Idiots on the trails

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berglandbaybar

New member
I am Posting an email that was sent to me. I'm not sure it will do any good but if it slows one person down it will be worth it.

"I am sending this to you because everyone I talk to about sledding in the UP knows about your site.

My friends and I were up over King Day Weekend and had a freaking blast, even bought a new sled while I was there. I have only one issue and this is the part I hope your able to post.

While riding the trails, there were numerous other riders who did not have the common courtesy to hand signal how many riders were the group of on coming traffic. On top of this they seem to be taking their half of the trail out of the middle going what seemed to be 80 MPH. This kind of s*&% gets people hurt.

This is what I have to say to you, and you know who you are, If you cant ride with respect on common courtesy to the other on the trail STAY THE F*&% HOME!. MY KIDS AND FRIENDS ARE OUT THERE!"





Mark W
 
B

berglandbaybar

New member
timo said:
ohh lord please not the hand signal debate.
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I do not mean to start a hand signal debate, you are missing the point. I have groomers complaining that when they pull off trail to let sleds go by, they do not signal him, he pulls back on the trail and here comes his buddy way behind the lead sled and he has to pull off the trail again.

The too fast and hogging the trail especially in the corners, them are the people that cause accidents.
 
T

timo

Well-known member
i know you weren't meaning to make a hand signal debate. I undestood the jist of your post.




berglandbaybar said:
I do not mean to start a hand signal debate, you are missing the point. I have groomers complaining that when they pull off trail to let sleds go by, they do not signal him, he pulls back on the trail and here comes his buddy way behind the lead sled and he has to pull off the trail again.

The too fast and hogging the trail especially in the corners, them are the people that cause accidents.
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C

Clintondf

Member
It is courteous to hand signal. Atleast lets the leaders know if more sleds are coming. If the leaders are aware then they can slow up their group and help everyone stay safe. I always signal as does everyone i ride with. And it goes hand in hand with riders taking their half out of the middle. If a leader says i have 3 more coming i slow down and stay as far right as possible just in case the oncoming riders are coming around a turn on my side of the trail. I would say i see 60-70% of riders using hand signals. I understand some people may not know what the hand signals are for. I know some think they are just getting waved at. Just my 2 cents. I accept it for what it is. Deal with it. Try and Be safe. Hope for the best.
 
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bonnevier

Member
I've also seen folks in the middle of the pack not give the signal and that's ok...they need to keep their paws on the handle bars and keep the sled away from mine. As long as the lead dog and last man give the hand signals I am ok.

Heck, I'm ok without it as I always expect someone to be around that next turn.
 
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fireworks

New member
Some young buck ran into the groomer going out of Copper Monday morning. He had to pay Jake $2/mile to haul him and his sled back to Munising. Pretty sure that was a drive of shame. LOL
 
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Yooper_Bob

New member
I don't really care if oncoming sleds give a hand signal or not, since I am always expecting to meet a sled at anytime anyway.

What bugs me is the guys that can't keep it on their side of the trail. Last weekend, riding over by Republic, I had a group of 3 guys come tearing down the trail at me....all 3 were unable to keep it on their side. If I had not come to an almost complete stop, we would have collided.
 
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krupps_resort

New member
Twin Lakes - We have a copy of the Hand Signals hanging in our office. With this thought in mind, I just decided to hang a copy in every cabin.
 
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revhead2

New member
Yooper_Bob said:
I don't really care if oncoming sleds give a hand signal or not, since I am always expecting to meet a sled at anytime anyway.

What bugs me is the guys that can't keep it on their side of the trail. Last weekend, riding over by Republic, I had a group of 3 guys come tearing down the trail at me....all 3 were unable to keep it on their side. If I had not come to an almost complete stop, we would have collided.
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X2
 
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dab102999

New member
I consider hand signals as a courtisy and convience more then a requirement. I expect a person to control there sled more then tell me anything. But with that said that light that goes on a sled (can't remember name) that is green or red to show oncoming traffic how many in group is a great idea. Cost way to much. Can see no reason why sled manufatures can not incorperate this into new sleds....seriously two led lights of two different colors and a toggle switch...can't be that hard..

Ricky rockets or Harry Trail hogs have no excuse in my book. Control your sled...ride like a bat outta #$%% on the straight aways and lakes and keep in slow in the woods and tight and twisty's....
 
6

600_RMK_144

Well-known member
I can certainly understand the guys concern. Having your kids/ family/ friends out there and seeing that makes me worried. I want to get my 8 yr old into the sport, but not sure I could handle the stress. Did see a few families out Sunday and they all looked pretty freaked out when we came by, even if we were on our side.
 
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krupps_resort

New member
Twin Lakes - HAND SIGNALS are IMPORTANT for both COURTESY & SAFETY for SNOWMOBILERS as well as GROOMER OPERATORS. GROOMERS ARE ALOT BIGGER THAN A SNOWMOBILE. With that thought in mind, it's hard to understand why it is so hard to remember to stay on your own side at all times. IT IS ALSO THE RULE OF THE ROAD-WHY IS IT FORGOTTEN WHEN RIDING SNOWMOBILE? Do helmets cause people to forget common sense? Every snowmobiler needs to ask themselves "DO I WANT TO LIVE OR DO I WANT TO DIE" I hate to sound so brash about it but felt the need to be blunt. Too many scarey stories.
Sandy
 
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srobak

New member
This is much less about hand signals and much more about the safety, respect and consideration of others on the trail overall. The last sentence of the OP pretty much sums it up quite nicely...

and is bang-on correct.
 
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homan

Member
Can I tell the story about the lady that was giving hand signals near Grand Marais two years ago? Took her hand off the bar to signal, hit something under the snow with a ski, got flipped off the sled into the path of the oncoming sled. It broke her neck. Dead instantly.
No hand signals for me or anyone else that rides with us.
Stupid idea. Think about it......Do you ask drivers of cars to signal if anyone (that they know of) is following them?
 
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srobak

New member
Homan - if it tossed her sled that violently, then that would have likely happened if she had both hands on the bars. Sounds like she was also going way too fast for passing conditions. If you take 1 hand off you always strengthen your grip with the other. Always.
 
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