Winter 2019 | 21 By Mike Mutascio After racking up thousands of miles over three decades, I decided it was time to give back to snowmobiling. The feeling of a groomed trail was always so satisfying. Being involved in a club and learning about the behind- the-scenes work was truly an education. For me, the opportunity to groom quickly became a fascination. I told Dana, our club trailmaster, that I was interested in attempting trail grooming. Yet, full disclosure: I was nervous, too. Could I endure the cold? What about those long, exhausting journeys? Could I really groom a trail? The answer became clear during opening week of the 2018/19 season. Dana and I met one afternoon at our small equipment shelter in a remote section of town. The plan was to relocate the club’s Class 4 grooming equipment we use to groom our variable-width secondary trails. It seemed the best solution to start an early-season trail base at other locations. Today’s adventure would be about 15 miles. I filled the tank of my sled and checked the oil. Dana prepared the club’s Ski Doo Skandic utility sled and drag that was housed within the shelter. While checking my personal gear and securing my helmet I announced, “Ready to go.” He responded “Good, you’ve got the drag.” My face froze and I said not a word. I quietly walked towards the shelter and gave it my best shot at appearing confident. In my mind I was screaming, “I can’t believe I’m doing this!” Club trailmasters have an innate sense of knowing how and when to test their fellow club members. I guess it was my turn. Up close, the Skandic looked much wider than I imagined. There were a few scratches in the hood, a scrape on the belly pan and a crack in the windshield. I toured the entire setup and with special attention to the accessory switches and controls. The seat flipped up to expose a large storage compartment underneath. It was packed with tools and parts - a few with tiny patches of rust. It was obvious the sled deserved a ribbon of honor for its many years of hard duty. If only it could talk. A long steel drag was firmly attached to the rear and elevated off the ground with pallets. It was eight feet long and four feet wide. A homemade wooden accessory box was fastened to the top support. Curious as to the implement’s weight, I grasped the side rail and tugged. It budged not an inch. “There was no way a sled can pull this thing!” I thought. Three firm pulls on the cord started the engine. Working First Time Grooming An Experience To Remember