We didn't get anywhere near the amount of snow others have gotten, but went out to try the roller that we got last year on the trails in the woods to pack it down. Pulled it with the Olver OC3 and took some video. Not sure how well it will work in deep snow. I think it may build up in front of the roller but I'll have to wait and see.
Rolling snow video

Lots of ski areas back in the 50s and 60s used OC3s to groom trails.

You have to be careful ice and snow don't pack in the track chains. If they do the tracks can come off or worse things start to break. That's why some track pads used to have holes in the middle. I wanted to buy snow pads for my dozer but they don't make them anymore so I torched holes.

Why are you using the roller? It doesn't look like it makes a very good trail for skiing. My dad bought an OC3 in about 67, we used it to pack down the snow on logging roads so they would freeze quicker. It came with a pile of oak 2x4's about 2 feet long that were supposed to be bolted to the pads to make it more buoyant on soft ground, but we never put them on, it worked fine the way it was.

I used our cultipacker to make trails when the kids were younger, also made for easier getting around the vineyards when the snow is on the ground. Kids have moved away and I hire the grape trimming done now, they were done before Thanksgiving this year.

These trails aren't for skiing. Packed snow is easier for wheeled vehicles to go up the trail once it firms up.

I figured you were making snow roads for driving on to haul out wood in the winter. Frozen snow roads like these were built over 100 years ago with horses, so once they road was frozen, the horses could easy pull a bobsled loaded with logs.

I think they made a snow plow for those.

Your roller just needs a little traction. The ones we used to use on the ski slopes were built with hard wood slats spaced an inch or two apart. You could add some 1x2 strapping or similar. If you keep it turning it will climb up on the snow and won't push it.

Nice looking 68 inch oc3

Sharing this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee5yJpyv93Q
Bring back a lot of memories with the hg 42 in the woods .
Always thought they were the best , if they used a film like this they would have solar a lot more how nibble they are in the bush.

One of my old old customers told me how, before the towns had trucks, the neighbors took turns keeping the roads sleigh worthy. His Dad decided using a roller would be easier than a wooden vee plow. Worked great, nice path for a team or single horse sleigh. HOWEVER, the packed snow/ice didn't melt till Memorial Day.

(quoted from post at 09:00:12 12/27/22) One of my old old customers told me how, before the towns had trucks, the neighbors took turns keeping the roads sleigh worthy. His Dad decided using a roller would be easier than a wooden vee plow. Worked great, nice path for a team or single horse sleigh. HOWEVER, the packed snow/ice didn't melt till Memorial Day.

Click to expand...

In colonial times rolling was the only winter maintenance. Plowing replaced rolling after many years.

Thanks, I might look into the wooden slats idea.

In my youth i spent many hours on one like that , from plowing , dragging a spike tooth , many hours cultivating taters two rows at a time , dragging the pipe trailer and stringing irrigation pipe , hauling taters out of the fields to the storage barns . And still bare the scar from the time i stalled in way out in the far back field at my uncles while fitting ground for wheat planting . The Generator was shot , the battery was dead and the started did not work BUT the MEN just used the crank or parked it on the barn bridge and coast started it . I tried and did not get it to fire up on the first try and on the second she kicked back and spun backwards nailing me in the right elbow i still have the lump and then it come flyen out and nailed me just above the right eye lacing me open big time and lots of blood . Now being of Saxon decent i have a bad temper and even bleeding like a stuck hog i picked up that crank and with everything i had i sent it air mail and if you just happen to need a crank for yours i can tell you ABOUT where it is , it went swimming in the back 20 acre lake next to the back field and it is in the DEEP end about 28 feet down . More then likely it is still there since the fall of 55 .