"Being a snow groomer can be seen as a thankless job at a ski resort; however, it is one of many jobs that must be done and is vital to operations. It involves long nights, being alone in a snowcat, and pushing snow around the mountain for eight or more hours. However, for the right person, it has also been described as one of the best jobs on the mountain."
"The first thing I noticed was how clean Joyner's snowcat was. Inside and out, the snowcat was spotless, which is a strong sign that Joyner cared about the $600,000 Pisten Bully, which was his "office" every night he went to work. The outside of the snowcat was shiny and not covered in dirt or residue. The inside had everything in place, no clutter, no trash on the seats or floor; the snowcat was ready to go to work."
"The snowcat looks mean, a "civilian tank" with its two tracks that enable it to tackle snow, ice, and steep terrain; it navigates every day. At first, a person might think that the snowcat would be very loud and uncomfortable to drive or ride in, but it was not. On the contrary, it was fairly quiet inside the cab, and it was easy to have a conversation with Joyner throughout the night without raising our voices to talk to one another."
Snow grooming requires long nights, solitude, and physical skill to prepare mountain slopes for skiers and snowboarders. A groomer operates a heavy tracked machine, such as a $600,000 Pisten Bully, to move and shape snow across varied terrain. Meticulous equipment care and a clean, organized cab support reliable nightly operations. Modern snowcats offer surprisingly quiet, smooth rides that enable communication and precise maneuvering. Grooming preserves safe, consistent snow surfaces and enables early-morning first tracks. For dedicated operators, the role offers responsibility, pride, and a unique vantage point over the mountain environment.
Read at SnowBrains
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