Keweenaw PB's

[alryA]

Well Gee, I was there just a bit earlier than Connor took these photos. What he didn't mention is he's heading out with me Friday am.

 

[connordoll21]

I am a third(of 5) year mechanical.

Do you race the local rally with your car? I have been in the auto industry ever sense I was a jr in high school. Started out building race cars for Chevy performance then moved to a sister company that built and engineered wiring harnesses for many different companies like Chevy performance (ls/Lt crate engine harnesses), holley EFI...

 

[redsqwrl]

well pay attention to arly. He has a ton of experience to share.

I have a nice 1342 Tucker with a stuck 318 that is getting a Fuel injected Dodge engine.

I think they call them magnums. I tend to get wrapped up and excited about whether or not I can do something..... I don't pay much attention to if I should.

Yes, the LSPR was my home event.

side note: we Got more than one flat on the rally car due to snowmobile picks or studs laying about. Get arly to run a magnet on the bridge in spring and collect the ones that get tore out on the deck.....

Im down by greenbay week days, iron mountain on the weekends.....


https://www.facebook.com/mike.merba...103832/1732803846854644/?type=3&theater&ifg=1

last weekend

 

[PJL]

I miss my rally days. Ran a couple Saab 99's when I did the divisionals around here. Had 2 Audi Quattros for TSD's. A 4000CS and an Urquattro. Both of those have been north of the Arctic Circle in the winter. Drove the URQ on the frozen MacKenzie River at top speed.

Good times.

 

[alryA]

Connor and I had a great day on the trails today. Super nice fellow... I'll post photos later and we seen 75 sleds today.

 

[alryA]

Photos from the trail today and it was a darn busy out there. We are static for most meets on the trail.. Why does this operator look so serious??

 

[connordoll21]

Huge thank you to Arly for bringing me along on the grooming adventure and for sharing a wealth of knowledge! Definitely has me driven even more to continue the hunt for an old broke down cat to bring back to life!

 

[sno-drifter]

Huge thank you to Arly for bringing me along on the grooming adventure and for sharing a wealth of knowledge! Definitely has me driven even more to continue the hunt for an old broke down cat to bring back to life!

Be carful there, some of us "old broke down cats" resemble/ resent that comment.

 

[PJL]

"Huge thank you to Arly for bringing me along on the grooming adventure and for sharing a wealth of knowledge! Definitely has me driven even more to continue the hunt for an old broke down cat to bring back to life"


He drank the Koolaid didn't he...

 

[alryA]

Some photos taken this am before and after the sun was up. We are warming up here guys so the boss may keep us off the trails for a few days. I seen over 50 sleds this morning.

 

[redsqwrl]

If its alright w you, I would like to text you a number for another forum member. this member operates a PB over north of Newberry, He mentioned he has a slapping sound coming from the drivers side randomly.

You have seen enough of the underside of a PB to offer kevin some help. He has a email. password conflict that prohibits him from getting in the forum.

 

[alryA]

Sure Mike, you can text me or give Kevin anything information you like.

If its alright w you, I would like to text you a number for another forum member. this member operates a PB over north of Newberry, He mentioned he has a slapping sound coming from the drivers side randomly.

You have seen enough of the underside of a PB to offer kevin some help. He has a email. password conflict that prohibits him from getting in the forum.

 

[1boringguy]

alryA,

Probably a dumb question but, just trying to learn more from the standpoint of interaction of cats and snowmobiles. In warmer temps is it the grooming process that really accelerates the snow breakdown/melt or simply the cat traveling on it. A large number of snowmobiles traveling on it has a similar effect?

 

[alryA]

The trail boss had shut down grooming operations until the temps go back down. Yes, the sleds will have it moguled up, asap but us PB-400's will be dragging up dirt-n-rocks. Either way, the trails condition will suffer.

alryA,
Probably a dumb question but, just trying to learn more from the standpoint of interaction of cats and snowmobiles. In warmer temps is it the grooming process that really accelerates the snow breakdown/melt or simply the cat traveling on it. A large number of snowmobiles traveling on it has a similar effect?

