South Bighorns
- Thread starter chris587
- Start date
Great that means all the snow in your little HILLS is going to be gone and you rabbit chokers will be heading our way.. haha just kidding.
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MotoPsycho
Well-known member
I talked to my groomin' buddy last night. He is still hard at it on the trails, but he ain't happy about it.
The Tucker tractors that the state uses are complete CRAP! He told me after a storm like the last one that dropped about 1.5 feet, he has to let us sledders tear up and down the trails for a couple of days before he can get through.
He went out on the trails towards West Lake and Battle Park Sunday night, after 2 full days of heavy traffic. He got stuck with the groomer 5 times throughout the night - enough to make a guy wanna quit!
I am still at a loss why the state won't use the old Thiokol type tractors - they will climb trees if you point them that way! The Tucker's are great, but not in deep snow.
We went through 4 different guys last year for the same "poor equipment" reasons, hope we don't lose this one - he even has "x-spear-ance".
The Tucker tractors that the state uses are complete CRAP! He told me after a storm like the last one that dropped about 1.5 feet, he has to let us sledders tear up and down the trails for a couple of days before he can get through.
He went out on the trails towards West Lake and Battle Park Sunday night, after 2 full days of heavy traffic. He got stuck with the groomer 5 times throughout the night - enough to make a guy wanna quit!
I am still at a loss why the state won't use the old Thiokol type tractors - they will climb trees if you point them that way! The Tucker's are great, but not in deep snow.
We went through 4 different guys last year for the same "poor equipment" reasons, hope we don't lose this one - he even has "x-spear-ance".
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mtntopper
Member
The major trails appear to be mostly groomed and ready for the weekend. The groomer was working to clear the parking area at Deer Haven today. Open areas are wind blown as usual. The snow is deep and starting to set up some with the sunny days. You can easily find places to get stuck if you try hard enough. We are setting with about 128% of SWE year to date in the Big Horns. That much snow so early is why everyone is saying the snow is so great. Meadowlark Lodge, the ski area and Deer Haven are still closed. The log cabin motel in Tensleep is open and all services are available in Buffalo also.
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MotoPsycho
Well-known member
Meadowlark Lodge, the ski area and Deer Haven are still closed. The log cabin motel in Tensleep is open and all services are available in Buffalo also.
I would like to mention Worland as a lodging option as well. Meadowlark Lodge is exactly half way between Worland and Buffalo (45 miles).
Worland offers great accomodations, a couple great eateries, and nice nightlife. The beauty of it is, if ya stay in Worland, you have free entertainment guides (Moto, Frado, and maybe a few others!) As a matter of fact, you might even get a bit of inexpensive riding guide service...
beer;'s should cover it!)We don't know where any of the trails are, but who needs them anyway?
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mtntopper
Member
I would like to mention Worland as a lodging option as well. Meadowlark Lodge is exactly half way between Worland and Buffalo (45 miles).
Worland offers great accomodations, a couple great eateries, and nice nightlife. The beauty of it is, if ya stay in Worland, you have free entertainment guides (Moto, Frado, and maybe a few others!) As a matter of fact, you might even get a bit of inexpensive riding guide service...
We don't know where any of the trails are, but who needs them anyway?
Great snow on the mountain and free enertainment courtesy of Moto..... Does not get any better than that. Worland is a very nice town and has a lot to offer. I might just have to take a night off the mountain and spend it in Worland to make sure your not fibbing about the nice night life also......
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MotoPsycho
Well-known member
WHOA THERE FELLA!
I said free Entertainment GUIDE!
Worland is a very nice town and has a lot to offer. I might just have to take a night off the mountain and spend it in Worland to make sure your not fibbing about the nice night life also......
You come on down! I'll guarantee that there is enough alcohol stocked at the local establishments to give anyone the night of their life!
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Nate
Well-known member
I would like to mention Worland as a lodging option as well. Meadowlark Lodge is exactly half way between Worland and Buffalo (45 miles).
Worland offers great accomodations, a couple great eateries, and nice nightlife. The beauty of it is, if ya stay in Worland, you have free entertainment guides (Moto, Frado, and maybe a few others!) As a matter of fact, you might even get a bit of inexpensive riding guide service...
We don't know where any of the trails are, but who needs them anyway?
Man Jeff......if I were just a bit of a homosexual id take you up on your free entertainment
But im not sure I wanna know what entertains you fells on the "other side" of the mountain simple really original cost of the equipment and cost per hour to operate goes to the tucker
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MotoPsycho
Well-known member
I see. The "lowest bidder" problem that seems to plauge the Government eh?
Nevermind the fact that the less expensive equipment generally drops productivity, increases maintenance costs, and trashes employee morale... MAKES PERFECT SENSE!
IF???
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MotoPsycho
Well-known member
Sent ya a PM John
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mtntopper
Member
A little snow cat 101 and snow cat groomer info:
I would agree until you get a real snow year and need to work deep mountain snow. There is a big difference when it comes to heavy versus light snow conditions in mountainous terrain. The Tucker is a great piece of snow equipment but it is not made for really deep and steep type snow conditions and pulling a drag. The crab steer of the Tucker works against it in many trail grooming conditions. I have operated many different snow cats and the newer Prinoths, Bombardier Camoplast, O'hara and Pisten Bully snow cats are in a totally different league than the Tucker.
