UYSC Groomers

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JEFF MENUEY  

How long have you been Grooming? 

I've been grooming most of 20 years +... Used to ride around with the old timer groomers back in the day. I've been riding those bumpy trails for more than 50 years!

Favorite Trail?

 I like to groom Henderson or Miller, either one... never a dull moment!

Fun thing to add to the Groomer Shed?

 How about a mechanical bull shaped like a snowmobile? What would that be like!?

Favorite Winter Activity?

 I like to ice fish on the nice days but I don't get out there near enough

Get to Know the Crew Behind the Groomers!  

1. What’s your favorite trail to groom? Easy — Rommel. It’s got some giant drifts on a slight downhill, and you can just smash through them. 

2. What’s your go-to snack or drink in the snowcat? I don’t do much snacking because you need two hands to operate. I drink water when I’m turning around somewhere. 

 3. What’s your favorite part about operating a snowcat? Having the whole mountain to myself.  

4. Have you ever gotten the snowcat stuck? Tell us the story! Never! Okay, I lied. My “favorite” stuck was on top of Daisy. Totally clear night, right around 0 degrees. I had just turned around and was almost into the green trees when a mouse started running across the trail. I had a big curl in the blade and scooped him up.  Instantly, the blade started going up and down, the wipers started going, and I stopped moving. I tried to figure out what I might have done, with no luck. I was looking at the radio thinking about calling in, but I was still pretty green at the time and didn’t want to bother anyone.  I kept trying to get moving and finally decided to swallow my pride and get on the radio. Right then, the engine died and everything went pitch black.  Well… the radio doesn’t work without power.  So I got my coat on, put some wands out, and started humping it. Downhill on a nice, freshly groomed trail. When the moon came up around the cut across, it was beautiful.  Then I remembered there was an ornery buffalo hanging out on lower Daisy, and suddenly every damn shadow looked like him.  Never did see the buffalo. Right at the welcome sign, I ran into two sleds headed out to take pictures of the moon. I declined the ride and finished walking home.  Turns out the alternator had died. Jeff went up the next morning, it started right up, and he made it a little way before it quit again. He ended up needing a generator and battery charger just to get it back to the shed.  

5. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever found on the trail? Finding the passed-out guy at the top of town by the Grizzly Pad was pretty interesting. It was below zero and it took forever to rouse him — and man, did he smell like whiskey. He was pretty stiff, so I got him into the lobby of the Antlers, put him in front of the fire, and tucked him in.  

6. What’s the biggest challenge of grooming that most people don’t realize? Vertigo. When it’s snowing and blowing, it gets really disorienting and it’s hard to tell which way is up.  

7. If your snowcat could talk, what would it complain about the most? It would probably want me to stop spitting on the door/window.  

8. What’s your biggest trail pet peeve? Night riders… but I’ve been guilty of that too, and I understand how fun it is.  

9. What’s your go-to music when grooming? First Wave on satellite radio. Memories from my younger days.  

10. What’s one fun fact about yourself that nobody knows? My IQ is/was 135. Almost a stable genius. 

Finish this sentence: “A perfect day of grooming is…” Waiting on this one! 

Get to Know the Crew Behind the Groomers! 

1. What’s your favorite trail to groom? My favorite trail to groom is definitely Henderson. It is the twistiest and turniest, and if it’s spicy enough, you may become committed, as there aren’t many places to turn around.  

2. What’s your go-to snack or drink in the snowcat? Go-to drink is obviously Liquid Death sparkling water. I prefer the Doctor Death flavor, and so should you.  

3. What’s your favorite part about operating a snowcat? The best part about operating a snowcat is the autonomy and access to a lot of cool features/functions of a sensitive, complex machine. It can really move some snow!  

4. Have you ever gotten the snowcat stuck? Tell us the story! I’ve never gotten the snowcat stuck. I was pretty close a couple times, though. Had to make a couple very questionable turnarounds. Been lost a few times! 

5. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever found on the trail? The weirdest thing I’ve ever found on a trail was a frozen, blind, senior dog who followed her nose up the mountain! Pretty sure I saved her life that night. I also had to push a bison out of the way once.  

6. What’s the biggest challenge of grooming that most people don’t realize? The biggest challenge of grooming is balancing speed with thoroughness and adjusting your technique to the specific conditions—air temp, snow temp, bumpiness of the trail, etc. Little adjustments really matter!  

7. If your snowcat could talk, what would it complain about the most? The snowcat would definitely complain about the early-season obstacles we force her to walk over or bump into!  

8. What’s your biggest trail pet peeve? Sledders ripping up my freshly groomed track!! That shit needs time to set up! Hours! And for God’s sake, use both lanes!  

9. What’s your go-to music when grooming? Obviously, metal. Reggae if I’m feeling ire. History podcasts if I’m craving knowledge.  

10. What’s one fun fact about yourself that nobody knows? I went to the old (built in 1901!), one-room schoolhouse in Cooke City. Snowmobiled to school every day in 2nd and 3rd grade! Solo!  

Finish this sentence: “A perfect day of grooming is…” Waiting on this one! 

Get to Know the Crew Behind the Groomers! 

1. What’s your favorite trail to groom? Daisy.  

2. What’s your go-to snack or drink in the snowcat? Copenhagen!!!  

3. What’s your favorite part about operating a snowcat? I’m by myself.  

4. Have you ever gotten the snowcat stuck? Tell us the story! So close, but not quite. Fingers crossed!  

5. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever found on the trail? Don’t have one of these yet!  

6. What’s the biggest challenge of grooming that most people don’t realize? Being smooth! Not as simple as it might appear!  

7. If your snowcat could talk, what would it complain about the most? More grease, please!  

8. What’s your biggest trail pet peeve? Not waving!  

9. What’s your go-to music when grooming? Gangster rap.  

10. What’s one fun fact about yourself that nobody knows? I like snow! Hehe.  

Finish this sentence: “A perfect day of grooming is…” Done at night!  Cheers, everyone!!