Give Your Season a Grade

[gary_in_neenah]

Most of us are shutting things down for the season and a good time to look back. Last fall, John Dee predicted a pretty much normal winter with an El Nino lurking out there in the Pacific.

"overall, it looks like most of the region will see close to average temps and snowfall occur for the season as a whole. This should lead to a fairly decent season for snow-play."

But by the end of January I was having my doubts until the temperatures dropped and the snow started piling up. By Ground Hog day, the local trails were open, marginal at first but improving with each snowfall. Hats off to the clubs and groomers that helped make February and into March a great time to be a snowmobiler. I was especially impressed with the grooming in Iron County considering the extensive miles they maintain. Our club has already booked a return to Mercer in 2020.

So all things considered, I'll give my season a B+ only because we got a late start locally.

A couple of pictures from this past season on the snow.


Shoveling the Roof in Price County


Ejection Seat from a crashed B47 near Mercer


One of our Club Rides in Iron County

 

[favoritos]

I'd go with a B+ because of the late weather start. I would give a solid A grade to the latter part of the season.
It was incredible once the season got rolling. Fresh snow kept coming and the trail grooming could take a hold. The region as a whole was pretty good so we had options for riding destinations. That also helped spread out the traffic.

We even joked about comparing driving on the roads compared to riding. The roads were worse than the trails on the last few trips.

 

[dfattack]

I'd go with a B+ because of the late weather start. I would give a solid A grade to the latter part of the season.
It was incredible once the season got rolling. Fresh snow kept coming and the trail grooming could take a hold. The region as a whole was pretty good so we had options for riding destinations. That also helped spread out the traffic.

We even joked about comparing driving on the roads compared to riding. The roads were worse than the trails on the last few trips.

i would agree with the B+ for the same reasons. Definitely an A for the latter half of the season. The comment about the roads vs. trails...are you referring to how bumpy the roads were from the frost? If so, the roads were absolutely nuts riding in a HD pickup!

 

[zozo2]

Same grades from me. We kept saying "...too bad this isn't December or January..." when we were riding in February-March.

 

[whitedust]

I would give this season a solid B. Widespread snow allowed us to access southern Forest and Florence counties from Vilas. These counties have excellent trails, excellent grooming and we enjoyed the southern options. Unfortunately Vilas got buried in snow and I couldn’t access some of my unplowed FRs that I depend on to access trails. Phelps Club had numerous grooming problems so getting thru Phelps was a constant problem as well. Overall a B with a late start for Vilas with an A for the UP from Sidnaw over to Big Bay and everything south of there as well.

 

[slimcake]

Also a B here. Put about 1000 miles on around home which isn't much but very enjoyable! 700 miles in da Yoop but wanted to get back up there one more time and that didn't happen. It was a struggle keeping ahead of the snow with my folks down south and having to take care of their house as well as my own and the business. Really would have been ideal if the one month winter would have been spread out over the whole season but.... We could ride locally and that hasn't happened in a few years.

 

[indy_500]

A- for me. Started off the year with a trip to the snowies/madres for 4 days of riding the mountains with the breeze and a good buddy. Throughout January we had very poor conditions locally. I made 3 day trips to Vilas to ride the trail sleds with the girlfriend and rode ER/ST.G/Minocqua areas. By end of January we started getting some good snow at home and the trails opened up. Picked up a xc 120 for the little one, trail rode with him to just about every bar/restaurant within an hour of home about 3 days a week after school for the entire month of February and first week of march. During that time the UP backcountry also got going finally, and i made 5 daytrips up there over the weekend to ride the backcountry on the mountain sled. Sure wish the season tapered off better instead of coming to an abrupt halt both on the UP and at home. But all good things must come to an end. So glad i got to enjoy every day playing in the snow with the little dude and loved watching the smile on his face ripping around the yard on his 120!

 

[xcr440]

A until February 16th. Had been on the sled every weekend since mid December, with two 10 day trips mixed in. Then I found a 10' ditch riding around home and took out my back. 4400+ miles at that point - did get out a couple times for some painful "had to do it" rides, but that was it. Just short of 4800 for the season, and didn't ride much the last 6 weeks.

 

[elf]

So I'd give it a B. Rough start to the season as we crashed the truck/trailer heading up for the first ride of the yr. Lots of snow that weekend but then my wife crashed and ended up in the hospital so that was not the best start to the year. Fantastic snow after that, some of the best back country we've had up the north shore. Fantastic trip to Utah, some great rides around home, and then the last big trip to the cabin my son blew up his sled. Finally got it all tore apart and its junk. Need a new crankcase, new crank, one new jug and two pistons. Basically a new engine but it had 9100 miles on it so it's been good. So overall, I'd give the season a B just because it got really expensive!

