New Groomers Join Fleet

Thanks to a matching grant project with the IDPR's Recreational Trails Program and the Idaho Falls Nordic Ski Patrol, Harriman State Park has two new groomers. With Friends of Harriman serving as the grant administrator, Assistant Park Manager Jodi Vincent devised a grant where the Recreational Trails Program would match funds with Idaho Falls Nordic Ski Patrol allowing the Park to get these groomers on the snow quickly. "IDPRRTP and IFNSP and HSP have always had a great relationship so it was a slam dunk," said Jodi.

This type of equipment isn't cheap. The Ski Patrol match $1,119 with $4,476 from Recreational Trails Program, the result of a partnership between the Idaho Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. By acting as grant administrator, Friends of Harriman allowed the funds to be quickly put to work in the park, a stipulation of grant approval. This is a classic example of a FHSP being the fulcrum with which to leverage much needed funds into the park, enhancing the visitor experience.

The new groomers are designed by Yellowstone Track Systems and will be pulled behind a snowmobile. The Ginzugroomer is extremely light weight making it easier on the sled and driver, and it's wider track leaves room for snowshoers to appreciate the trails with out damaging the track. And the knives...think 80's TV commercials, only instead of cutting cans the blades are cutting snow. These groomers are state-of-the-art, and the skiers have already taken notice. One particularly speedy skier in red Lycra described the new grooms as "Like butter..."