Info on Michigan trail permits

russholio

Well-known member
Personally, I'm more concerned about the price of fuel than I am the price of trail permits. When I started riding in 1993, trail permits were $10 for four months. Now they're $45 for four months. Yes, I know it's a four-fold increase, but it's over the course of four months. The price of fuel since then has skyrocketed, and that's every time I fill a tank on a sledding trip -- be it in my truck or my sled. I guarantee that the $35 increase in trail permit fees pales in comparison to how much more I'm paying for fuel. And I'm getting nothing more for my money (if anything, we're getting crappier gasoline and our roads are even crappier yet). I can at least honestly say that trail quality has improved significantly since the days when I was paying $10 for a permit.

Sorry, but even if you're buying two permits (as I do) at $90, I still think it's a bargain considering you could easily spend that in a few hours on a night out on the town.
 

craigrev

Member
Mi also collects $.19 per gal. as a road fuel tax. If 170,000 sleds buy 50gal /year (average for example purposes), that would be another $1,615,000 that should be spent on trails. This figure could be alot more. No way of keeping track of fuel consumption of sleds vs. cars. Any way you look at it, there is a massive amount of money in play here. After paying road fuel tax, would it be too much to ask to get a little snow left at the edge of these sometimes miles of plowed road/trail? DOT benefits financially from sleds, but throws them the finger when it comes to plowing trails down to bare pavement. I will keep buying both Wi and MI permits as I enjoy riding both areas. I also appreciate all of the hard work and dedication of those who keep our trails maintained. THANK YOU!!!
 

chevytaHOE5674

New member
Would you pay $45 for a nice steak dinner?

Not unless it was the last meal on earth. If I paid 45 dollars for a single meal it would be my last just before the heart attack ensued.

When the other half and I choose to dine out (which isn't a common occurrence) the bill is almost always less than 20 bucks for the 2 of us.....
 

polarisrider1

New member
Not unless it was the last meal on earth. If I paid 45 dollars for a single meal it would be my last just before the heart attack ensued.

When the other half and I choose to dine out (which isn't a common occurrence) the bill is almost always less than 20 bucks for the 2 of us.....
Guess you never had dinner at Togwotee, Brooks Lake or lava Mtn. without being on the pkg. then. Or even the Library in Houghton.
 

chevytaHOE5674

New member
Some may call me cheap, I think of it as frugal. Why spend 45 dollars on a dinner when 10 bucks or less will do the job. I raise cattle so if I want a good steak I look no further than the back 40.

I was at Tech for 4.5 years, graduated; and have lived up here for many years since, and I think I've been to the Library in Houghton one time.
 

crispyknite

New member
Would you like to get top doller for your cattle. I would be one of them spending $45 for a nice steak 3 or 4 times a year.
 

polarisrider1

New member
Some may call me cheap, I think of it as frugal. Why spend 45 dollars on a dinner when 10 bucks or less will do the job. I raise cattle so if I want a good steak I look no further than the back 40.

I was at Tech for 4.5 years, graduated; and have lived up here for many years since, and I think I've been to the Library in Houghton one time.
I did not get the dollar menu there. A Bloody Mary and a beer chaser runs more than $10 at the library.
 

polarisrider1

New member
Would you like to get top doller for your cattle. I would be one of them spending $45 for a nice steak 3 or 4 times a year.
Don't forget to mention the loaded Bake potato, salad and desert. Add in an appetizer and a couple drinks and a tip, I see $50-$60 go fast. Oh, and that's per person.
 

crispyknite

New member
I'm not rich and never owned a new sled. Me and the wife get by with what we have. A $180 thousand home and a 2005 van. We like to go out and have a nice dinner. Last month we dropped $140 on dinner and a drink with a tip for both of us.
 

chevytaHOE5674

New member
Would you like to get top doller for your cattle.

As far as "top dollar" for cattle, that $45 steak is the same steak some other restaurant else sells for $18.95, and the same one at the meat market for $4/lbs....

Also have about 800lbs of taters in the root cellar, head of lettuce is .89 cents on sale this week and the other half loves to bake. Can have the steak dinner, tater, salad, and desert for a whole family for a whole lot less than it cost for one person at some fancy restaurant and put the "saving" into something with a use and lifespan (IE something that can be used more than once unlike food), and I know where the food comes from ta boot.


Edit: Some people seem to think that just because you like to snowmobile means you have money to toss around (IE frequent $45 meals). Some of us don't make/have gobs of money to spend but we like to enjoy the winter and the outdoors. Snowmobiling used to be a sport for the masses, now it seems more and more like a sport for the rich and snobby.
 
Last edited:

crispyknite

New member
It's all what makes you happy. We like going out to eat. we like snowmobiling. We like going to the movie. It's a happy feeling you get when your having fun. If you like eating dinner it home all the time then i'm happy for you.
 

polarisrider1

New member
It is all about priorities. Some guys golf, some go Bowling, some just stay at home and beat the wife and kids. Some live to work, some live to play. Some of us like good Wiskey and others like cheap beer, what difference does it make? (other than the wife beater). It is all about priorities. I have 5 trail permits on one sled and have not complained once about it. But I refuse to pay retail for anything. Priorities.
 

xsledder

Active member
cripyknife, your exchange with chevytaHOE5674 was meaningless and insulting. What do you think you proved with the exchange?
 

crispyknite

New member
xsledder I proved nothing. I just can not stand people that cannot pay $45 for a trail pass to ride. You go out east or to canada and you pay more.
 

xsledder

Active member
xsledder I proved nothing. I just can not stand people that cannot pay $45 for a trail pass to ride. You go out east or to canada and you pay more.

I didn't buy a MI permit this year not because I can't afford it. I didn't buy a MI permit this year because it's not worth it to me. So, you can't stand me?

However, I would buy a Canadian, eastern state, or a western state permit because I normally don't ride in those areas and it would be something different.
 

polarisrider1

New member
I didn't buy a MI permit this year not because I can't afford it. I didn't buy a MI permit this year because it's not worth it to me. So, you can't stand me?

However, I would buy a Canadian, eastern state, or a western state permit because I normally don't ride in those areas and it would be something different.
Bus is leaving for Canada on Thursday night. The 16th. Permit is $100 for 3 days. Got 8 guys going. Off trail mostly. Email for more info.
 
Top