 

[euphoric1]

For me an A, only get one chance a year in U.P. And even though only got 1 1/2 days riding and 350 miles, not to mention a severe knee injury to my fiancé, It was and not knowing full extent of cost yet the most expensive snowmobile trip I ever had but trails were exceptional, we made reservations for next year when we left, picked up different sled for her and looking forward to next year. No regrets

 

[mrbb]

season here was a big fat F, local trails only opened for 4 days,and rest of yr NO snow to ride on 4th yr in a row we have not had really any snow at all, as to past yrs when we had many weeks of good snow and trails to ride!
second closest place to ride that typically has great snow,(5 hr north of me) was also lacking most of the yrs with far too many warm up's and rains, with trails never really having a great base and snow falls were far and few
wish it wasn't what it was, but being honest here!
sold sled and trailer, too LOL
maybe NOW it will snow LOL

 

[rv245]

A big fat F also, only because I had a hip replacement done the 2nd of January. So I was benched for the season. I did manage to go up north to our place on a regular basis only to sit inside and watch all the sleds go by. My son managed to get about 1500 miles this year riding by himself, I his riding partner.

For those that did get out and rode, I would give it a B+, only because of the late start.

You all can thank me for the great riding this year, because hip is fine now and I'll be riding next winter. That's means back to the sucky "C" winters.

 

[blkhwkbob]

A big fat F also, only because I had a hip replacement done the 2nd of January. So I was benched for the season. I did manage to go up north to our place on a regular basis only to sit inside and watch all the sleds go by. My son managed to get about 1500 miles this year riding by himself, I his riding partner.

For those that did get out and rode, I would give it a B+, only because of the late start.

You all can thank me for the great riding this year, because hip is fine now and I'll be riding next winter. That's means back to the sucky "C" winters.

The relief you'll feel from that hip will make it worth it. I've had two done. I don't know what people did before these surgeries. Lived in pain, I guess.

 

[dcsnomo]

F
Day one of trip rental sled breaks down between Gay and Phoenix. Rode the back of a tow rope to a bar outside of Calumet, by the time replacement arrived was cold and cranky, rode back to Houghton. 100 miles
Day two...weather so bad had to wear bibs to walk to breakfast, Mich Tech closed for two days. Got drunk with Tech students, 0 miles
Day three...so cold **** froze over, I thought the Vikings had won the Superbowl. Lost buddy on Nichols, made it to Bug Bar, he showed up, made it as far as Krupps. Turned in sleds and went home. 80 miles
Door County ride to Birminghams, great ride, buddy's sled broke in Carlsville, more tow rope.

And that was my season.

 

[Skylar]

Mine was an A. Started in November with some nice pow in the yoop, then a little slow in the beginning of January, but then ma nature came through, and i had 7 weekends if awesome back country riding. Ripped off 180 miles this past Saturday on perfectly flat trails from TL to CH and back. It was an awesome season!

 

[old abe]

A+, For the 1100 miles I was only able to ride. The absolute best riding conditions in years, but too short due to several warm ups in temps/thaws. F, for the part of the season I was sidelined, and not able to ride.

 

[skiseadoo]

I would give it a “C”. Only got 1951 miles in. Drove all the way to Togwotee to rode 1/2 day and had to come home. Buddy was sick and there was no sense riding in the mountains alone. All the guides were spoken for. Since I was planning on leaving my equipment in West Yellowstone and fly back for another week, that got ruined also. The end of the season somewhat made up for it, but was disappointing. Wished we would have went up to Munising 1 last time 2 weeks ago.

 

[snobuilder]

With a triple bypass in late August, I figured I'd be back to 4000 miles so i was a bit disappointed that I only rode 1500 on WI twistys.......Had a great year. My riding partner rocks and so did the trails. EH,PLUS

 

[POLARISDAN]

triple bypass? geez..

absolute A+..some of the best trails ive ever rode this year..every single time out..dont even think i put on many miles..but they were awesome..

 

[dothedoo]

With a triple bypass in late August, I figured I'd be back to 4000 miles so i was a bit disappointed that I only rode 1500 on WI twistys.......Had a great year. My riding partner rocks and so did the trails. EH,PLUS

The stress of riding 800 2 strokes for a few years getting to you?