Snow grooming

{{Short description|Snow trail compaction}} [[File:Oberstdorf Germany Nebelhornbahn-Snow-groomer-01.jpg|thumb|right|A snow groomer for alpine slopes with plow, a surface finishing attachment for ski slopes, and a cable winch for grooming steep slopes]] [[File:Latukone.jpg|thumb|A snow groomer for cross-country trails with snow plow and attachments for the skate and classical lanes.]] [[File:Poranne narty - panoramio.jpg|thumb|A groomed [[alpine skiing]] piste or trail]] [[File:Skate skiing track.jpg|thumb|right|A groomed cross-country trail, showing corduroy for skate-skiing and classic tracks (left)]]

'''Snow grooming''' is the process of manipulating snow for recreational uses with a [[tractor]], [[snowmobile]], [[piste]] caterpillar, truck or [[snowcat]] towing specialized equipment. The process is used to maintain [[ski]] hills, [[cross-country ski]] trails and snowmobile trails by grooming (moving, flattening, [[rototiller|rototill]]ing, or compacting) the snow on them.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://my.usskiandsnowboard.org/sites/default/files/documents/athletics/nordic/2011-12/documents/xcEventTechnicalManual.pdf |title=USSA Cross-Country Technical Handbook |publisher=U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association |year=2004 |pages=2–337}}</ref> A variation of the technique is used to construct snow runways in Antarctica.

A snow groomer is usually employed to pack snow and improve skiing and [[snowboard]]ing and snowmobile trail conditions. The resulting pattern on the snow is known as [[corduroy]],<ref>{{Citation|last=Lockwood|first=Auguste|title=Corduroy for Groomed Trails|url=https://www.yellowstonetrack.com/post/corrugation-for-groomed-trails|language=en|access-date=2020-10-04}}</ref> and is widely regarded as a good surface on which to ski or ride. Snow groomers can also move accumulated snow made by [[Snow cannon|snow machines]] as part of a process, called "snow farming".

==Snow groomer== {{Main|Snowcat}} A snow groomer (informally called a "piste basher" in the United Kingdom)<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2019 |title=Piste basher |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/piste-basher |access-date=2019-07-26 |website=Cambridge English Dictionary |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ski/articles/meet-the-wheelchair-bound-piste-basher-driver-world-first/|title=Meet the world's first wheelchair-bound piste basher driver fulfilling his childhood dream|last=Martin|first=Iain|date=2018-10-02|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2019-08-19|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> is a [[tracked vehicle]] equipped in front with a [[shovel]] (or dozer blade) and behind with a cutter (or roller).<ref>Mason, Kenneth (1980) [https://books.google.com/books?id=00xFAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA11-PA2 Investigation No. 731-TA-36] International Trade Commission USITC Pub 1117 1980 Appendix p2</ref> It is usually driven by diesel engines. When the machine drives over a snowfield, it pushes snow ahead of it and, at the same time, smooths out any surface unevenness.

Snow groomers built for ski slopes employ front mounted, hydraulically operated blades, powered rotary tillers and specialized shaping equipment for not only maintaining [[ski slope]]s, but also for building [[half pipe]]s, [[terrain park]]s and snow tube parks. [[Cross-country skiing trail]]s are also groomed in similar fashion, often with a wide "corduroy" area that allows skate-skiing plus classic ski tracks, imprinted with specialized ski guides.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/crosscountryskii0000olde|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/crosscountryskii0000olde/page/87 87]|quote=snow grooming.|title=Cross-Country Skiing for Everyone|last=Older|first=Jules|date=1998|publisher=Stackpole Books|isbn=9780811727082|language=en}}</ref> Manufacturers include [[Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug]] (Germany), [[Prinoth (company)|Prinoth]] (Italy),<ref>[https://www.saminfo.com/archives/2010-2017/2015/march-2015/item/164755-the-history-of-cats-part-ii The History of Cats] ''Ski Area Management'' 2015</ref> [[Tucker Sno-Cat]] (US), the Ohara Corporation (Japan),<ref>[https://www.oharacorp.co.jp/products/snowvehicles/ Snow Vehicles] Ohara Corp</ref> Zaugg (Switzerland),<ref>[https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/73151/zaugg-systems/ Zaugg track-based snow clearing systems] ''Global Railway Review'' 2016</ref> Favero Snow Tech (Italy)<ref>[https://www.faverosnowtech.com/en/history/ History] Favero Snow Tech</ref> and Aztec/CM Dupon (France).

