Question on trail pass backer

[Hoosier]

That Ontario debacle to not sell the 3 or 7 day was a huge blow to the area north of Lake Huron/Algoma Country. It's a darn shame too, because prior to that foolish bureaucratic decision, that area was arguably some of the best riding in the Great Lakes. However, Ontario now offers a FREE weekend in February, but you have to go online and register and download a "temporary" permit to affix to your sled. We took advantage of it in 2014 and boy has it changed around there. Gas, food and lodging was scarce compared to late 90's and early 2000's. Those bureaucrats literally cut off their nose to spite their face eh?? Note to any Canadians reading this: Bringing back the 3 or 7 day would bring a lot of Americans back over the ice bridge!!!!!

They have an even better deal now - you can buy the permit by the day - $25 loonies a day. A 3 day trip is $75 loonies, plus if you end up going up often, the maximum is what the total annual permit is. We bought the permits on our phones on the way up and took screen shots. Got stopped once and showed the mounties are phones, and we are off running again. Not a bad deal at all for the trails you get to ride.

They just changed that a couple years ago. The recession and high oil prices is a big part of what hurt them, not the change in trail permits.

 

[snobuilder]

i guess a person could say that the MI DNR condones permit swapping by not linking it to the sleds VIN....the trail permits are generic. If my sled breaks on the 1st day and I get another one to replace it you can be sure the fresh day old permit is some how getting stuck onto my next sled.

 

[chords]

Permits will get you one way or another

 

[Hoosier]

i wish my insurance man thought like some of you. i can only drive one car at a time, right?

But if you have two cars and one driver, your bill isn't twice as much as it would with either car.

 

[Leadwing72]

They have an even better deal now - you can buy the permit by the day - $25 loonies a day. A 3 day trip is $75 loonies, plus if you end up going up often, the maximum is what the total annual permit is. We bought the permits on our phones on the way up and took screen shots. Got stopped once and showed the mounties are phones, and we are off running again. Not a bad deal at all for the trails you get to ride.

They just changed that a couple years ago. The recession and high oil prices is a big part of what hurt them, not the change in trail permits.

Ok. I'll get to work telling all the folks I know and talk to that it's the recession's fault and they need to stop complaining about the change in the trail permit. Whew. I'm relieved.

 

[Hoosier]

The "recession" is a systemic reason for folks cutting the Canadian riding from the budget, there is no doubt. But that can apply to many former hotbed riding areas. The lack of an affordable trail permit in Ontario (3 day) is largely responsible for the lack of riders in the area north of Lake Huron. Friends and family on Drummond Island and neighboring St. Joe's island and Elliot Lake have all expressed to me that the lack of the lesser priced option has crushed the interest in riding there. It all goes back to the pertinent post here that suggested packages and options with regard to visitors purchasing permits.

Doesn't make sense since you can still buy 3 consecutive days for about the same price as the old 3 day. And Ontario traffic has been up the past couple years since they went to this system.

- - - Updated - - -

Ok. I'll get to work telling all the folks I know and talk to that it's the recession's fault and they need to stop complaining about the change in the trail permit. Whew. I'm relieved.

Why can't they buy 3 consecutive days instead of the old 3 day?

 

[chords]

Can I borrow a MI permit. I only need it for 2 long wk ends in Feb to ride on a MI lake

 

[Leadwing72]

Doesn't make sense since you can still buy 3 consecutive days for about the same price as the old 3 day. And Ontario traffic has been up the past couple years since they went to this system.

- - - Updated - - -



Why can't they buy 3 consecutive days instead of the old 3 day?

Most Islanders ride over to St. Joe's on the tree line, ride a couple club trails, go spend some coin at the Tilt'n Hilton for some grub and the best Bloody Caesars in Canada, and then head back. But a funny thing happened in addition to the "recession." The border crossing back into the US on Drummond became a huge pain in the arse around 2005. Tour operators on Drummond and in Algoma liked to sell folks on the week pass, because 3 days wouldn't be long enough, especially if there were issues along the way causing delays. Some very friendly Canadian businesses might sell you a 3 day and maybe push the date out to buy you a couple extra days. It just was way more attractive then than it is now, regardless of the flipping economy. We used to have groups of a dozen every year, but the variety of reasons for the drop off is not exclusive to the recession. We still try to get over every year and the mood over there is not what it was back in the hey day. I'm merely trying to point out that, based on talking to folks, boots on the ground, when Ontario made their stand and told US riders that to enjoy their trails you had to fork out $200+ for a permit, throngs of folks said no thanks. Thing may have improved in recent years but the damage has been done.

