Is the road/trail up to the meadows always that horrible or do the groomers ever get up there before it becomes a midwest ditch banger session? Is that how all the snoparks are in WA? I'm really not trying to complain but I can't believe how sore I am. The pain is still worth it IMO once you get up there, but just curious if that's what I should always expect.
Baker/grooming question
- Thread starter no_uh
- Start date
Groomer
Even when the groomer does make it up there, it just fills in the bumps with soft snow and they come back within a day or so. They need to do a better job of grinding the bumps down so the base is more consistent when it spreads the snow. I agree that the ride is worth it, but it could be so much better if you didn't have to ride moguls all the way there.
Even when the groomer does make it up there, it just fills in the bumps with soft snow and they come back within a day or so. They need to do a better job of grinding the bumps down so the base is more consistent when it spreads the snow. I agree that the ride is worth it, but it could be so much better if you didn't have to ride moguls all the way there.
ugly
Just pin it wide open, smoothes it right out...
Just pin it wide open, smoothes it right out...
Groomer
I think the groomer does a great job..........I believe its our weather on the westside. If it stayed cold the trail would hold up, but because it warms up the trail breaks down.
I think the groomer does a great job..........I believe its our weather on the westside. If it stayed cold the trail would hold up, but because it warms up the trail breaks down.
No...
The trail is not always that bad. Been up there several times when the ride was reasonable on the way in...Friday nite was horrible. And I've got a bone to pick! Trails only get that way from deep lug machines using indiscriminate throttle. I don't ride to go do 4 miles of whoops, I access that area to snowboard in the wintertime. I have been on several trails in the immediate area that have not been like this, why? It can only be the riders on it. This area is a multi-use area, and I can truly see why other backcountry users think ugly snowmobiler thoughts. I sure as hell had 'em! If we keep treating this area in this manner, we will lose it. Period. Personally, I could care less what anyone does in that area once up there. Keep the road in passable shape, though, so others can use it and not complain.
Now I am sure someone is going to say "sack up" or "go buy a machine with long travel suspension" or some other derogatory thing. To you I say, "Go hang your arrogant selfish head in shame, and think of others." I CAN do something about this. I vote, I have disposable income, and I know who to call. And you could see me on the wrong side of the table on access issues into Baker. Not that I want to...now lets start policing each other!
The trail is not always that bad. Been up there several times when the ride was reasonable on the way in...Friday nite was horrible. And I've got a bone to pick! Trails only get that way from deep lug machines using indiscriminate throttle. I don't ride to go do 4 miles of whoops, I access that area to snowboard in the wintertime. I have been on several trails in the immediate area that have not been like this, why? It can only be the riders on it. This area is a multi-use area, and I can truly see why other backcountry users think ugly snowmobiler thoughts. I sure as hell had 'em! If we keep treating this area in this manner, we will lose it. Period. Personally, I could care less what anyone does in that area once up there. Keep the road in passable shape, though, so others can use it and not complain. Now I am sure someone is going to say "sack up" or "go buy a machine with long travel suspension" or some other derogatory thing. To you I say, "Go hang your arrogant selfish head in shame, and think of others." I CAN do something about this. I vote, I have disposable income, and I know who to call. And you could see me on the wrong side of the table on access issues into Baker. Not that I want to...now lets start policing each other!
Now I am sure someone is going to say "sack up" or "go buy a machine with long travel suspension" or some other derogatory thing. To you I say, "Go hang your arrogant selfish head in shame, and think of others." I CAN do something about this. I vote, I have disposable income, and I know who to call. And you could see me on the wrong side of the table on access issues into Baker. Not that I want to...now lets start policing each other!
If you have a disposable income,know who to call.Go to the bank and get some funds.Call Prinoth and order a groomer,then you can also make a family thing out of it with your grand kids.Grooming the roads.I'm not selfish or arrogant but riding the whoops is part of the sport.BIG LUG TRACKS,should they have there own trails to ride so your 3/4 doesn't get beat up.Police each other.That's going to go over well when a stranger walks up to another stranger and tries to tell him how he should ride his sled with out using indiscriminate throttle control.if its broke fix it or get rid of it.if you vote to shut it down to snowmobilers than your selfish just like them.We don't want snowmobilers in this area so we can walk with out the noise and tracks.We are losing are areas to ride to the selfish.sounds like the thoughts you said you HAD you still have.You want to snowboard,you have the whole wilderness to ride and you are complaining about some bumps....WOW.Post on the dot web sight about the bumps in the road to the trail with your disposable income and who to call.Read your own post.
Doesn't matter what kind of sled you have if you are riding on a road it will whoop out, add some elevation gain and it becomes even worse. It happens regardless of what you call deep lug tracks and indescriminate throttle. This weekend was a heavy use time and hence the whoops everywhere, not just at Baker.
I would like for snowboarder to give an explanation as to why the lug height of a track has anything to do with whoops. Riding style doesn't matter much either. Do you think guys line up side by side and throttle and break in unison all the way up the trail? It has to do with lack of grooming and heavy use. I guess I am just more worried about bending rails or destroying the suspension (and my back).
