Good Job People!!

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whitedust

Well-known member
I don't know the exact snowmobile death toll figures in the WI Northwoods so far this season but it seems we are way down from previous years. Area Radio & TV News have NOT had many reports that I know of this year. Conditions have also not been ideal with icy corners on the weekends better during the week. So congrats to all that rode the WI Northwoods & keep up safe riding!:)
 
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ohiosledder

Active member
The deaths have been declining for a few years now. I just went to the MI DNR site to see the figures, and curiously enough the last report was from '08-'09 - what's up with that?
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
I'm trying to figure it out too? New sleds better tech results in safer rides? I don't think riders have slowed down just not what I see during the day on trails. Stopped drinking & riding? It's good news just don't know what caused the decline??
 
6

6hundy6

Member
MN went from 19 last season to 7 currently. Alchohal related over 70%.
Better equipment definitely has something to do with it, I think. Dont forget all the efforts going into maintaining trail systems these days. It has come a long way in the last 20 years.
 
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nic

New member
Hopefully people don't take this the wrong way- but my thought- the economy. And I don't just mean fewer riders overall. I think a lot of younger folks can't afford it. With the cost of machines, and fuel, and lodging. It's an easy $500+ weekend just for lodging and food/gas for one. Not to mention the intial sled. I certainly didn't have 5K (or more) for a decent machine when I was 22 years old. Insurance, etc. Not to generalize (and although I'm 33, I still think I'm 25)- but that younger crowd is usually the group that is riding too fast for conditions, drinking, etc. Not going to lie and say I was never a part of that group, because I was. So my thought is that the slow economy, the higher costs- are probably keeping the numbers of folks in this group out of the game for now. Just a guess. And I'm not trying to slam anyone in particular. Don't get all defensive and tell me how you're 22 and you have a million dollars and never drink. That's great. But it's not the norm. So that's my hypothesis.
 
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6hundy6

Member
Good point nic, I dont see nearly as many of the younger riders out there. when I was growing up my buddies and I always had sleds. I owned my own sled before I even thought about owning a car, and so did a large group of us kids. The price to own and operate snowmobiles these days is alot more than years ago. I never even thought of it that way, I think you have a good point.
 
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pwolfy2003

Member
nic

great points nic, on that same note i heard the other day that the ave. age of snowmobilers is 47, might be for wi. not sure
 
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neldogmxz

Member
Well put

Well put Nic and way to cover your tracks 1st as you know from being on here that no doubt somebody will take immediate offense and jump down your s**t!
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Sledders always seem to find the money to ride & weekends were crazy busy in Vilas. Weekdays not so much & sometimes just me out there maybe I would see 3-4 sleds on Noon -5PM rides. I saw a lot more people in the UPMI during the week usually large groups 8-15 or so.
 
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russholio

Well-known member
Might be on to something, Nic. Granted, I do 99.9% of my riding during the week, but it seem like I saw less of the younger crowd this year and more older/family riders. I gotta say, I encountered very few Ricky Racer/PTR's compared to years past.

Of course, lousy snowfall in most of rideable Michigan probably hasn't helped much, either.
 
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nic

New member
I think weather, overall economy, etc all definitely play a role in overall traffic volumes. And overall traffic volumes definitely impact the accident/death rates. But I feel like you see less groups of younger people than you did say 5-10 yrs ago. You can't (or it's hard to) find a reliable machine for $1500. One that you carry just liability on b/c you didn't shell out a lot for it in the first place (which is what we all used to do). And gas isn't .99/gallon anymore. Like someone said- we came up when we were in high school. Unless mom & dad are footing the bill- most HS kids can't hit the northwoods for the weekend anymore. Like I said- lodging, fuel, etc. And for those that want to get involved after college, they get a job, want to get back into the sport they enjoyed as a kid, maybe with their family- they need a solid $8K ready to just spend. Ride, trailer, gear, etc. I think the price of machines & gear, combined with the economy, and fuel prices- has changed the demographic of snowmobilers. And let's face it, us older (I'm only 33, I don't think I really qualify for this group =) folks have hopefully learned from the stupid things we did in our 20s and are hopefully a tad safer out there. Accidents are going to happen, that's just a fact. But I think your 'I'm invincible' snowmobile population has decreased.
Either way- it's great that these numbers go down. Now hopefully all the news stations/media will make a big deal of that (doub it). It would be nice to get some positive press. I'll even be ok if DNR wants to take the credit for it b/c of their patrols, safety classes, whatever. Fact is, less deaths/accidents and we should all be happy about that.
 
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bobt

Active member
3 possible reasons they are down:

1) Low Snow Amounts

2) Snow melted

3) More low Snow amounts after 2 melt downs
 
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jakester

New member
Nic, I see you are from Mchenry area, Although the totals are down, unfortunately two people from are area were killed in Wisconsin ,only hours apart. One was a 17yr old girl from Johnsburg,and the other a 44yr old male from my nieghborhood. I didn't know the young girl but the guy only lived a block from me. I didn't know him that well,just a few hi's when walking the dog. He was a boat mechanic and was know has "MERCMAN" in the area. He left a wife and 4th grade daughter. May the both of them be in a better place. Prayers for both families. I was without sleds this year for the first time in 30yrs. I think if people don't wake up and give back to this sport, I believe it will kill itself. I know I didn't miss going out this year and fixing all the things with landowners because of the selfish ones out there that Think, just because I have a sled I can go any where I want. Did I miss it? Yeh. Will I get back into it, don't know. But all the years I rode I was in a club and Clubs do give back. Sorry for the preaching. Still thinking snow!! Jake
 
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fredster

New member
I agree with Nic. Got back into the sport in 2000 in MI. Took 5 trips to UP the first year. It was crazy. Too many people, too many sleds, a lot of drinking, a lot of accidents and deaths. Every year since then there are fewer and fewer riders in MI as the manufacturing economy has died off. We had a couple of bad winters but even in the good years it just keeps dropping. I don't see as many young 20's riders any more. While I still run across someone running 10/10th's or more, I have nowhere near the close calls I had with other sleds the first 1-2 years. 10 years ago you could get a nice used sled for $2500, a trailer for $600 and you could ride. Nowadays it cost two to three times that for almost new-used and a LOT more for new. People just can't afford it and (I believe) those who do, do not take the same chances with a $12K snowmobile that they would with a $3K snowmobile.....the times have changed....
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
Well I almost got killed today there was a creek that I knew was coming up, and it's a 90 degree drop down and 90 degrees back up. If you go to slow you get stuck in water, too fast like me and you hit it HARD. If i had the right, i'd take a can of orange or red spray paint all around it but I might get in trouble for doing that.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
indy_500 said:
Well I almost got killed today there was a creek that I knew was coming up, and it's a 90 degree drop down and 90 degrees back up. If you go to slow you get stuck in water, too fast like me and you hit it HARD. If i had the right, i'd take a can of orange or red spray paint all around it but I might get in trouble for doing that.
Click to expand...

Well sounds like you are correct Nic. Oh Indy such a young man. :p
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
whitedust said:
Well sounds like you are correct Nic. Oh Indy such a young man. :p
Click to expand...

Do you think it'd be right for me to spray paint around the area, attempt to fill in the creek with logs, snow, etc.? I belong to the club that this trail is on, but I do not have the trail chairmans phone # It is very dangerous for sure. On my way back I rode into the woods to go around it. Sure, I was trespassing but i'm glad I didn't get bucked off my sled again.
 
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