Ride Along Jackson Hole Snow Cat

I've always wondered who's grooming the mountain at night and what's going on up there.
I knew there have to be different scenery and cool stories.
It's been my bucket list to ride along and my boyfriend made it happen this trip.
Small connection with 18 year bottle of whiskey took me to the top of Rendezvous mountain in winch cat.

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I'm gonna call my cat driver "Dave".
Met Dave at the garage little after 5pm.

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We are heading out for 6 hour shift.

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It was raining on the bottom, which quickly turned to snow.

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https://youtu.be/hxmNKP2bd0s

We are grooming Rendezvous Trail, Bivouac and part of Wally World today.
One of the steepest sections winch cat will groom.

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Time to winch!

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My dream came true.

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Winched and going down.

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Cheyenne Bowl looking beautiful.

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Dave's favorite trail to groom Bivouac.
It only gets groomed every few days just to get rid of bumps.

Plow down.

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Groom up.

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There's a special satisfaction to shave down bumps and groom.
I totally get it.

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https://youtu.be/2Io7oLWX2U4

It's getting dark and dumping outside.

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Unexpectedly, Dave's offering me to groom small section of Rendezvous trail.
I was really nervous to operate the most expensive vehicle I've ever driven (range of $350,000 to $700,000),
but how can you say no to such an opportunity?
Dave just didn't know it was his near death experience letting me drive along the steep trails.

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Sweating bids while I'm driving the cat at 3mph and giggling like a little girl.
This was definitely one of the coolest thing I've ever done.
Driving a big shiny heavy machinery made this girl very, very happy.

https://youtu.be/bblH003fbx4

Trail I groomed.

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First track!

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Wait, you're a groomer in JH now?

We are done this side of mountain and heading over to Amphitheater to help out couple other groomers who are a little behind.

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No wildlife sightings tonight because of the storm.
But Dave told me he sees moose, deer, elk, coyote, black bear and mountain lion (paw prints most the time).
Quite often foxes will follow to snack mice that raddled out by the cat.
That would've been something to witness.

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Some sections on Laramie Traverse was barely wide enough for a cat to drive through.
In fact, some sections cat was wider than the trail and let the edge go off a little.

https://youtu.be/nIXO8LQQvoE

15 inches over 12 hours.

It was so awesome to be out in dark during a snow storm at the mountain.
Something I never got to do before.

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Winching the last point.

https://youtu.be/nSOSUmK0Usg

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We are here to help!

https://youtu.be/2vBSACZ6OkU

6 hour flew by and time to head back to hand over the cat to the 2nd shift that runs 12am to 8 am.

By now it's white out.
It's good that Dave spent 3 years at the mountain and knows every inch of it.
He's been grooming 11 years started from Heavenly-Big Sky-Jackson Hole.

https://youtu.be/PR3tQSZwoAI

Ran into sluff which we decided to clean up for the next shift and ski patrollers in the morning.

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Wish I could stay up all night, but my bladder was thankful to come back.

SV (Snow Vehicle) 6.

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Finished my first shift and earned a hat.

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Dave appeared rough at first which made me nervous to get stuck up in the mountain for 6 hours.
But he was a total gentleman and shared lots of cool stories with me.
He told me to come back anytime for more grooming sessions and will update my headgear.
I've had such an amazing experience and made a new friend.

Jackson out did it itself again.

I did meet and greet some mags and snowboarded as well.

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Grand Targhee was super kind.

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https://youtu.be/TPCypyH6MUo

Earned some turns.

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Can't wait to go back next year!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by stuckathuntermtn

Wait, you're a groomer in JH now?

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I wish!
That'll be my dream job!!

I believe this a first groomer TR

Thx for sharing!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by acinpdx

I believe this a first groomer TR

Thx for sharing!

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Happy to share!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flowing alpy

fantastic! such a cool experience you got to enjoy.

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I'm still giggling about the experience.
I can't believe I got to do it.

well that was awesome.

Just say no to moguls! Good work NMC

I do enjoy riding moguls though!
Right amount is fun!!

That's a cool TR, nice work!

This is so cool!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2bjenny

This is so cool!

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You probably skied the trails I (Dave) groomed!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nutmegchoi

You probably skied the trails I (Dave) groomed!!!

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LOL! If you groomed Wednesday night, I did! Bivouac was still bumped up the couple of times we skied it though. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2bjenny

LOL! If you groomed Wednesday night, I did! Bivouac was still bumped up the couple of times we skied it though. :(

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Dang it!
It was Thursday night!!
Sorry you had to ski through those bumps.
I’ll make sure to provide right service next time!

Cool "GR" nutmegchoi !

... and props to all the groomers out there that work all night for our benefit.

Different. I liked

Thanks for sharing. Those grooming cats really are amazing pieces of equipment - I can see the satisfaction of wiping out moguls.

Fantastic TR. I wanna groom

Pretty cool, thanks for sharing!

cool, nice tr.

Nutmeg, you are a queen among peasants! Thanks for the sending the Jay sticker & the Heady bonus!
I’ll post a pic of it at Bachelor.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by acinpdx

Nutmeg, you are a queen among peasants! Thanks for the sending the Jay sticker & the Heady bonus!
I’ll post a pic of it at Bachelor.

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Glad you got the package!
Enjoy!! ;)

good shit
if ya make it to bbiu19
i may be able to git ya on a soli cat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skifishbum

good shit
if ya make it to bbiu19
i may be able to git ya on a soli cat

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One of these years!