I have been riding Mt.Baker since the early 80's. My Grandfather and my dad started the grooming program in Whatcom and Skagit county. With a pieced together old cat and drag. The whoops back then with 1/4" tall steel cleats on a rubber belt and the first all rubber nub tracks were 5-6 feet deep. You would come over the top of one whoop and there would be two sleds in the bottom of it!! We have come a long ways. And yes study the snow conditions, usage, and the terrain. You will find this is not the same as an all cold rolling hill area. Temps vary from freezing to well above. Which in turn also causes problems with the trail. This is one of the highest used areas in western Washington. And we only have one way in and one way out which also means double usage every day. We all just have to suck it up sometimes and ride whatever is there!
Geez, I don't remember asking your permission to have a say. You think I'm selfish? This is a real concern. I'm saying what the non-motorized users will say, so listen up. I've ridden Canyon Cr. off 542 after being up at Baker (same day) and had beautiful road conditions. In the end, I'm willing to sled elsewhere to snowboard...if it comes to it. I suppose my 144x2 track makes less impact 'cause the rider cares more.
I don't think you get it. Your 144x2 sled doesn't have less of an impact. It's the conditions and lack of grooming. If you really think track length and caring more make a difference, just get a 121 in.
well said. sure have seen a lot of "mountian riders" get on here and complain about the grooming over the years yet I see no new faces at the groomer board meetings also see a lot of posts about how to operate a groomer and yet noone new goes with the operator's to explain their technique. I think if your going to complain about the program then you need to get involved and waste your personal time..
Like to thank all who are involved and donate their time from family or other activities for the common good.. Well done
J
jer
Active member
usually i would not comment on this but i have been ridding bakers for around 20 years and THERE ARE WOOPS in fact the trail is better now then it was back in the day there are more riders now its also been said that the weather is so inconsistent thatmakes the grooming not hold up i'll get off my soap box by saying its just part of riding at baker
You could always take the SECRET way in. 
I mean there's only one way in.
Nope you don't.so listen up.I don't care what road you road on.what difference does that make?you said you had a disposable income. And people you could call .so like stated prior go to a meeting and get educated on the whole.track size has nothing to do with the whoops.5miles of tracks is 5miles of tracks.Geez, I don't remember asking your permission to have a say. You think I'm selfish? This is a real concern. I'm saying what the non-motorized users will say, so listen up. I've ridden Canyon Cr. off 542 after being up at Baker (same day) and had beautiful road conditions. In the end, I'm willing to sled elsewhere to snowboard...if it comes to it. I suppose my 144x2 track makes less impact 'cause the rider cares more.
Can you give a reason why lug ht whoops the road and has less impact because you care more?making threats to be on the other side.you need to read your first post.like you told before.the bottom line is you were up on a busy day with lots of wear on the road and your upset you had a bumpy ride back to the truck.now your bitching about it.lots of others road it that very same day also.every year same whine,complaints,about any little thing that doesn't go there way or don't like.if its not perfect I'm gonna bitch.I'm done wasting my time.
Last edited by a moderator:
Groomer
I agree that the grooming has come a long ways. Since the groomer is paid through funds provided by the tabs that are purchased for our sleds and contributions to the Northwest Glacier Cruisers, we have a right to complain about the grooming for this area. Baker has one of the smallest groomed trail systems in the state, yet it is consistently one of the bumpiest roads to ride. This tells me that we have a grooming issue, not a rider issue. There is no reason we should have to attend the groomer meetings when we are paying money to have this area maintained. Just my two cents.
I agree that the grooming has come a long ways. Since the groomer is paid through funds provided by the tabs that are purchased for our sleds and contributions to the Northwest Glacier Cruisers, we have a right to complain about the grooming for this area. Baker has one of the smallest groomed trail systems in the state, yet it is consistently one of the bumpiest roads to ride. This tells me that we have a grooming issue, not a rider issue. There is no reason we should have to attend the groomer meetings when we are paying money to have this area maintained. Just my two cents.
Ok, let's do this again - same as every year....
Schreiber's Meadow grooming problem is due to the ELEVATION being on the Wet Side of the Cascades. If the parking lot was at 4000ft there would be no issues with the grooming as it would start at an elevation that was consistently above the freezing level. But then there'd be no trails to ride cause the parking lot would be on Hood Hill; and that just wouldn't work out so well for all involved.
To the OP, have you ever sled/snowboarded out of the Salmon la Sac snopark? The grooming there is awesome right?
Schreiber's Meadow grooming problem is due to the ELEVATION being on the Wet Side of the Cascades. If the parking lot was at 4000ft there would be no issues with the grooming as it would start at an elevation that was consistently above the freezing level. But then there'd be no trails to ride cause the parking lot would be on Hood Hill; and that just wouldn't work out so well for all involved.
To the OP, have you ever sled/snowboarded out of the Salmon la Sac snopark? The grooming there is awesome right?
Similar threads