Snow groomers can handle very steep gradients due to their low [[centre of gravity]] and large contact area, but they can also be assisted by [[winch]]es. Using cable lengths of up to 1,200 metres and a tractive force of up to 4.8 tonnes, winches can support the machines on steep slopes.<ref>[http://www.isr.at/Neue-Windentechnologie-fuer-steilste-Haenge.404.0.html Neue Windentechnologie für steilste Hänge] (Sherpa-Winde, Prinoth) ISR Internationale Seilbahn-Rundschau 22 April 2011, retrieved 5 September 2014</ref>

Snow groomers warn skiers and snowboarders with visual or acoustic signals. Groomers are mostly sent out during the night time after the close of the [[Ski resort|ski area]] so as not to interfere with daily and [[night skiing]].<ref>''[http://www.pocahontastimes.com/mtntimes/feb2007.html Snowmakers, snowmaking prevail when Mother Nature is uncooperative] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008225141/http://www.pocahontastimes.com/mtntimes/feb2007.html |date=2007-10-08 }}'' - ''Pocahontas Times - Mountain Times'', Vol. 6 No. 2 February 2007</ref>

Due to their mobility and low [[ground pressure]] (typically 0.040 to 0.060 kg/cm<sup>2</sup> (about 4 to 6 kN/m<sup>2</sup>) snow groomers are sometimes used elsewhere, e.g. for agricultural purposes, moving bulk goods, working on [[peat bog]]s or at [[biogas]] sites.<ref>[http://www.thermowipptal.it/jos/content/view/103/102/ Pistenraupen zum Bewegen von Hackgut] TEST Pistenraupe Prinoth LH 500, Anwender: Thermo Wipptal AG, (photos dated 15 June 2011), retrieved 5 September 2014</ref>

== Snow grooming equipment == Snow grooming equipment towed by a smaller vehicle like a [[Side-by-side (vehicle)|Side-by-Side]] UTV or [[snowmobile]] can be used for maintaining narrow paths, laying Nordic cross-country ski trails, or [[fatbike]] trails. These compact snow groomers make corduroy trails where a large snow groomer cannot access.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.snowgroomers.net/types-of-snow-groomers|title=Types of Snow Groomers|publisher=snowgroomers.net|date=28 November 2022 |language=en|access-date=2022-12-06}}</ref>

== Snow farming == Snow farming is the use of obstacles, equipment and knowledge about management of snow in order to strategically manipulate snow coverage. Often this is done for the purpose of skiing or even preventing [[snow drift]] in certain areas like roads. The most popular obstacle is the [[snow fence]], which is used to create drifts and collect more snow in a given area than would otherwise naturally occur. The snow can be moved to other areas and groomed with the use of a snow groomer. Sometimes the snow fence is readily movable in order to maximize the collection of blown snow, despite wind direction changes.<ref>{{Citation|last=Agrawala|first=Shardul|title=Climate Change in the European Alps Adapting Winter Tourism and Natural Hazards Management: Adapting Winter Tourism and Natural Hazards Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HwJ7ekNVh6QC&q=%22snow+farming%22&pg=PA37|pages=136|year=2007|series=Environment & Sustainable Development|place=Paris|publisher=OECD Publishing|isbn=9789264031692}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Nelson|first=Janet|title=Groom Boom|date=February 1973|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nyt8o-JS-2wC&q=%22snow+farming%22&pg=PA47|newspaper=Ski Magazine|pages=47|access-date=2017-05-09}}</ref> In Mora, Minnesota, the annual [[Vasaloppet USA|Vasaloppet USA cross-country ski race]] would be in jeopardy without the use of snow farming to compensate for the lack of natural snow in recent years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/09/692840362/in-northern-minnesota-snow-farmers-make-sure-a-ski-racing-tradition-endures|title=In Northern Minnesota, 'Snow Farmers' Make Sure A Ski-Racing Tradition Endures|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref>

== Snow runway construction == Snow grooming is used in construction and maintenance of airstrips to support research stations in [[Antarctica]]. U.S. Army [[Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory]] (CRREL) researchers described the engineering parameters necessary to make improvements to natural snow for use in landing fields.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Vinson |first1=Ted S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VfO8QuV0q0sC&dq=snow+runway+antarctica&pg=PA117 |title=Roads and Airfields in Cold Regions: A State of the Practice Report |last2=Rooney |first2=James W. |last3=Haas |first3=Wilbur H. |date=1996-01-01 |publisher=ASCE Publications |isbn=978-0-7844-7412-9 |pages=91–94 |language=en}}</ref> One level of improvement is used to support aircraft with skis.<ref>[https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/stations/davis/2019/this-week-at-davis-18-january-2019/ This week at Davis: 18 January 2019] [[Australian Antarctic Division]]. Retrieved 23 January 2023.</ref> In 2016, CRREL researchers perfected field preparation practices that allow for use of heavy military transport and other wheeled aircraft on snow runways in Antarctica. Proof-of-concept tests employed a [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17]]. Wheeled aircraft capability exists at the US [[McMurdo Station]] and ski landings are routine at the Australian [[Davis Station]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Caruso |first=Aimee |date=18 December 2016 |title=CRREL Engineers Build Runway in Antarctica |work=[[The Valley News]] |url=https://www.vnews.com/Local-Researchers-Create-Snow-Runway-at-the-Bottom-of-the-Earth-6792894 |access-date=23 January 2023}}</ref> {{Clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Commons-inline|Snow groomer}}

[[Category:Skiing equipment]] [[Category:Snow sports]] [[Category:Snow removal]] [[Category:Snowmobiles]] [[Category:Tracked vehicles]]