$10 Fee increase for Michigan Trail Pass next year

[latebraker]

i agree with whats another 10 or 20 bucks, to me it doesnt matter. It matters to the family of 5 that wants to ride from mercer or whatever town you pick to goegibic for lunch. $225.00 for a day or two is steep price to pay to go for lunch. They should maybe come up with a day or weekend pas for 10 or 15 dollars sort of like a fishing 5 day pass. For me its a small price to pay! For others will a larger family it can get expensive.

 

[Admin]

For what it is worth, the MI DNR is very proud of the MI snowmobile program and works with the MSA to try and be proactive in their approach to running the program. Several years ago, it was seen that many of Grant Sponsors (what MI calls the "clubs" that do the trail grooming and maintenance) were not going to be able to afford to have to pay the % for any new grooming equipment they needed. Goomers cost over 100K and a drag can cost another 30K. So the MI DNR stepped up and said that they would begin covering the purchase price on all new groomers for the grant sponsors. They also fun major repairs of these groomers. The price of fuel has also gone up and while the DNR does not directly fund that, they do give the grant sponsors money for miles groomed. That money is to be used to pay for things like fuel and daily upkeep. The MI DNR also reimburses grant sponsors for the pre-season trail work done, both man hours and things like new trails, bridges, etc.

So the money is not wasted and like anything else, the price to play is going up.

-John

 

[xsledder]

i will continue with my week long trip once a year to the U.P. 45 bucks is not all that bad. the last two winters i don't think they ever groomed jefferson county,wisconsin at least i never ran across a groomed trail so my U.P money is well worth spending, 650 miles in three days and i don't really remember hitting any bumps.good job groomers.

I'm not arguing with your point. But it is so funny that no one else can relate to the economies of scale. From my perspective, I only go to John's Ride-in for the backcountry riding and not the trails. So, to me, it is better to spend the money at another location with better backcountry riding that might be 50% farther in drive time and stay longer. If I pay more, fine, as long as I'm getting better powder conditions then the UP.

To me, paying $45 for UP trails are not worth it when I can ride in Vilas and Iron Counties for the price of the snowmobile registration. And for the past two year, the Crusiers have been doing an excellent job grooming. Just excellent. (Base on Christmas time in Sayner.)

So, it's not whether someone can afford it or not, it's what's it worth to them. To me, it is not worth going to the UP for a long weekend for $45. I would rather save the money and go to the Black Hills and spend it there.

If you go to the UP more then once, yes, it's worth it. But don't tell people because they don't want to pony up $45 they can't afford the sport and get out. No one on this site knows what the other person is worth. It is a person's prerogative to spend their money how they feel.

Yes, to me $45 is not worth the single three day trip to the UP.

I'm going out west instead.

 

[polarisrider1]

Note: the permit is good for All of Michigan, not just the UP. Many of us can ride from our door or from our cabins door. That is worth it. But then again the cost of a cabin far out weighs the cost of a permit. I guess it is perceived value of the permit that xsledder is having issues with. No need to diss the Michigan trail system for it. It is just not a value to you. Reminds me, my boat registration is due for renewal again, $280 for what? no trails or grooming even. (I am sure it goes for something).

 

[polarisrider1]

I'm not arguing with your point. But it is so funny that no one else can relate to the economies of scale. From my perspective, I only go to John's Ride-in for the backcountry riding and not the trails. So, to me, it is better to spend the money at another location with better backcountry riding that might be 50% farther in drive time and stay longer. If I pay more, fine, as long as I'm getting better powder conditions then the UP.

To me, paying $45 for UP trails are not worth it when I can ride in Vilas and Iron Counties for the price of the snowmobile registration. And for the past two year, the Crusiers have been doing an excellent job grooming. Just excellent. (Base on Christmas time in Sayner.)

So, it's not whether someone can afford it or not, it's what's it worth to them. To me, it is not worth going to the UP for a long weekend for $45. I would rather save the money and go to the Black Hills and spend it there.

If you go to the UP more then once, yes, it's worth it. But don't tell people because they don't want to pony up $45 they can't afford the sport and get out. No one on this site knows what the other person is worth. It is a person's prerogative to spend their money how they feel.