 

[Hoosier]

Most Islanders ride over to St. Joe's on the tree line, ride a couple club trails, go spend some coin at the Tilt'n Hilton for some grub and the best Bloody Caesars in Canada, and then head back. But a funny thing happened in addition to the "recession." The border crossing back into the US on Drummond became a huge pain in the arse around 2005. Tour operators on Drummond and in Algoma liked to sell folks on the week pass, because 3 days wouldn't be long enough, especially if there were issues along the way causing delays. Some very friendly Canadian businesses might sell you a 3 day and maybe push the date out to buy you a couple extra days. It just was way more attractive then than it is now, regardless of the flipping economy. We used to have groups of a dozen every year, but the variety of reasons for the drop off is not exclusive to the recession. We still try to get over every year and the mood over there is not what it was back in the hey day. I'm merely trying to point out that, based on talking to folks, boots on the ground, when Ontario made their stand and told US riders that to enjoy their trails you had to fork out $200+ for a permit, throngs of folks said no thanks. Thing may have improved in recent years but the damage has been done.

Gotcha. What did the old 7 day pass go for? Maybe the daily pass times 7 is too much. We just started riding up there the past 3 years. The first year, we did the free weekend plus a 3 day pass. The past couple years we bought daily passes for however many days we were there. We've been riding out of Searchmont or Wawa. The Wawa hotel we stayed at has pictures all over the place from the glory years - all late 90's early 2000's. They blame the recession, high gas prices and the poor exchange rate, which is where I got that from. The gas prices and the exchange rate are better now. Sure love being up there, only problem is the extreme cold at times.

 

[snobuilder]

Can I borrow a MI permit. I only need it for 2 long wk ends in Feb to ride on a MI lake

I'll leave mine stuck to the mirror in the men's can @ Hoppy's when my riding is done this year.... just payin it forward....maybe one a youse that rides til June can use it.

 

[Leadwing72]

Can I borrow a MI permit. I only need it for 2 long wk ends in Feb to ride on a MI lake

That's awesome!! Maybe one of the resident economists can lease you one with an option to buy.

 

[Ramsey]

Lastly, this is another great argument point for 3 day passes to be sold too.

-John

Thank you JD

 

[Leadwing72]

Gotcha. What did the old 7 day pass go for? Maybe the daily pass times 7 is too much. We just started riding up there the past 3 years. The first year, we did the free weekend plus a 3 day pass. The past couple years we bought daily passes for however many days we were there. We've been riding out of Searchmont or Wawa. The Wawa hotel we stayed at has pictures all over the place from the glory years - all late 90's early 2000's. They blame the recession, high gas prices and the poor exchange rate, which is where I got that from. The gas prices and the exchange rate are better now. Sure love being up there, only problem is the extreme cold at times.

Yeah it can be stupid cold up there. We had 14 riders in Wawa for Y2K (ok there were some paranoid people in the group that were nervous and wanted to be far away from population centers. Haha). That's a **** of a trip, but the trailering up there is cumbersome. Riding from Drummond Island over is a less taxing and less expensive venture, but well worth it. If you get a chance, try it. You won't regret it.

 

[Hoosier]

That's awesome!! Maybe one of the resident economists can lease you one with an option to buy.

That's funny. Everyone here is a know-at-all.

- - - Updated - - -

Yeah it can be stupid cold up there. We had 14 riders in Wawa for Y2K (ok there were some paranoid people in the group that were nervous and wanted to be far away from population centers. Haha). That's a **** of a trip, but the trailering up there is cumbersome. Riding from Drummond Island over is a less taxing and less expensive venture, but well worth it. If you get a chance, try it. You won't regret it.

Will keep that in mind.

We spent Y2K in Hurley. Figured that would be a good place to be when the computer systems that ran the world stopped working - and that was before everyone had their face buried in a cell phone 24/7. Think I was about 22 then, and I think we expected Hurley to be a lot different than it turned out to be. Had fun but haven't been back since.

