$45 is too much

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chadlyt

Member
hahaha, you have to watch out around here lately. People are real testy. Mention anything negative about Krupps Gas, off trail pro's/cons, Gov. Walker (haha), or anything related, people will have no mercy.

I understand your statement and can see why you may be deterred. I bought 2 passes and was able to ride 200 miles with the family and kids after x-mas. I hope to make it back up, but I may not be able to this year. $90 for 400 miles kinda hurts.

Last year I came up and there was NO SNOW around mid feb right after the big meltdown. I think the passes were $30 per? We reserved on Gogebic and found snow in twin lake for 60 miles...

We were able to take advantage of the free fishing weekend the MI-DNR offered though. that was great, especially on Gogebic on the ice.

In the past, have there been any free weekends for sleds or day passes?
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
polarisrider1 said:
Keith, does it matter? It is a pay to play setup. Michigan does fantastic with the trails considering the volume of traffic it has. Weekend passes for $20 would be an idea. But would that include friday night to go along with Sat. and Sun.? most violators would be on Friday night. I know that crying here on JDee will get you nowhere on trail permit prices.
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It isn't the amount. It is the fact it almost doubled in two years.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
I dontplan on buying a MN pass this yr and if the up gets no real snow I may just have to spend my cash on a tix to Alaska to visite the old man and pound on his sled sorry snow machine for a week
 
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SLED_DOCTOR

Member
I paid the $45 this year (in fact x2, for my wife'sled) but as someone mentioned above I am not as active in a local club as I should be....In fact I haven't been active in 10 years. But everytime I come to the UP, the trails are groomed. I think $45 is pittance for the incredible job that they do!!
 
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upsledder

Member
Most people here just don't seem to realize that there are actually others who have to live on minimum wage and watch every dollar they spend, but still want to snowmobile.
 
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killerbee

Member
Its to much in these hard times... i think they will stir some people away from going there.
The cost of fuel rooms permits for some people 2 days of riding is just pricing the average guy out?
 
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loriwlrc

New member
Snowmobiling is an expensive addiction, from sleds,to gear to food ,gas, and lodging. We choose our drug of choice, and pay the price . But when you see a groomer out on the trail just remember that $45 trail sticker has gone 100% to the equipment, replacement parts, gas etc. Our club is an all volunteer club so that groomer buildings could be built to make life easier for the operators that spend hours if not days doing the repairs and maintance needed to be done. In the past with the lower trail fees the clubs had to take loans out and purchase the equipment and pay for the up keep, gas etc. now 100% goes into trail maintance. So remember when you see a groomer or equipment that brushes the trails, signs that sign the trails, bridges you pass over, it all came from that $45 fee
 
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windingtrailgal

Active member
polarisrider1 said:
Always a hot topic here. I have a concern on were to put my Michigan, Ontario, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana trail stickers on my sled and not be in violation in one state or the other. My Darn sled looks like luggage that has traveled the world. Now the instructions states not to put a new sticker (trail permit) over the previous years permits.
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Tru Dat!! Poor kid couldn't even find a spot to put his beloved Monster sticker on that darn RMK! He rode it this week and loved it!! Junky kid!

But to stay on topic....I hear what gs is saying. If you only get the chance to ride a few days in the UP, the $45 seems a little harsh. We have 5 sleds we have to buy passes for...I'm not complaining because I'm happy the money now stays with the MSA and doesn't go to the state and then funnel back and we have a house there now and ride there more than the Northwoods of WI.

I'm thinking he was just stating that it just kinda sucks. Just a hot button issue with the JD crowd?! :eek:
 
xsledder

xsledder

Active member
gscheck said:
I,m from southern Wi and usually make one trip up north every year. Sometimes northern Wi and sometimes the UP.I love the UP but sometimes we are only there for 2-3 days.If I made several trips a year there it would be worth it.How about a single day or week pass.Sorry but this year no UP for me.
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gscheck, you poor soul. Take cover and get ready for the bombardment.
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
$45 is NOT TOO MUCH when it is the only place with snow. You can beat your sled up on 6" of snow in mogul city in Eagle River all you want. Be my guest. I spent my $45 and I'll be riding on trails that are groomed every day, and that actually have snow! I make $7.25 an hour. It takes me 6 hours of work to pay for that trail permit, and I have no problem paying it, I don't understand why anybody would be turned off from the UP because of a $45 trail permit. How much does your sled cost again?
 
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duramax

New member
I agree Indy 500. I just bought a new sled and wisconsin is thin and rocky especially this year. The UP is well worth the $45 to me because factor in the whole weekends costs, and whats another $45. Just sayin. The $45 goes to the trail systems and the groomers. It costs a lot to run diesel fuel through those babies.
 
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upsledder

Member
indy_500 said:
$45 is NOT TOO MUCH when it is the only place with snow. You can beat your sled up on 6" of snow in mogul city in Eagle River all you want. Be my guest. I spent my $45 and I'll be riding on trails that are groomed every day, and that actually have snow! I make $7.25 an hour. It takes me 6 hours of work to pay for that trail permit, and I have no problem paying it, I don't understand why anybody would be turned off from the UP because of a $45 trail permit. How much does your sled cost again?
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Maybe the OP makes $7.25/hr and has a mortgage.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
upsledder said:
Maybe the OP makes $7.25/hr and has a mortgage.
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bottem line spendy yes but if you are strugeling to get the 45 to buy a sticker then move on.sucks but pay all your bills set aside cash for 9mo of life. pay heavy in to your 401 if you still have 12k left over and your cars trucks furnice roof are all good you can afford to ride that yr. if not you cant afford it and are prob spending your future and need to get your ducks in a row and stick to the vintage in the back yard.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
It is not the trail systems fault that you don't have the $45 for a trail perrmit. Do what you can afford. Snowmobiling is expensive, but so is many other things. I don't Golf , smoke, go out to eat much, go to movies,etc. So I have sledding money. If you want to ride bad enough the money comes. You get what you pay for. We are way over due for snow in the lower. At this point Ontario permit is looking to be a deal. They have snow on the north east end of Superior.
 
LoveMyDobe

LoveMyDobe

Active member
rakins800 said:
my only question for you is.....do you help brush in the fall, help with signage? Are you a member of a club? Are you a member of msa? Do you do anything to help this sport??? Or, do you just buy your sticker and think everything should fall in place? $45 is truly a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of time and money it truly takes to make this happen. Stay in wisconsin..........
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good point!!!
 
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mride460

New member
I love how this cost of the Michigan trail permit complaint always comes up no matter what the cost has risen to over the last few years but no one bats an eye at paying $9-$10 for a quart or $40-$50 per gallon for 2 stroke oil!! Amazing!
 
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groomerdriver

New member
upsledder said:
Most people here just don't seem to realize that there are actually others who have to live on minimum wage and watch every dollar they spend, but still want to snowmobile.
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I don't make minimum wage but with a family of 5 to support and living at just above break even, you have to watch every dollar. If this was 5-10 years ago I would have made at least two trips to the UP to ride. This year = 0

$90 to cross the border is OK, but some other business won't get my $$ because we have to trim back. Maybe it's a burger and not a steak. It's the free hotel breakfast vs. going out.
 
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