Yes, to me $45 is not worth the single three day trip to the UP.

I'm going out west instead.

The $10 difference will buy you about 2.5 gallons of gas that's not to far west on that.

 

[xsledder]

...The $10 difference will buy you about 2.5 gallons of gas that's not to far west on that...

You don't have a clue, do you?

 

[latebraker]

Extra butter please ;-)

 

[polarisrider1]

...The $10 difference will buy you about 2.5 gallons of gas that's not to far west on that...

You don't have a clue, do you?

I think I do. and I suspect I have bought more trail permits this yr. than anyone else in here except for Rev Kev. who I think I tie. Useing John's ride in as a crutch is getting you no where.

 

[rsvectordude]

If it was up to me I would charge $100 for a trail pass and use the difference to actually pay the groomer operators. It's a small price to pay to have great trails period smooth or not. Maybe use some of the money and help out and pay for lodging and meals of the crews that clear the trails in the fall and use a portion to obtain easements for new trails. $45 is still a bargain!

 

[xsledder]

I think I do. and I suspect I have bought more trail permits this yr. than anyone else in here except for Rev Kev. who I think I tie. Useing John's ride in as a crutch is getting you no where.

It's not a crutch. I'm not trying to get anywhere. It was the only reason I went to the UP. I have options to snowmobile where ever I want to. Heck, someday I want to go to Arizona to snowmobile.

It is funny how some people can't comprehend that other people might not think the UP trails are all that great, and $45 fee is to much for what the UP is offering. My opinion. I'm not your clone so I don't think like you. Nothing I can do about it. You have to come to terms with it, not me.

I will say it, THE UP TRAILS ARE NOT THE GREATEST. No apology.

 

[prowrench]

I really can't see how anyone has the right to complain about a $45 trail permit. I get the part about it being kinda like paying the man, and that always sucks. BUT, you get to ride thousands of miles of (usually) nicely groomed trails traveling all over the place in some of the prettiest country in the world. For $45. Nothing is free in this world. Except opinions. Until it gets to be hundreds of dollars, it's a good deal.

 

[Hoosier]

I think as the permits get more and more expensive, it will be nice if there was an option for a shorter permit, say a 3 or 7 day permit. I was only in the UP 3 days this past season. Usually I ride more so I am not complaining. But I can see the point that the permits are getting a little high for someone who doesn't ride the trails more than 2-3 days a season. I believe the trail permits reflect the increasing costs of maintaining and grooming the trails, but at some point there should be some price difference for a short-term vs a season-long permit.

I ride some years with a group of families starting in Vilas county. One of the families takes one or two rides into Michigan between Christmas and New Years with many family members riding 4-5 older sleds that are only ridden a few days a year, in addition to the sleds that are used all season long. All the older sleds are registered in Wisconsin. For them, $45 for each sled may be too much to take the trip over the border essentially to get lunch once or twice. A 3 day pass would work out much better.

 

[polarisrider1]

A family discount rate would be good. Kinda like kids eat free at the local restaurant with 2 paid adults. The state does need to be wary of the costs to not prevent new riders from getting involved with snowmobiling. I suspect they do go by the demographics and statistics they have on us current riders to make these descissions. They state something like we are pretty much all baby boomers with a decent income. Maybe a teen rider discount or something similair with heavy fine if adult is riding teen permited sled. Just an idea. But $90 for say a wife's sled and your own to buy a permit is about the same as a cheap night out.

 

[thebreeze]

In my opinion, these trail pass price increases main effect is on the one or two trip a year guys. $45 dollars is easy to justify if you are up there for a bunch of trips, but is hard to swallow if you just want to ride up to Bond Falls for a day, and are staying in Eagle River, Conover, St. Germain, etc. There will be somewhat of an effect on the day trip tourism that comes from northern Wisconsin riders who just want to jump across the border for a day or two.

If you ride the U.P. every weekend, the extra $10 is a non-issue except for the underlying rate increase, and the whole "where will it end" side of the argument.

