble it when it arrived Dec. 4. The new 2012 Park 400 (left) has more horsepower and more capabilities but is nearly identical to operate as the 2004 Edge 200.
SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Driftriders Snowmobile Club will have a better edge this winter adding a second club-owned groomer to their fleet and a new groomer shed at the Westside Bypass Trailhead. After 10 years of planning, the 2012 Park 400 Pistonbully arrived Dec. 4 and is set to hit the trails.
The Driftriders' grooming program is grant-funded. The gas tax, trail stickers and out-of-state stickers go into a state-controlled fund from which the club receives approximately $16,000 to fund the groomer through Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. They also receive federal funding through the Recreation Trails Program that provides up to $45,000 per year. These funds are used to groom more than 360 miles of trails in the area.
Driftriders Grooming Chair Shawn Ellinghouse said that there are some trails that didn't get groomed in the past because they only had one groomer, limited number of operators and no backup when the groomer broke down. The Driftriders had two groomers for a short time in 2016 and realized this would be a huge benefit for the grooming program.
"We used it enough that it was making a difference," said Ellinghouse. "If it wouldn't have worked out for us we never would have pursued the new groomer. It took a considerable amount of pressure off of [the old one]."
Both groomers are the same size, have the same implements, hookup and only have a few minor differences for the operator but the new 2012 Park 400 weighs about 5,000-7,000 pounds more.
"What it can do with the blade and the tiller on the back of it is considerably different than what the old one can do," said Ellinghouse. "It's more heavy duty, it has more horsepower [to pull the moggle master drag that helps take out the bumps in the high-use areas] and should be more fuel efficient than the old one."
The state owns the 2004 Edge 200 Pistonbully. The club will purchase the new Park 400 through a two-year payment plan by March 2019.
"We've been saving any excess [RTP funds] along with our fundraisers to be able to build the new groomer shed and to fund the new groomer," said Driftriders Secretary Kristy Pohlman. "However, we are still looking for any donations to help fund our new groomer and grooming program."
Pohlman said the state-funded groomer is the main groomer. Barring any maintenance issues, Ellinghouse expects it to run seven days per week while the club's groomer will serve as the backup and be out around five days per week.
While state grant funding cannot be used to fund the club's groomer, Pohlman said they will use the reimbursement for volunteer hours through the RTP grant to help cover operation and maintenance costs.
"Volunteer hours are crucial to what we do," said Pohlman.
Ellinghouse said if everything goes well, they can groom 40-50 miles of trail with one groomer in a full night on the trail. Ellinghouse estimates that if both groomers are out for full shifts, they could groom the entire trail system in four days. It used to take up to 10 days.
Each groomer will be inside thanks to the new 40X40 foot groomer shed that was built last summer at the Westside Bypass Trailhead. The Driftriders have a 20-year lease with the Seeley Lake Ranger District for use of the property. The other groomer will continue to be housed at the old shed on the south end of Boy Scout Road.
Groomers and all volunteers are now required by the U.S. Forest Service to be First Aid and CPR certified and be a certified sawyer to cut trees across the trails. They currently have five groomer operators signed off to run both machines with more in training.
Ellinghouse said, "In theory, trails should be good. We should be staying on top of them, should be maintaining them better. Having a second groomer will make it easier to stay on top of the whole trail system and concentrate on the most heavily used areas."
The funds raised at the Driftriders' upcoming Snow Ball Weekend Jan. 13 and 14 will help fund the new groomer purchase and operation. Anyone interested in more information or going for a groomer ride is encouraged to call Ellinghouse at 677-4144.
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