Mountain Trails Grooming Association
1999 – Present
In 1999 a small group of avid
snowmobilers, from the Methow Valley, formed a non-profit association, Mountain Trails Grooming Association(MTGA), which was dedicated
to grooming the trails used by most of the area’s snowmobilers. The group’s intent was primarily focused on
keeping trails open and groomed to provide better snowmobiling conditions for
all levels of riders. To accomplish
their mission, some put in startup money and some volunteered their time. The small group purchased a groomer and hired
a local person to do the actual grooming.
Not wanting anyone to be in the mountains alone during snow season they took
turns volunteering their time to ride in the groomer with the operator. Grooming is a demanding job, not just
physically, but also mentally, in all sorts of adverse conditions. An
extra-ordinary job requires extra-ordinary people. Each one of the Association members has tried
to live up to that necessity.
As time progressed the original group expanded
its’ membership, purchased additional grooming equipment and built a building on
leased land from the County near the Methow Valley Airport. This gave the
volunteers a place to store their equipment, trail signs and to do maintenance
on the machinery. The extra person riding in the groomer expanded to a list of
people volunteering to do so and at the end of each season MTGA sponsored a
special dinner celebration which included all the people who worked on the
groomer and those who rode along.
As the years went by, the computer age
became an integral part of the adventure of grooming. With new satellite/computer technology, ride-alongs
are no longer a necessity but are used to help cut trees and assist with daily
operations. Repairs sometimes require a professional, but
usually they can be done by our current group volunteers.
Mountain Tails Grooming Association
continues the work and mission of the original group today including grooming
multi-use trails. Some of the board
members help with repairs, some help clear trails, some put out our trail
signs, some ride in the groomer, doing the actual job and all attend monthly
meetings, helping make solid decisions that best ensure the longevity of our
mission and the enjoyment of snowmobiling in the Methow Valley. Registered with
the state, we operate in partnership with Washington State Parks and the US
Forest Service to provide snowmobile and multi-use trail grooming in the Methow
Valley. Grooming is not just a job, it’s a passion, a dedication to the sport
of snowmobiling in a safe environment.
Some of the original group have passed,
but, WOW, their legacy lives on!!
