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inches, the groomers can be used directly. Both groomers come in either four or six foot lengths and are pulled behind a snowmobile at slow speeds (5-8 mph) to comb, scrape, and pack the snow. These can also be equipped with a track setter, which carves out a cross country ski path as they groom 't?e snow. This allows a predetermined path along the trail to be established for users rather than having them make their own. The "setting" of a traditional track also secures user safety for two main reasons. The potential for collisions on the .trail is minimized by allowing for two or possibly three lanes to be "set". Second, a predetermined track is more encouraging to beginning skiers because it facilitates easier learning of the art of cross country skiing. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I The Tidd Tech comes in either a six or four foot width, depending on the trail system to be serviced. It was suggested by officials of Elm Creek Park Reserve that the four foot model be used for grooming purposes along the Trott Brook Trail because of the limited funding to the City of Ramsey and the shorter trail distances associated with the proposed trailway. The equipment needed for a day spent grooming could be transported to the proposed trail via a large trailer that the Ramsey Parks Department already possesses for transporting mowing equipment in the summer (Cook, 1996). In order to obtain an estimated timeline for grooming the proposed trail, a hypothetical situation was presented to the same officials of Elm Creek Park Reserve. The situation included the proposed trail of approximately seven miles in length receiving six inches of snowfall and how much,time it would take one person to groom the trails. The response was about five to six hours, based on their experience. This was based on three to four passes over the whole trail way at approximately seven miles per hour. It was also mentioned that this type of equipment could be used to maintain a snowmobile trail of shorter length, not unlike the proposed snowmobile trail to be added in the future. The best part of using lightweight equipment for the maintenance of shorter trails is its cost. With a good welder, which the City of Ramsey has (Cook, 1996), and around four to five hundred dollars, both pieces of equipment could be constructed. This leaves the acquisition of a snowmobile the only other expense in gathering the necessary grooming equipment to establish an effective grooming program. Ideally, a snowmobile that is geared lower best suites this purpose. This could be purchased in the fall of the year at any of the metro area's used equipment auctions for around $1500 (Cook, 1996). 26