Snowmobile injuries came up on another thread & it got me to thinking which type of riding is really more dangerous powder or groomed trail. Living in northern WI I hear about trail riding injuries and death by snowmobile on the news all the time on in both WI and MI. Off trail incidents grabs the news more as lost riders need to be found or have been found. Anyone really know which type of riding results in more injuries or death or just have an opinion? Someone will prolly rip me for bringing this up but aok rip away just respect JD rules.
More Injuries Trail Riding Or Powder Riding?
- Thread starter whitedust
- Start date
I would say that the amount of injuries/deaths are more dependent on the type of rider rather than if they are on or off trail. Someone willing to push their limits are more likely to get injured vs. someone that is more conservative. To me, the biggest difference is that someone pushing their limits on the trails is not only risking their health, but the health of others on the same trail, while an off trail rider is more likely to be just risking their own rear.
You also would have to take note of the amounts of off vs on trail riders into the pure numbers. Probably better to look at it from a injury per unit time point of view.
-John
You also would have to take note of the amounts of off vs on trail riders into the pure numbers. Probably better to look at it from a injury per unit time point of view.
-John
hard to say . at least in the backcountry I have no one to blame but my self if I wreck . in all honesty I do not like being on the trail on the busy weekends at all it is friging scary . way to many close calls trading spindle paint . I wont bring my wife any place on the busy weekends to trail ride .
G
G
Guest
Trail riding just because there are a lot more folks on the trails. Everybody from rookies to kids and geezers. Drunks and smokeheads. Trail racers and poke-a-longs. The trails in Wisc are a zoo on weekends and I am sure Mich is no different. We unload Sunday night and load Sat morning. Fridays we don't do much. Thursdays are even getting a little spooky.
Good points John but most often what we hear in Vilas is human vs tree and Flight for life really not many head ons sled to sled. When I encounter an oncoming pack riding too fast and risky I tuck behind a tree so they have to hit the tree before me. If #1 is coming hard you can bet #2 will be less skilled and trying to catch up and prone to over correction tucking behind trees has never failed me. No way will I continue moving forward until the trail is clear and I only ride weekdays. Like Ezra said yes I have clicked skis with oncoming sleds & I'm really surprised there are not more head ons. I agree per unit is the key and more trail riders in the Midwest than powder hounds but when you take in the western USA I just don't know how the numbers would break?
Same thing here, impact with trees are far more common that other sleds. Likely because they are much easier targets, given their fixed position and quantity in close proximity to those losing control of their sleds vs. the moving target and lower number of other sleds/riders.
cuzzinolaf
Well-known member
Same thing here, impact with trees are far more common that other sleds. Likely because they are much easier targets, given their fixed position and quantity in close proximity to those losing control of their sleds vs. the moving target and lower number of other sleds/riders.
If you ride with Doospunk, you need to worry about sled to rider collisions.
Lol, right? Lmao
So far I have been lucky, but I know what you mean. Dostlar is my main problem. 2x so far. Both him t-boning me. Blames both on me! The video shows otherwise!
I agree, no one to blame but myself.
Plus, in the back country, look at your average speed verse when you are trail riding.
cuzzinolaf
Well-known member
So far I have been lucky, but I know what you mean. Dostlar is my main problem. 2x so far. Both him t-boning me. Blames both on me! The video shows otherwise!
Ha, hence the name for his sled.
snobuilder
Well-known member
I'm pretty sure most hellacious and fatal crashes happen "off trail"
much more likely to die in a slide off trail . **** I have been there 2 times waiting for choppers to pick a guy up trail ridding .
like john said the speed off trail alone keeps you alive .
and when west when you do get in to some trees they are usually pines and the big branches knock you off before your sled heads down that trunk hole .
now all that said I have wrecked far more stuff off trail than on . but mostly just tearing off A arms and busting plastic . I have yet to file a insurance loss on any sled .
snobuilder
Well-known member
DUH!
When some guy at a bar on a lake with a sled outside sez hold my beer......his crash is definitely gonna be "off trail"....LOL...I say who cares....crashing sucks anywhere you are.
I am just happy to hear alot of ppl are staying off the trails on weekends.
chicagosledder
New member
I would say bad wrecks happen on trail. Like an earlier post said, trading spindle paint is no fun. I almost got into a fist fight with some idiot years ago who damn near hit my 13 year old kid. We ride off trail and have zero issues so far.
T
Tracker
Guest
out west does since it all off trail mostly....its way safer with land and trees on either side of the trail....out west sometimes there is only up on one side of trail and precipice on other side...you don't even hit a tree and you can die...then at switchbacks...miss the trail and....HE GONE....then add in avalanches....huge boulder holes....ravine bottoms under snow....stumps....and animals...plus remoter than Midwest...you bleed to death before you get to town or freeze...my 2c
chicagosledder
New member
I wouldn't consider any of them to be off trail.