Winter 2018 | 25 D&D Grooming Doug Luther & Dean Stratton By Beth Godin Who’s In The Groomer? Doug Luther began grooming in 1985 with a Ski-Doo Alpine. Today, he and his business partner Dean Stratton groom with a 2012 Husky Prinoth and a Mountain Grooming drag. They groom about 1,500 miles each season for the Cole’s Pond Sledders club. Doug is a contractor and excavator by trade, so he usually will take most maintenance and repairs upon himself. The groomer and drag are also stored at this home in Walden, which makes it easier to work on. Daytime during the week is his favorite time to groom when the trails are less busy. He says, “I groom the VAST trail because I enjoy it. It is quiet and relaxing and I like seeing the countryside and wildlife.” Owl and deer are common sights for Doug when he is out grooming, but he has a pretty funny story about another animal sighting. He describes the incident, “Once, a turkey tried to outrun the groomer for about two miles.” Dean Stratton joined the grooming team in 1991. He was taught how to groom by Doug on a RMC 1450. Dean is also an excavation contractor and knows how to run and fix equipment. He shares in all aspects of the groomer’s maintenance with Doug. Dean says the biggest challenge that faces him as a groomer are ice storms that bring trees down. The scenic views are the one thing that Dean enjoys most from his time grooming. He and Doug get to experience a very popular view on the statewide snowmobile trail system, locally known as “The Ledges Overlook.” D&D Grooming operators never go hungry, as they always groom by the Cole’s Pond Sledders’ Cook Shack. If you are near Corridor 151A between CA 60 and CA 64 on a weekend, you won’t want to miss stopping at the Cook Shack for homemade soup, burgers, fries and the best peanut butter fudge you can get on the trails! (Beth Godin photos) Doug Luther and Dean Stratton