PistenBully 100 Project

The PistenBully 100

Some History

The first grooming machine at Camel’s Hump Nordic was a State Police snowmobile purchased used for $500 at auction in 1979. It didn’t float well in the snow, and traction was miserable in deep snow. We graduated to working machines featuring tracks with larger surface area and better traction. Grooming for many years was done with two snowmobiles, rollers, and 4-6’ “Tidd Tech” drags. However, trail expansion and an aging volunteer grooming crew (yours truly) have highlighted the importance of a longer-term solution to our grooming needs. A temporary solution surfaced in the form of a tracked Toolcat machine owned by our neighbor and collaborator, Nils Smith, but its limits and reliability have been called in to question as it ages, tackles more challenging conditions, and requires more frequent maintenance and repairs. 

The PistenBully 100

After a discussion of needs, a majority vote of the Camel’s Hump Nordic board determined that the first priority should be to lock in our grooming capability for the long term. Camel’s Hump Nordic purchased a used PistenBully 100 snowcat to support our long-term grooming needs.

 

The four primary benefits of the PB100 over the “Toolcat” and our snowmobiles are:

1. It has wider tracks for better flotation and traction in deep, higher elevation snow that we’re now accessing with our newer trails.
2. It is made to handle and push around deep snow with its 12-way plow/blade to shape the trails
3. It is a little wider than the Toolcat so it can complete the grooming chores more quickly and efficiently with a single pass, which will be a real plus as we construct new trails
4. Perhaps most importantly, the PB100 has a tiller, unlike less sophisticated machines, that can convert the crust from a thaw/freeze situation to a very skiable, loose granular surface.

Camel’s Hump Nordic continues to pay down the loan used to purchase the PistenBully. Donations toward the groomer are appreciated and help support our grooming capabilities.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this effort. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Camel’s Hump Nordic.

• Base Elevation (1500’) Donor: < $100
• Cobble Hill (elev. 1800’) Donor: $100 - $499
• Bert’s Crown (elev. 2200’) Donor: $500 - $999
• Crow Hill (elev. 2500’) Donor: $1000 - $2499
• Bald Hill (elev. 3000’) Donor: $2500 - $4999
• Camel’s Hump (elev. 4083’) Donor: > $5000+

Click here to make a donation via Paypal

You may also send donation checks to:
Camel’s Hump Nordic
PO Box 43
Huntington, VT 05462