photo credit: D.Koerber RNSC
Groomer Brian Abear reports on winter of 2007/08
In the winter of 2007-08 we had 505 cm of snow fall in Revelstoke – the most snow in more than a dozen years. Yet the length of our season was only slightly longer than average at 125 days. Grooming started December 3, 2007, due to lack of snow in November. At season’s end we had logged 204 hours on the groomer and had groomed the trails 48 times. By comparison the 2006-07 season was our longest on record with 155 skiing days and a record grooming of 56 sessions.
There were only a few breakdowns this season. An oil pressure sender malfunctioned in December and a steering potentiometer failed in February. The potentiometer was replaced at no charge by Prinoth. There were two breakdowns as a result of broken welds on the lift frame and track setters. These were both repaired locally. The club has purchased a diagnostic tool that enables us to read the error codes logged by the onboard computer. While this will not fix a particular problem it will tell us exactly what the fault is and enable us to check the appropriate wiring harness or order the correct parts. At season’s end there were no faults recorded.
The new double walled fuel storage tank was a huge improvement. The tank came with an automatic shutoff nozzle. This enabled the drivers to clean and inspect the groomer while the tank was filling without having to stand over the pump. The pump is powered by a connection to the groomer. The 2200 litre storage tank was filled three times during the winter. There is approximately 1100 litres remaining to start next season. Summer maintenance will include oil and fuel filter changes, torque and brake hub oil changes, complete lubrication and inspection. There is an exhaust leak in the elbow leading to the muffler. This pipe will need to be cut out and replaced. There are also some comb elements on the trailing edge of the tiller that need to be replaced.
The following chart provides an annual comparison of season length at Mount Macpherson and snowfall measured in centimetres at Revelstoke.
| Year | First & Last Track Setting | # of Ski Days | Snowfall (cm) |
| 2007/08 | Dec 3 – April 6 | 125 | 505 |
| 2006/07 | Nov 4 – April 8 | 155 | 465 |
| 2005/06 | Jan 10 – April 1 | 81 | 224 |
| 2004/05 | Nov 25 – Mar 5 | 100 | 221 |
| 2003/04 | Nov 20 – April 3 | 135 | 409 |
| 2002/03 | Dec 28 – Mar 29 | 91 | 198 |
| 2001/02 | Nov 30 – April 9 | 130 | 377 |
| 2000/01 | Nov 26 – April 1 | 126 | 299 |
| 1999/00 | Dec 7 – April 9 | 124 | 330 |
| 1998/99 | Dec 11 – April 4 | 114 | 417 |
| 1997/98 | Dec 20 – Mar 20 | 90 | 231 |
| 1996/97 | Nov 16 – Mar 30 | 134 | 584 |
| 1995/96 | Nov 12 – Mar 31 | 140 | 349 |
| 1994/95 | Nov 20 – Mar 25 | 125 | 263 |
| 1993/94 | Nov 27 – Mar 19 | 112 | 291 |
| 1992/93 | Nov 28 – Mar 19 | 123 | 374 |
| 1991/92 | Nov 29 – Mar 14 | 106 | 344 |
| Average: | 118 | 346 |