I remember the day I almost hit a groomer. I‘d come around a blind corner and there it was, looming over me, filling the trail. Wide-eyed, we both hit the binders, and my sled came to an abrupt stop as the skis kissed the groomer’s blade. I looked up into the cab, feeling small and vulnerable before that machine’s great bulk.

Now here I was again, being dwarfed by a piece of grooming equipment. Except this time, my hope was to enter it through the door, not the windshield. Jim, the operator, was holding it open so I could join him that night. I wanted to see what it was really like to groom a trail.

Within minutes the friendly lights of town succumbed to an all-pervading darkness that fell from the sky as if painted with a tar brush. The Man on the Moon must have been on vacation because the only illumination was the groomer’s lights, cutting a swath in the inky blackness. It was eerie knowing that we were surrounded by wilderness, but only able to see the scantly lit limbs abutting the trail. And the white carpet ahead, moonscaped by moguls, bumps and divots.

Fortunately, our cab was cozy, although my passenger jump seat hardly compared to Jim’s ergonomic throne. Enough heat blasted through that Jim opened a side vent for a little fresh air. The engine noise notched up a few decibels, but we could still chat. The controls for steering, and working the blade and drag were laid out around him like a casino’s black jack table. He worked these with precise, deft manoeuvres, an integrated ballet of motion geared to lay out a table top of reworked snow out the back.

Funny thing about grooming: unless there’s snow to plough up front, most of the action takes place behind, where the multiple drag blades cut off the peaks, churning the snow to the pan where it’s flattened and packed into a new surface. Hopefully, it will lie there untouched for 6 to 10 hours while it hardens in a metamorphosis much like what happens when the kids’ snowman sits overnight. With any luck, it will take that long to melt too!

Unless there’s a problem, the passenger has nothing to do in a groomer except keep the operator company. I watched Jim’s eyes flitting back and forth constantly, from the trail ahead to the rear view mirrors, to frequent glances over his shoulder to ”check on the product”. Because the terrain was completely irregular, Jim was always shifting this or adjusting that to ensure a level cut that didn’t skin the hill tops or dump too much in the holes. He said that this slow, steady pace gave the drag time to do its work, whereas too fast caused skipping that would leave nearly invisible ripples that soon morph into moguls.

I was glad he knew the trail well. The thought of driving into that black void ahead would have been frightening otherwise. Even so, I marvelled at his anticipation of the many corners, hills and valleys we traversed that night. The monotonous rumble of the diesel became soothing after a while and I had trouble staying awake. Jim must have seen me nodding off, because he stopped, announcing it was time for a stretch.

We both stepped out onto the huge rubber tracks whose spongy give under my feet reminded me of walking on a floating dock. I’d forgotten how nippy it was outside. I didn’t even want to think about the possibility of breaking down or getting stuck out here. I hoped his two-way radio worked. And that someone was awake at the other end.

We still had many hours left in this grooming run. Jim told me that 8 to 10 hours at a time is his preference, but when he fills in for one of his buddies occasionally, it can mean a 22-hour marathon that I didn’t even want to think about. After my first four hours, all my thoughts were focused on my warm, soft bed where I’d dream of riding smooth, smooth trails. 

If I had to choose only one magic tool to carry while snowmobiling, it would be duct tape. Duct tape can get you through many emergencies and doesn’t require any other tools. You can be all thumbs, and still be an expert duct taper. It’s tough to inadvertently injure yourself using duct tape. And using today’s vibrantly coloured duct tape, I don’t need to be dreary and can match my sled too. If duct tape has one major downfall for snowmobiling, it’s that cold can make it less sticky, so warm it up before using.

Duct tape demonstrates its benefits to me over and over again. One companion somehow tore up the seat of her black snow pants. Repairs were affected with strips of black tape. She rode the rest of the tour without frostbiting her butt.

When I snowmobiled in the Arctic. Icy winds would start frostbite on any exposed flesh.  Judiciously applied to nose, cheeks and temples each morning, duct tape provided a protective barrier. But be careful: local restaurants and stores may think it’s a hold-up if you forget to remove the tape! (Tip: The best way to peel it off is under a hot shower.)

I’ve used duct tape in many other ways. It’s a great way to seal pant and wrist cuffs against snow incursion while playing in powder. I’ve used it to secure electric visor and helmet communicator wires in place. On one tour, duct tape held my jacket together when the zipper broke. On another, I used it to hold a handle bar bag in place after the strap tore off. I’ve even captured that geek look when I held two broken halves of my glasses together at the nosepiece with duct tape. At least it wasn’t white.

Duct tape can be an excellent bandage or immobilizer for a splint. It can cover a blister or wrap a twisted ankle. Two pieces across the lens of glasses, leaving a narrow strip for seeing, can help prevent snow blindness. 

Under the hood, duct tape can hold survival items in place. I use it to reinforce the corners of transported oil containers and secure their tops from leaking. It’s also useful for many minor repairs and to prevent wires from chaffing. I’ve used it to block hood vents in deep powder, to hold a hood together and to repair a windshield. And if worst comes to worst, it can hold your luggage in place or repair a ripped bag.

Some manufacturers call it duct tape, others duck tape. I don’t know why. I’ve never used it to tape either a duct or a duck, but it will continue to be the most essential part of my snowmobiling kit. 

If you’re looking for a great Ontario ride, where snow conditions are good and trails are A-1, head for the Ottawa Valley and stay at the Best Western Renfrew! The hotel is totally trail accessible from TOP A and has plenty of parking for trucks and trailers. Only 4 hours from the GTA!

Did you know that the same folks who forecast the economy also predict the weather? No wonder we can’t count on anything…

To date, Old Man Winter hasn’t cooperated in the Great Lakes region of North America. Regardless, I’ve managed to find some great trail riding and have racked up just over 3,000 kilometres in place like Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean, The Northern Corridor, Abitibi-Temiskaming and the Kirkland Lake area.

In my recent travels, I notice that the snow line in Ontario is moving inexorably southwards and from what I can see from the highway, the trails look good in the North Bay area and the Almaguin Highlands. Also the RAP (Ride Around the Park) Tour is open and and doable. And don’t forget to visit Luc in Dubreuilville!

There’s also good riding in the Ottawa Valley and into Eastern Ontario. Their trails are hard and a bit icy now, but some snow in the forecast for the next couple of days should put them back in top shape real quick – and that’s where I’m headed next week!

The big question is: where’s the lake effect snow? Those Great Lakes are just sitting there open, relatively warm and laden with moisture just asking to be turned into snow, but so far it’s a no show. It’s just not possible that Central Ontario’s traditional snowbelt regions can go much longer without a major dump, so bring it on! Meanwhile, there’s great Ontario trail riding to be had – you’ve just got to trailer to it!

To date, I’ve posted these tour articles on my site (list starts with most recent posts), so enjoy!

Ontario (Ride Around Superior)

Labrador (East & West) - 2 articles 

Quebec (Monts Valins Snapshot)

Ontario (Sudbury area)

Manitoba (East, West and Winnipeg) - 3 articles

Ontario (RAP Tour) - 3 articles

Quebec (Gaspèsie) - 3 articles

British Columbia (Valemount) - 2 articles

Quebec (Northern ride)

Quebec (Outaouais & Laurentians)

New Brunswick (North & South) - 3 articles

Ontario (Cottage Country)

British Columbia (Kelowna)

Ontario (Moosonee)

Ontario (Northern Corridor)

Check out my new article on High Tech Sledding in Ontario!