Jump to content

Halfway Haven


Turbo Doo

Recommended Posts

On 2/27/2022 at 8:36 AM, Re:Leaf said:

When I took groomer training at the Heart of Ontario snowmobile club I was told that we could get paid to groom or volunteer. 

No volunteers get paid here! Groomer operators who are heavy machine operators in Summer do!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, Muskoka1 said:

No volunteers get paid here! Groomer operators who are heavy machine operators in Summer do!

Do you mean that if you are not a "heavy equipment operator in the summer" but have all the other required qualifications, you wouldn't be paid? If that is the case, would a retired heavy equipment operator not be paid to run your groomers?

I'm asking because I've never before heard of the requirement to be a heavy equipment operator in the summer in order to get paid for the job.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am thinking there was some confusion - a groomer operator is paid when they groom the trail but if by chance they also volunteer for signage, trail prep, etc....that is not a paid position for those activities, just the grooming part.

Where it might get a little complicated I am thinking is when a sled with a drag is used to groom a small feeder trail, does that count as grooming hours and a paid activity (grooming) - I am thinking this has been discussed in the past, but I do not recall how this situation plays out......I think the answer is no, does not count towards grooming hours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Believe using industrial groomers owned by the OFSC are counted as grooming hours and therefore paid.

Club owned snowmobiles and drags, paid for by fundraising, are not counted as grooming hours and not paid.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Groomer operators is a mix throughout the province. Some clubs/districts would have more paid operators. Others would be more volunteer based. 

There are pros and cons to both systems. 

The current structure relies on volunteers and the return benefit is a better riding experience for all. No system is ever perfect.  

  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Back to the HH topic.    I am not sure how common they are up there but I was quite surprised to have a big Cougar (the animal type) jump out in front of me and run into the bush across the trail.   I have never seen one in the wild before.   

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, scottyr said:

Back to the HH topic.    I am not sure how common they are up there but I was quite surprised to have a big Cougar (the animal type) jump out in front of me and run into the bush across the trail.   I have never seen one in the wild before.   

And a cougar (animal type) is on track ... :rotflmao:

 

I have always heard people talk about seeing them, usually turns into people suggesting they do not live in these parts (Ontario) ...... sure would scare the crap out of me to see one, especially if it decided to stop and investigate vs. carrying on.

Pretty cool to hear about it though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well it was just north of HH on the trail to Wawa.   :)  

 

It was just standing in the bush staring at me.    I wasnt stopping for a photo or anything like that.   

 

 

 

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

34 minutes ago, scottyr said:

Well it was just north of HH on the trail to Wawa.   :)  

 

It was just standing in the bush staring at me.    I wasnt stopping for a photo or anything like that.   

 

 

 

 

 

649C0A83-A8FB-45DE-9802-CBA1CEF693D4.png

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’m sure it probably was a Lynx I’ve seen around 15 over the years pretty cool animal 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have seen a lot of Lynx    This one had a big LONG tail.    It was a cougar for sure.      

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, scottyr said:

Back to the HH topic.    I am not sure how common they are up there but I was quite surprised to have a big Cougar (the animal type) jump out in front of me and run into the bush across the trail.   I have never seen one in the wild before.   

Even the Ontario MNR doesn't know if they really exist in Ontario.   Incredible animal, as all wild cats are.

 

https://www.ontario.ca/page/mountain-lion-cougar

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, maybe....

 

I seen a bobcat on our square a cpl years ago.

Looked just like a big cat, but much shorter and bobtailed. (from my vantage point driving down the road)

It didn't have the "lynx" look to it like most bobcats, but I have seen pics of a bobcat that looked like this, so...

 

But there have been some sightings in our area of a big cat with a long tail.

My buddy (>70) hasn't seen it, but he said that his wife and son both say that they have seen a long tail. 

But why are we not seeing reports from game cams? Hmmmm..... ???

 

On the flip side, I saw a lynx mounted in a DNR office in Colorado, and I asked if it was local, and they said that it was hit on the road up around Leadville. (north central part of the state) Typically they are not seen south of the 49th.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, scottyr said:

Well it was just north of HH on the trail to Wawa.   :)  

 

It was just standing in the bush staring at me.    I wasnt stopping for a photo or anything like that.   

 

 

 

I saw two wolves on the trail probably halfway between HH and Searchmont. One jumped off and the other ran ahead of me for a long time. Things were huge. Scary moment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We saw a wolf at sunset , in Sudbury,  a couple of weeks ago. Wasn't in a hurry to get off the trail. Moved aside and sized us up. 

 

We completed the Wolf loop and Moose loop. Saw both animals ( pair of moose ).

 

No cougars 😁

 

As for far north sledding, needs to exist. Trails need to stay open.,If it was an ofsc survey question vis-a-vis staying in the sport - it " matters". Extends the season, if nothing else.

 

Thanks for terrain and logistic answers, group.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/28/2022 at 12:15 PM, scottyr said:

I have seen a lot of Lynx    This one had a big LONG tail.    It was a cougar for sure.      

I’ve seen lots of lynx between searchmont and Hearst. I also definitely saw a cougar just south of wawa several years ago. Easy to tell the difference. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, J Feces said:

I’ve seen lots of lynx between searchmont and Hearst. I also definitely saw a cougar just south of wawa several years ago. Easy to tell the difference. 

 

The footprints in the snow were huge.    I am 100% convinced it was a Cougar / Mountain Lion.   

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/28/2022 at 9:48 PM, Hoosier said:

I saw two wolves on the trail probably halfway between HH and Searchmont. One jumped off and the other ran ahead of me for a long time. Things were huge. Scary moment.

Had a wolf just N. of Temiscamingue Que. jump off trail/bare it's fangs @ us as we passed then jump back on trail after last rider past. We all wondered what would happen if you broke down/ran out of gas & he came along!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, Muskoka1 said:

Had a wolf just N. of Temiscamingue Que. jump off trail/bare it's fangs @ us as we passed then jump back on trail after last rider past. We all wondered what would happen if you broke down/ran out of gas & he came along!

How deep is the snow?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Saw a big cougar on Thursday night in New Liskeard at Ali’s.

 

She was running with a couple others in a small pack. 

 

 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lynx on the side of road going home from 3 days back country at @valentinefarmsbnb by Chapleau. Saw two moose on the way up to Chapleau.PXL_20220228_134932808.thumb.jpg.8cebbc96ab719600ef8d9fe022739da9.jpg

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Wildman said:

How deep is the snow?

5 feet-most I've seen in over 25 yrs. up there!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...