Making the best and smoothest trails possible

We want to explain why the trails on Boulder and Frisby are sometimes rough and full of moguls. First and foremost, the RSC takes trail grooming very seriously, it’s our mission statement to groom the Boulder and Frisby trails. We use the latest technology and decades of experience to groom the trails to the best of our abilities. Given this information, let’s look at the complexities of trail grooming.

Grooming begins!

Grooming usually starts up in mid November in Revelstoke, when there is enough snow on the ground. Often early in the season, there is limited to no snow at the trailhead, so groomers are trucked to the snow, with grooming operations on Boulder Mountain begin usually around the 3km mark. To build a solid snow base, RSC begins grooming with a front blade equipped groomer designed to cut the snow and a compactor bar on the back to help create a smooth uniform trail. Once the snow on the trail gets to be over a foot, grooming begins with a drag and or a tiller. The drag along with the font blade breaks up the large moguls and the drag compresses the snow to help create a smooth trail. When the tiller is used – the tiller replaces the compact bar and spins and churns the snow which creates a trail with the grooves we come to see on the trails.

What Determines Trail Conditions?

Now that we’ve covered some of the science behind our grooming program, we’ll look at the main reasons why the trails can be excellent or just plain rough.

1. Snow and weather conditions
2. The rider and how they ride
3. The number of riders on the trails

Let’s break it down!

Snow and Weather

Snow is a complex material that, anyone has taken an Avalanche Skills Training (AST) course knows, that can have wide variety of forms, affecting the quality of the trails. Unlike our roads built on relatively stable materials like gravel and pavement, snow is ever changing and thus so are our trails. Temperature and snow quantity are variables that most affect trail quality. As we covered briefly above, after a trail is “worked” by the groomer, it needs to be allowed to “set up” or stabilize for at least 6 hours, ideally at -5C this allows the trail to harden into a more stable smooth surface. If the snow is wet, or if the ambient temperature is above zero to -4C then the trail does not have the proper conditions needed to freeze and set a solid trail for the next day of riders. RSC groomers call this snow “mashed potatoes”: it’s hard to work with and it frustrates everyone, groomers and riders alike.

With warmer temperatures, the trail can’t sets up and doesn’t have the conditions necessary to create stability. As riders pass over the trail, the powerful sled with long paddle tracks and inconsistent throttle leads to bumps and then moguls, making the trials rough for all users except the first few. These snow conditions are out of the control of the RSC and our groomers. We know the trail conditions frustrate our members and guests, and we get it. The RSC is using the best technology coupled with the best grooming practices, but sometimes Mother nature doesn’t provide us with the conditions to make good trails.

The Rider and How They Ride

What can you do to keep trails smooth?

Keep a consistent throttle: a steady throttle all the way up the trail is important, we all get excited to get to our favourite riding zones, and some people like to brap the throttle which causes the track to spin, creating a divot and a snow pile. As more riders pass over the bumps and divots they create bigger bumps and eventually moguls. So often rough trails are caused by sledders, a steady throttle = a smoother trail.

Limit cutting off and onto the trail: Often we see a great area off the trail we want to explore, and as we leave the trail we spin the track, thus creating a divot in the trail and also depositing a large pile of snow onto the trail as we accelerate into the off trail zone. Both the divot and the pile of snow creates the basis for a rough trail. We have all done this, we just want you to know that if the trail is gouged up from these actions this is out of the control of the RSC. These two examples are exacerbated by warm conditions and the snow not being able to form a stable base.

We know that our main task is to provide a groomed trail system for our members and users, that is our mission statement. We try our very best given the snow conditions to provide this to our users, seven days a week, Trust us we ride all the time and we also hate a rough trail! We know sometimes you’re frustrated and we are also frustrated and disappointed by rough trails. We want you to know we are passionate about trying to provide the very best experience for all our members and users, so remember to be kind! Welcome centre staff, booth operators and groomers as they don’t control all the factors that affect the trail quality.

We are asking for your help to do your part to be a good rider on the trails. Also, when you see the groomer, make sure you slow down and give them a wave hello, and know they are working hard to provide the very best trail possible.

We are glad you chose Revelstoke to ride and we hope to see you on the mountain!