Neepawa's Perry Snedden takes a lot of pride in his work while grooming the Snowman Snowmobile Trail last Saturday. In fact, he takes pride in all 275 kms of it. Perry has spent the past six years grooming along with fellow groomers Gary Graham, George Willis and Dean Cochrane. They all operate the BR 400 Bombadier owned by the Prairie Mountain Snowdrifters snowmobile club for Neepawa and surrounding area to groom the trails. Together they combine to log about 38 hours per week with the Bombadier. It's eight-way articulating blade removes more air from the snow, packing the trails harder and making for a beautifully groomed trail throughout the countryside.
The Bombardier pulls along a 3,000 pound, 12 foot skid to keep the trail freshly packed once a week for any snowmobile enthusiasts.
Our biggest concern is high winds and heavy snow fall that cover the trails and leave hidden drifts that can wreak havoc for the sledders.
As the posted signs throughout the countryside indicate, the trails are for snowmobiles only. People other than sledders that use the trail for their own amusement are not welcome. "Safety is the key issue here," Perry Snedden said. “We want the trails to be safe with no surprises for the riders that use them. Safe trails make for better riding.”
The trails are made up with agreements from private property owners and the Rural Municipalities that range from Neepawa to Carberry through the PFRA to Gladstone, and from Minnedosa to Erickson. Warming shelters are also offered for the riders to warm up when they are out on the trails or if they wish to just sit back and have a rest.
Snow passes can be obtained at your local Manitoba Public Insurance outlet such as Gill and Schmall Agencies in Neepawa and McCreary. The cost is only $125 and all the money is divided across the province between about 50 snowmobile clubs in Manitoba.