gogebic_sledder
Member
Driving from Wakefield towards LG on trail 8 sat afternoon I got run off the trail and rolled my sled. Here's the story I feel I did nothing wrong. My friend and I are driving east on 8 about half-way to LG I'm leading, he's about 1/4 mile behind me. I'm approaching a group of 5 sleds traveling in the same direction as me. They are going slow around 30-35 mph. Trail 8 is very straight for those that haven't ridden it, you can see a mile ahead of you. I slow down and stay behind the fifth sled, then the fifth sled goes off-trail to the left side of the trail. This part of trail 8 has a huge area parallel to the trail thats not groomed. I proceed past him and go behind the forth sled in their group. I follow the forth sled for 1/8 of a mile he never leaves the right side of the trail at all. I felt It was a good and safe time to pass, Trail 8 is very wide and straight at this point, I go to the extreme left side of the trail and proceed to pass. As the tips of my skis get even with the middle of his sled(I'm easily 7 sled widths to his left) he suddenly veers to his left directly towards my path. I hammer the brake and cut hard left, my sled skids off-trail and rolls, throughs me off. I still can't believe we didn't trade paint, it had to be within a inch of impact. He had to of seen the near collision my head was within a foot of his. He doesn't stop, just continues diving down the left side of the trail. My sleds goes end over end and lands on its side, I land just off the side of the trail on my shoulder. Sled still running, track still spinning I sit up in shock. Then all of a sudden the fifth sled in this group drives right by me starring at me and doesn't stop. ***. My buddy drives up on the scene and gives me the *** gesture I give him the thumbs up That I'm Ok, and motion for him to chase down this group of sleds. Meanwhile my sled is upside down still running and there are parts all overthe place. I sit there for a couple of mins some guys stop from the opposite direction and help me flip the sled over and check to see if I'm alright. I pick up all the pieces of my sled and catch up with my friend who stopped this group of sledders about a mile and a half up the trail. Its a family of five; Dad, Mom, Daughter, son(forth sled),son(fifth sled). My friend was talking to the group for several minutes before I arrived. I was calm and not looking to start a fight or to start placing blame. I was pissed off that nobody stoped, for all they knew I was injured. Mom said that I was a "hot-rodder" and had no business passing any body, and that nobody she knows passes people. There was no reasoning with her, I wasn't interested in argueing the rules of the road with her. She said he's only 15, as if that makes it ok to leave somebody flipped over on the side of the trail. I said to the kid who was driving the fifth sled, you drove right by me ***? He said you were sitting up and looked ok. My legs could of been broke for all he knew. I told the mom I was raised to stop and help its obvious her kids weren't. The dad never said a word. Was I wrong to attempt a pass, I don't think so. Other than this incident it was our best trip of the season- great snow. LOL
(Not too be confused with the last in a group signal.)How many miles can you ride and not know someone is behind you, OK, I'm ranting.