It's long. We groomed from "Whoop Um Up" snowmobile park to the avalanche area east of Jackson Peak, back to Little Owl, Big Owl, Edna Creek road, and back to Whoop Um UP. I woke up at 4:04am and got home about 11:15pm. You do the math. The first trip of the season in an area is done during the day, so if trees have to be removed it's easier. I volunteered as an unpaid passenger and tree removal gopher. We moved 8-10 trees off the trail, I think, but after awhile I lost count. It was amazing what a grooming machine can go and what it can move. I thought a grooming machine could go anywhere but was told sliding sideways isn't good. You don't want to spin the tracks and get high centered either. It never happened but I thought I saw the end of the earth, out my right side window, a couple of times. Sitting at the end of the trail, having lunch, with a view of that white stuff to die for was amazing. We didn't see another person until almost the end of our trip, in the dark, and it was a musher with 8 or ten dogs. He asked us if we had groomed Little Owl, we said yes, and he thanked us. That made me fell really good. Did see a Pileated Woodpecker if your interested. As the season moves along the grooming moves to the night times and morning hours. I carried winter clothing in case of a breakdown and must spend the night. Nothing like that happened and was warn and dry in the cab. My driver was Greg Davis, Idaho State Snowmobile Association Groomer of the Year 2010.
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