We have been out on the trails every day for almost two weeks except for last Friday and I found it somewhat interesting that I see more sleds parked at the bars and restaurants then I see on the trails. Last Thursday we did a loop from Presque Isle to Boulder Jct. to Manitowish Waters to Winchester and back to PI. We stopped at Goochs in Boulder for lunch and there was about 50 sleds parked there. From PI to Boulder we only saw about 10 sleds on the trails. From Boulder to MW we saw 5, and from MW back to PI we saw about 10. Trails were excellent and it snowed all day. 25 sleds parked at Retreat in PI. Dont get me wrong as I like to stop and tip one or two at my local haunts and I loved having great trails more or less to myself but I I found it funny that the bars were mobbed and the trails were not.
Interesting Observation
- Thread starter rph130
- Start date
last Saturday we headed south towards Sayner stopped at Stillwaters for an early lunch, it was packed at 11am. We saw a few sleds on the way not many. After lunch headed out and one of the sleds had an issue at 8 and 7 intersection. Within 10 minutes of sitting there must have 80 sleds go by. picbn has it right I think, going only one way does not give you an accurate count of traffic out, What I find interesting is only 2 stopped and asked if we were ok or needed anything, even when we started the sled up and it was doing a smoke show with the sides off. Pretty sure it blew a head gasket at that point. I will stop and ask anyone on the side of the trail with sides off, hood up, or looking intensely at a sled if they need any help, is that not norm anymore?
600_RMK_144
Active member
Notice the same often. Determined it's a matter of being in one place at one time. The bar is a gathering point for everyone vs. out on the trails you have multiple options, directions to head, trails to ride. Even SUPER busy days in The Black Hills, when Trailshead lodge is PACKED, once we hit the trails we very rarely run into other riders. Sure, there are a few that just park it at the bar rather than ride, but I think most that are spending the money on the sport do try to get a fair bit of miles on them when they are able.
picbn
Member
I’ll stop if it’s a single or two riders and a mechanical issue. If there are multiple riders , I figure they have it figured out.
We always stop and check to see if someone needs help. Along those lines, coming home two weeks ago - on a Sunday morning - I saw two guys on US 51 just south of Manitowish Waters in a pick-up truck with a sled in the back that was missing a wheel and the truck was sitting on the break disc. Not a good look. I was moving at highway speed, so it took me a minute to slow down, turn around, and drive back. Turned out that they couldn't get their jack to work and I had a spare hydraulic one in the truck. It took the three of us and some blocking timber to get the cheap (Harbor Freight - made in China junk) jack to lift the truck enough to get the spare wheel on. The lug nuts had all stripped and the aluminum wheel (which came off while driving and actually passed them on the road) had all of the lug holes rounded out. The steel spare fit tighter than the aluminum wheel, so we could take two lugs (out of ten/twelve) from each of the other three wheels to secure the wheel enough for them to get into town to buy a set of lug nuts. Not sure why they stripped off in the first place - probably weren't tight enough. The point is: I think sledders are the best at stopping and helping. While sitting there on the side of the road, several other vehicles with sleds slowed down and checked on us.
Yeah, well high priced gas perhaps makes it cheaper to drink than ride, eh? 
I always stop, at the very least slow down. If they give you the thumbs up, keep'er movin'
I'm not sure what normal is anymore. I know I "identify" as a snowmobiler. I'm married to the Female Gender. I belong to a club, pay my dues, license, permits, etc. I think I'm what used to be "normal". They say there's a Drag Show coming to town, that should be fun, who doesn't like the hot rods and fast cars!!!
I prefer to pass up crowed bar/grills like eateries where we can see who’s there and gear is safe. We only eat , drink and move on probably no more than an hour. Recently we were at an eatery for lunch that used to be just us during the week and the place was mobbed the sled parking area was a zoo. Hopefully we can find another place less crowded next time.
snobuilder
Well-known member
I have noticed the same.
Ok by me....LOL
I learned something new last year...there are destination places, such as Tomahawk, Minocqua, St Germain, Eagle River etc...and you see tons of sleds everywhere all weekend...but places like Mountain, Lakewood, Carter and Wabeno are just starting points...you see tons of sleds all day (most heading north)...we hit a local watering hole in mountain at around 8 pm....and there were no sleds there...in fact there were very few sleds on the trail at all...we were shocked...trails were awesome, and there was nobody on them...(from mountain all the way to carter)....its like they all just disappeared..
The bartender said people park in that area and ride north...usually to michigan..she pointed out the large parking areas at several gas stations.(which i noticed on the way back...huge rigs with large trailers parked all over)...she said people start here, but very few stay here..."We are not a destination area"...couldn't believe it...you would run into hundreds of sleds on a Saturday night from Tomahawk to Minocqua...but not in that mountain/lakewood area...trails were incredible and nobody was on them...still blows me away just thinking about it
The bartender said people park in that area and ride north...usually to michigan..she pointed out the large parking areas at several gas stations.(which i noticed on the way back...huge rigs with large trailers parked all over)...she said people start here, but very few stay here..."We are not a destination area"...couldn't believe it...you would run into hundreds of sleds on a Saturday night from Tomahawk to Minocqua...but not in that mountain/lakewood area...trails were incredible and nobody was on them...still blows me away just thinking about it
snobuilder
Well-known member
Keep the traffic up by you.
What you are seeing is day riders...about an hour north of the Fox Valley. They come up, ride and go back the same day. The local towns on Hy. 32 such as Mountain, Lakewood, Townsend, Carter ....Wabeno all offer great parking areas. They drive to the nearest "good" conditions and drop.
The Nicolet State Trail...ie; North/South recreational freeway offers access to many riding options.
indy_500
Well-known member
Yep… another thing to keep in mind is there is hardly ANY LODGING in the LMT area… I would love to ride that area more with the family but there’s nowhere to stay.
The areas attakman mentioned has an abundance of lodging for snowmobilers to stay at.
Also on a side note, I know TONS of people from the fox valley that all have cabins in the LMT area, popular spot for fox valley residents for sure!
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eagle1
Well-known member
Shhhhhh!!
indy_500
Well-known member
Yep!! We stopped at Stillwater’s in star lake 2 Fridays ago at 10:55. First ones there, when we left around noon there had to be 50 sleds there!
snobuilder
Well-known member
Carter casino and Crandon (Best western?) about the only 2 besides a few mom and pops.