Greenwater FS 70 Road

[InfinityJim]

So I've been going to greenwater since the early 90's, I was so happy to see the lower gate go in, I'm their to ride so an extra couple of miles on the sled is much better and easier then in the truck for those miles from the gate to the snow park. I've been stuck behind others in the past that took hours to un do and get going again, my luck it's usually on the way home? So after many years of avoiding GW as much as possible, now it's where I prefer to go, close to home, plenty of fun riding - did I say close to home?

What I can't understand is why are they plowing the road from the gate up to the snow park and not just grooming it? I know wasting money is our national pastime, and for sure it costs way more to plow then groom. The plower was up on Sunday for the entire day, as hard as they worked to get the road clear I'd assume the gate is now open, probably not, but you'd sure think so after all that work was done & money spent.

This is probably one of those things where the left hand doesn't talk to the right hand.

If they would just close the gate, groom until the snow melts away naturally, and then open the gate. It just doesn't make since, must be government ran & organized....

 

[rmkboxer]

Just to let you know as "concerned snowmobilers" at the Greenwater grooming meeting 2 mondays ago we all agee'd NOT to plow the road. Leave it alone and just groom it, It was totaly unanamous. Why waste over half the plow money for the season to try and open it. Not sure who made the call but I think it was a bad decision to try and plow it. Total waste of money IMO

couldn't agree with you more, I have thought that for years

 

[nikeholley]

yup...

Just to let you know as "concerned snowmobilers" at the Greenwater grooming meeting 2 mondays ago we all agee'd NOT to plow the road. Leave it alone and just groom it, It was totaly unanamous. Why waste over half the plow money for the season to try and open it. Not sure who made the call but I think it was a bad decision to try and plow it. Total waste of money IMO

yup...

 

[TNTCOPP]

So Dan - does the USFS just over-ride that vote than or something? What's the point of having a vote? Just curious-although sounds like you are befuttled also.

I am in total disagreement as far as the original post goes as it pertains to having a gate there. That gate is not necessary, just gives the FS more control to lock you out. Let those that know how to drive that road make the decision to do so, and those that get screwed up on it get fined for not being prepared or being stupid.

That is painful to have to sled in that far on ice and asphalt - very hard on sleds. My buddy went up Monday and said it was solid ice sledding in and lots of bare asphalt stretches coming out in the afternoon. Had been plowed two lanes wide all the way in - and the gate was closed - go figure.

I thought maybe they plowed it so they could open the gate - guess not.
Even if they open it, with 6" of new they will be quick to close it back up. Frustrating.

Just to let you know as "concerned snowmobilers" at the Greenwater grooming meeting 2 mondays ago we all agee'd NOT to plow the road. Leave it alone and just groom it, It was totaly unanamous. Why waste over half the plow money for the season to try and open it. Not sure who made the call but I think it was a bad decision to try and plow it. Total waste of money IMO

 

[AZ800]

I don't know much about GW, only been up there a couple times, but what's the issue with not plowing from the gate up to the sno park? Does the snow not stay consistently all year on that stretch of road?
Being on asphalt make it melt off unexpectedly?
Guess I don't mind the extra ride up since it's been smooth on that stretch.
Planning on heading up Sat or Sun. Think there will be snow on that part of the road since they're calling for some snow this week? Got no interest in asphalt drags!

 

[nikeholley]

The gate's open...

FYI...

I read a Snojammers update on facebook that the gate is open & the road is plowed...

parking will be at the upper 'Pyramid' snowpark...

The comment said "bring your chains"...

Ugh...

Nike

 

[winter brew]

If a guy didn't know better, one would think they are doing their best (year after year) to discourage snowmobilers....naa, not in Washington

 

[Ezeekel]

plowing

Questions
If they dont plow the road do they still get paid?

or would that money go towards the groomer ?

Is it all one bucket of money?

 

[rmkboxer]

Questions
If they dont plow the road do they still get paid?

or would that money go towards the groomer ?

Is it all one bucket of money?

if they don't plow that road, then we don't run out of money to plow the road.

 

[nikeholley]

So Dan...

So Dan...

Why do you suppose that they say one thing... then do another..??..

Nike

 

[JETJOHNSO]

not sure,

I dont know who made the call ?? I'll be out there this afternoon and see how it looks, and to all, they dont get paid the plow money if they dont plow, the grooiming money is seperate,

 

[Midwest_Cat]

the time and money to groom from the upper sno park to the bottom is more than the cost to plow the same strech of road. remember, the groomer only does 8mph, so it'll take maybe 3hrs to groom down and back from the upper sno park to the bottom - and that can fluctuate depenidng on snow fall, ect.

so, in an effort to use the grooming money on the trail, to help extend the already short grooming season, its adventageous to plow as high as you can.

to help better understand the "issues" behind the GW plowing/grooming discusison i you can always attend the SnoJammers club meetings, or the grooming meetings to help shed some light.

 

[sidehil]

This would be a non starter if dumb fs could drive. 15 years and chains on 1 time. Can't say this Any more times, DRIVE and lock um up before the hill! Save us JESUS from the non believers!

 

[TNTCOPP]

Yep - same here, only a handful of times in the same time period. The few times I have it has been because someone else was already screwed up on it and had to get around them. Once was the truck and trailer to get down it as it was a little sketchy. I say plow as high as they can.

Once I had to put it in the ditch with a 4-place enclosed as I did not realize the 4WD never engaged (vacuum line cracked) - but still managed to make it 1/2 way up in 2WD !

This would be a non starter if dumb fs could drive. 15 years and chains on 1 time. Can't say this Any more times, DRIVE and lock um up before the hill! Save us JESUS from the non believers!

 

[coug66]

I now have a different opinion

I was a park below the gate guy until yesterday.

I don't know how far it is from the gate to the snowpark but when my brother and I had to walk out from the cabin I don't think I could have mentally handled the extra miles and the extra hills on foot.
I would have been beaten before I started.

Seemed like a foot of fresh driving out yesterday. The Pierce county sheriff and us were able to drive out over the Matterhorn without chains.

there seemed like a foot of fresh when we were leaving. It was a little close to the incoming plow on our way out. Felt a little guilty they were there for us.

Hiking the Matterhorn would have changed the whole approach and we would probably would have to hunker down and wait for help. Or consider the option of getting to the bathroom at Pyramid Creek and huddled their for shelter.

Ian