 

[alryA]

OK, grooming has been done due to high sled traffic here. These were taken early on Saturday am. 1st ones are on the waterfront in Houghton MI. You can see the lift bridge and how narrow this section is. After light, I started to see traffic. The one is me crossing "downtown" South Range. The buiding ones is the turn-around point in Toivola at the county road commission building. Yes, it is not locked. Can you imagine why we'd live here?? I just added a few more shots I forgot to post.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

Damn I miss trail grooming. Good job. I know the work and long hours that goes into it. My longest run was 23 hrs covering a 97 km trail. Most of the time though I groomed 7-10 hrs in a day depending on the trail.

 

[alryA]

We got good snow over the past 36 hours and the temps dropped so I was out earlier this am.


The first few are going over the darn bridge.

 

[alryA]

One of my cohorts called me last night to say he had smelled oil, called our boss who said to turn around and return to the barn. He wasn't all the far out. I'll head out this am to try see where the oil was leaking. All the fun when you operate an old machine.......

 

[alryA]

Our machine went to the shop for service and nothing serious was found.

Top photo is the barn its stored in. Ya, no heat... We need to push snow as we leave to keep things clean.

Next few photos take during the last run I made.

Last is our machine plus another in the shop that has a blown seal in its drive motor.. Just glad it wasn't our machine...

 

[alryA]

Lake snow has kicked back in here. Nothing to exciting to report, just working every day. Couldn't make it up out of a gully a few mornings ago due to ice, but did make it out on the third try.... Any questions or comments?? Bottom one is the barn we rest in. No heat...

 

[alryA]

Been out working guys. Here is a few early am shots. Those clouds are lake moisture moving through. Most are taken live so they are blurry. When I do this canal front path, I push the snow towards the canal in order to keep the trail flat. The canal is on my left which is really Lake Superior. An easy groom?? Plenty of space!

 

[alryA]

In case anyone wonders how night operators see the world. You can see the right side is smother, since this is my second pass and my way back to town..

 

[PJL]

alryA, I am suffering from snow envy. I've been only out twice this season.

 

[redsqwrl]

Any wolf scat on the trail to remind you, you are not alone in the middle of the night......?


Down by iron mountain they will crap on the trail. on our out and back legs i find it amazing how much wildlife is cruising the timber all hours of the night......

 

[DAVENET]

A question - in multiple posts you guys are grooming into traffic on the left hand side of the trail. I'm guessing there must be a reason for it, but can't figure one out for flat ground. (i.e. on hilly sections you would be wanting to push/pull snow back up the hill)

 

[alryA]

Running on the left is what they call a "suicide run" which I will occasionally do. The other guys on my crew always run down the right but the trails will be kept in better shape if you change up your sides. Its just happenstance that so many photos I've post here are on that side..... Or they really taken in England??

A question - in multiple posts you guys are grooming into traffic on the left hand side of the trail. I'm guessing there must be a reason for it, but can't figure one out for flat ground. (i.e. on hilly sections you would be wanting to push/pull snow back up the hill)

 

[alryA]

More taken this am you might like. What structure I'm I in?? The day stated on the left but I switched back to right due to seeing such high traffic after the sun came up.

 

[alryA]

Out today and remembered to bring da camera. I'm actually out grooming most days... In the 1st, you can see the sled trail on the left that is slightly elevated. Note the sledder in the middle photos is waving at me. I'm static to let them by but most are taken live. What don't I have my hand on the blade joystick?

The last photo is what happens within the lake zone. Bright sunlight and nicely snowing at the same time... Thew paper says we've received 142" for the season.

 

[alryA]

Minor mechanical distress with machine #4 but grooming goes on. Fuel filters do indeed need to be changed now and then. Minor snow has fallen but a more serious system is moving in now. We receive snow about 5 days out of the week in normal winter patterns. These photos are taken live with the exception of the passing sleds. Do note guys, this is a job, and I see the plain ol same thing every day.
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[PJL]

I like your comment about this being a job. My job has some pretty cool perks that I often take for granted. I have to remind myself that people pay to do what I get paid to do.