The snow cat "shoot out" I attended in Colorado is the proof. In the smaller narrow cat category the Camoplast Trooper or Patrol that is now being manufactured will out climb and out perform any other cat in its class including the Tucker Terras. The cost of the Camoplast 2 track snow cat is very comparable to the Tucker 4 track. Note the position of the 4 track Tucker (orange) and the location of the two Bombardier Camoplast (yellow) 2 track cats on the hill in the pic below. The Tucker could climb almost as high by blading and switching backing the hill but was much slower while the camoplast just went up and kept going until the grade got to be to much or obstacles got in the way. The other cat at the bottom of the pic is a Hagglunds and it is stuck already. The pic does not do justice to the steepness, depth of snow and conditions on the hill. During the shoot out the Hagglunds was actually rolled once and recovery was done with the Tucker and Camoplast snow cats. In my opinion the 2 track snow cat is the best cat for deep and steep mountain grooming. The Tucker is fine for the lower elevations and the middle of the country such as MN and when you can not afford the others. The Tucker is easier to wrench on as it is just not as sophisticated with hydraulic motors, pumps and computerized speed control systems for track control that will speed one side up and slows the other side when turning.
2007 Snow Cat Shoot Out
Tucker Terra Stuck Without a Drag Even Attached in the Big Horns. Required about 2.5 hours of hand shovel time....... Without differential locks the tracks on the up hill side spin and the other side is motionless just like a truck with out posi traction or limited slip. Detroit lockers are available but the WY cats are not speced as far as I know with them but should be. With crab steer you must dig a semi circle around the stuck side (lower side) to free the cat.
Prinoth (Bombardier) 350 snowmobile trail groomer in Colorado near Aspen. You will play heck sticking this baby anywhere. I have spent sometime around this machine and also have been asked to be the operator a couple times. They pay the operator $30.00 per hour and the fellow in the pic is worth every penny of it as he is the best. It is not me in the pic.
Gabby you should recognize this one. It is your cat (OhSoOrange LMC 1200) on the way back to my place with my wife operating and floating over about 4+ foot of snow. It is your cat and a sweetheart of a personal snow cat and better than a Tucker for steep and deep.
I would agree until you get a real snow year and need to work deep mountain snow. There is a big difference when it comes to heavy versus light snow conditions in mountainous terrain. The Tucker is a great piece of snow equipment but it is not made for really deep and steep type snow conditions and pulling a drag. The crab steer of the Tucker works against it in many trail grooming conditions. I have operated many different snow cats and the newer Prinoths, Bombardier Camoplast, O'hara and Pisten Bully snow cats are in a totally different league than the Tucker.
The snow cat "shoot out" I attended in Colorado is the proof. In the smaller narrow cat category the Camoplast Trooper or Patrol that is now being manufactured will out climb and out perform any other cat in its class including the Tucker Terras. The cost of the Camoplast 2 track snow cat is very comparable to the Tucker 4 track. Note the position of the 4 track Tucker (orange) and the location of the two Bombardier Camoplast (yellow) 2 track cats on the hill in the pic below. The Tucker could climb almost as high by blading and switching backing the hill but was much slower while the camoplast just went up and kept going until the grade got to be to much or obstacles got in the way. The other cat at the bottom of the pic is a Hagglunds and it is stuck already. The pic does not do justice to the steepness, depth of snow and conditions on the hill. During the shoot out the Hagglunds was actually rolled once and recovery was done with the Tucker and Camoplast snow cats. In my opinion the 2 track snow cat is the best cat for deep and steep mountain grooming. The Tucker is fine for the lower elevations and the middle of the country such as MN and when you can not afford the others. The Tucker is easier to wrench on as it is just not as sophisticated with hydraulic motors, pumps and computerized speed control systems for track control that will speed one side up and slows the other side when turning.
2007 Snow Cat Shoot Out
Tucker Terra Stuck Without a Drag Even Attached in the Big Horns. Required about 2.5 hours of hand shovel time....... Without differential locks the tracks on the up hill side spin and the other side is motionless just like a truck with out posi traction or limited slip. Detroit lockers are available but the WY cats are not speced as far as I know with them but should be. With crab steer you must dig a semi circle around the stuck side (lower side) to free the cat.
Prinoth (Bombardier) 350 snowmobile trail groomer in Colorado near Aspen. You will play heck sticking this baby anywhere. I have spent sometime around this machine and also have been asked to be the operator a couple times. They pay the operator $30.00 per hour and the fellow in the pic is worth every penny of it as he is the best. It is not me in the pic.
Gabby you should recognize this one. It is your cat (OhSoOrange LMC 1200) on the way back to my place with my wife operating and floating over about 4+ foot of snow. It is your cat and a sweetheart of a personal snow cat and better than a Tucker for steep and deep.
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MotoPsycho
Well-known member
We oughta groom with this baby!!
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dooitinthesnow
Member
Was up today and it is starting to base up. Almost felt like March or April, it was probably 40 degrees. On a positive note most of the rocks are covered, so it we could get another dump it would be great! I don't know the last time I went up to the south side and there was a good base in January! Just have to hope for some more snow!
I have seen those Tuckers in the Wyoming Range- they are more than capable in the steep and deep. The South Bighorns is not even close
That is the problem- you drove it- Snowcat's should be operated- just like any heavy equipment. You can't just drive around- you must operate it
