Hello - New member

[Creamhorses]

Hello

I'm a 6th year operator @ Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, in Mass. Started out flat grooming, did some winching, and am on call as back up for that, but have been the Park Guy for the last 3 years. Jiminy has 3 terrain parks...beginner, intermediate and a larger park with hits, and big jumps [big for us].

We have 5 Piston Bully's. The Park Bully has the switch blade, which is a great assest. This '06 machine has sticks, which I love for visibility and ease of travel in tight places. But the greatest perk, is the other guyz hate the sticks, so 'my' machine stays in pretty good shape even with 2 nights off every week.

Although the PB is supposedly dedicated to the parks, my general routine includes grooming a couple or three trails near the parks, on my shift.

Jiminy Peak got a new 600 this year....a monster for climbing and pushing. I have had it out a few times but have not gotten used to what it will or won't do on steeps. The winch is a 300 [new one ordered for next winter...on a 600 machine]. Then we're supposed to replace the park machine the following year. I'm trying to get my dibbs in with Mountain Ops to be sure they get the sticks. Our Park manager likes them....he does some of the builds in the daytime.

Anyway, it's out the door here in a while.....45 minute drive. Mountain closes 10 pm...I can sneak into the little park before the 'sweep' . All is pretty much slam bam, now that snowmaking is down until President's week. That's our last 'biggie' for the season.

Just wanted to say hi....


Dave

[joshski]

Hi Dave -

Glad to see someone from Jiminy on here...
We'll work with Bruce to make sure you get your cat set up the way it works best for you.

Talk soon,
Josh

[mtgroomer]

hey Dave,


I hope Piston Bully makes your cat run better then they made our 400 run . Our old 275 runs with over 5000 hr runs better then the new 400, never mind the tiller... Good Luck....

[Creamhorses]

Hi Dave -

Glad to see someone from Jiminy on here...
We'll work with Bruce to make sure you get your cat set up the way it works best for you.

Talk soon,
Josh

Thanks Josh

Gotta tell you......Front wheel passenger [solid filled and pressed wheel] departed the inner rim Tuesday night as I was coming our of the medium part [Alex's] . Luckily, I was not 'speed grooming''.....felt like I had encoutered a plie of rocks. Stopped just before the track was to enter the tiller.

Funny part [funny now] he tire and outer rim were perfectly positioned in the cleats like nothing had happened.

Of course this carnage was right smack dab in the center of the Grand Slam trail...one of more heavily travelled slopes @ Juminy. :^(

I finished the night with the '04 200....stayed off the take off's, but groomed the landings and travel areas in the balance of the parks. Then a guy left early and I grabbed the 600 for a couple hours! Sweet!


Bruce and Frank got the park machine back to the shop with little problems; a second trip to drag the track back. If they could have gotton the excavator to move, they'd have had it back together before noon.

There's one story that I hope to never tell again.

Dave