A friend just shared this link with me. He just used this tool to clear his field that was left to grow for several years. Said it worked great. 30k purchase, but can be rented.
I have not had the opportunity to watch how Gore or other ski areas clear their lift lines/slopes in the summer/fall. We keep them in mowed grass down south and we have a lot less to clear. At Gore and other larger northern resorts, I do see where the small trees are cut, but don't know how they do it. It looks labor intensive. I assume it is done with a weedeater with saw blade. As long as the slope can sustain a skid steer, this machine may be the ticket.
I recall hiking down fox lair two summers ago, picking black rasberries. The thicket and growth was well over 4 feet. I wondered if they cut it or just let the snow pile over it. We also hiked all over Burnt Ridge last fall....it was more tall grass than trees/briars like fox was . Perphaps that is an age thing.
Otherwise just a manly video for those interested in cool tools/toys.
That thing is awesome. It would mean that natural snow trails were open more often because it completely levels the surface. They could probably attach it to a groomer somehow. Some groomers are designed to run off the snow. Every ski area should get one.
What he said. Farmers have been using brush hogs for decades to munch brush, thin trees, etc on fields that haven't been plowed for a long time. They're basically heavy duty large mower decks attached to the tractor.
They also have mower decks that can attach to snow cats. I know Killington uses them. I'm sure they are tough enough to knock out just about any growth that could happen over 6 months.
That tractor kind of looks like Furn Gulley's worst nightmare.
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