 

[camphappyplace]

Interesting topic...especially sledders different views of the trail permit increase. Bottom line...we enjoy an expensive sport. For many of us it borders on an addiction. This season I didn't get as much riding in as I usually do for a variety of reasons including the sudden end to the snow season. Earlier in March I was so disappointed I was looking at the cost justification. Three sleds and the variety of expense items associated with them (i.e. trail permits, insurance, fuel, upkeep, etc.) Now a couple of weeks later I'm missing it big time to the point that I'm contemplating spring ordering a new sled. When I take a step back and think about it...it makes no sense, none at all. Yet, I'm going to be fighting this urge to order right up to the order deadline. I wonder which one will win...the practical me or the addicted me. The life of a sledder!

 

[ragex2]

If I remember correctly, the MSA did propose some sort of tiered permit prices a couple years ago when this was first discussed with the DNR, but DNR shot it down. Maybe someone else remembers more details......

 

[ffemt]

Why do I jump in I don't know, PR1 Seeing we don't ride roads with our sleds or you with ur boat I think we shouldn't have to pay the fuel tax then haha like that would happen

 

[viper700s]

It's not a crutch. I'm not trying to get anywhere. It was the only reason I went to the UP. I have options to snowmobile where ever I want to. Heck, someday I want to go to Arizona to snowmobile.

It is funny how some people can't comprehend that other people might not think the UP trails are all that great, and $45 fee is to much for what the UP is offering. My opinion. I'm not your clone so I don't think like you. Nothing I can do about it. You have to come to terms with it, not me.

I will say it, THE UP TRAILS ARE NOT THE GREATEST. No apology.

Ok good for you, that is your opinion, not a big deal, get over it, and move on! If you don't like it so much then why do you care?

 

[nic]

Having the same discussions about my local waterway. And I'll make the same argument here- the states have to be careful about diminishing returns. That is- say for example- 10K people register their snowmobiles. At $35/sled, they get 350K in revenues. Regardless of the 'it's only $10- if you can't afford it, quit the sport' argument (which is childish and annoying) the FACT is- like xsledder- some people will NOT pay the $10. So instead of banking on earning 450K (10Ksleds *45 fee)- the state has to accept that maybe now only 9K sleds will register. That still puts them at a gain- making 405K in fee payments. But if they continue this pattern- they will eventually experience diminishing returns. They will essentially turn away enough people where the increase isn't worth it. What is that point? No one knows for sure. But do not discount and write off the folks that say they won't pay it with a 'good riddance'. It may end up biting you in the arse eventually as the state will end up with less money b/c of those that chose to spend their money elsewhere.
Not saying anything personal about anyone, but I'm experiencing the same with my boat habits. The old rate for each boat sticker on the chain o lakes was $60. I have a boat and 2 jetskis. So that's $180/yr from my house. They now raised this rate to $80 each. However- since I scarcely use my jetskis- they're old and more for visitors and taking the kids on a little ride- I buy just one jetski sticker. You get 2 (one for each side of the vessel). I slap one sticker on the left side of each one and call it a day. So now, instead of getting $180 from my house, they only get $160. They're actually making less (off of me personally) with the fee increase, than they did before. It's a very volatile market out there. It may only be $10 to some of you. But others have families. And some have boats with the same rate increases. And the license plate increases. My issue- the state legislators don't know how to balance a budget. They've been padding their wallets and wasting money for years. The economy is in the toilet and they can't get away with it any longer. They have to come up with money. So they're raising fees- EVERYWHERE. And you and I are feeling the pain the most. Pretty soon- all of these 'petty' $10 increases add up and something has to give. Some will give up sledding. Some boating. Some other things. But it's a slippery slope. If the states can prove they're not wasting my money, I'd be A-OK with it. However- we all know that's not the case, so every extra $10 here and there just pisses me off all the more.

 

[edmarino]

It would be nice to have a tiered system but I see that as being very expensive to administer. Extra stickers good only for one or two days in a row. It would not help some one who goes up there twice in one season. Buying stickers for each visit. Pay once go more often best for the economy(local business). For me I just have to stay there longer to get my monies worth, a week rather then a week end.