 

[old abe]

Most Islanders ride over to St. Joe's on the tree line, ride a couple club trails, go spend some coin at the Tilt'n Hilton for some grub and the best Bloody Caesars in Canada, and then head back. But a funny thing happened in addition to the "recession." The border crossing back into the US on Drummond became a huge pain in the arse around 2005. Tour operators on Drummond and in Algoma liked to sell folks on the week pass, because 3 days wouldn't be long enough, especially if there were issues along the way causing delays. Some very friendly Canadian businesses might sell you a 3 day and maybe push the date out to buy you a couple extra days. It just was way more attractive then than it is now, regardless of the flipping economy. We used to have groups of a dozen every year, but the variety of reasons for the drop off is not exclusive to the recession. We still try to get over every year and the mood over there is not what it was back in the hey day. I'm merely trying to point out that, based on talking to folks, boots on the ground, when Ontario made their stand and told US riders that to enjoy their trails you had to fork out $200+ for a permit, throngs of folks said no thanks. Thing may have improved in recent years but the damage has been done.

I'm not trying to argue Leadwing72, and I must be missing something. But from what you have said I would have to say it appears the new Canadian permit format would be more friendly to your needs. We purchase the annual permit at the early discount, as it gives us many more options as to timing, conditions and ect. It's a long trip just to get up there for us. You are fortunate to be able to just jump across, and go!! Nice!!! Hoosier is spot on the exchange rate deal, and it is very good right now for US visitors. When money is tight, it has a big affect on a trip, good or bad. Has not been this good since 02/03. Good luck to you, and enjoy your ridding!!!!!!! Ride it when you can.

 

[Hoosier]

I'm not trying to argue Leadwing72, and I must be missing something. But from what you have said I would have to say it appears the new Canadian permit format would be more friendly to your needs. We purchase the annual permit at the early discount, as it gives us many more options as to timing, conditions and ect. It's a long trip just to get up there for us. You are fortunate to be able to just jump across, and go!! Nice!!! Hoosier is spot on the exchange rate deal, and it is very good right now for US visitors. When money is tight, it has a big affect on a trip, good or bad. Has not been this good since 02/03. Good luck to you, and enjoy your ridding!!!!!!! Ride it when you can.

Halfway haven opening up has helped a ton too for the Wawa area. First time we went to Wawa, it was before HWH opened up. There was snow everywhere and basically zero sleds in town.

Leadwing72 is right about the gas stations closing up too. Ontario changed some of the regulations and in doing so basically shut down a lot of smaller stations - just about anything with above ground tanks. With Searchmont not having gas, it's hard to get from the Sault north without carrying gas, so we have been starting in Searchmont.

 

[Leadwing72]

I'm not trying to argue Leadwing72, and I must be missing something. But from what you have said I would have to say it appears the new Canadian permit format would be more friendly to your needs. We purchase the annual permit at the early discount, as it gives us many more options as to timing, conditions and ect. It's a long trip just to get up there for us. You are fortunate to be able to just jump across, and go!! Nice!!! Hoosier is spot on the exchange rate deal, and it is very good right now for US visitors. When money is tight, it has a big affect on a trip, good or bad. Has not been this good since 02/03. Good luck to you, and enjoy your ridding!!!!!!! Ride it when you can.

Jolly good men! I didn't want to come off as combative, I was just regurgitating what I've heard from our group and the locals up there, kinda like Hoosier heard in Wawa. 3 of us were jonesing for some Canadian riding back in '14, so we did the free weekend and rode from Drummond over to mainland Canada and then the 18 mile tree line to Manitoulin Island for two nights. WOW! We were shocked how desolate that place was. And the trails through Thessalon, Blind River and Elliot Lake were still righteous but there were some trail closures and way less gas and food. It was sad. On the good side, though, with no traffic the trails were in phenomenal shape.

 

[snobuilder]

The more info the better, Leadwing....

 

[old abe]

We generally ride the boonies/wilderness trails northward. The fewer fuel/gas stops situation had already got fewer, and farther between in 07, and 08. Same with lodging, and food/eats. Many only open several hours, and only at certain times of the day. Many of the small lumber towns were only alive due the lumber mills skeleton work force needed to keep things from freezing up during the winter. How ever if you asked ahead, and planned, we never got skunked. Kind of adds to the adventure!!! Where, and how we ride we're good for 200+ miles if needed between stops. It's as good as it gets for us. We only wish that the North of Superior loop was still available. Really rugged, but beautiful between Marathon and Thunder Bay.

 

[POLARISDAN]

i'll leave mine stuck to the mirror in the men's can @ hoppy's when my riding is done this year.... Just payin it forward....maybe one a youse that rides til june can use it.

only one guy around here rides to june that i know of...

- - - Updated - - -

That's funny. Everyone here is a know-at-all.

- - - Updated - - -



Will keep that in mind.

We spent Y2K in Hurley. Figured that would be a good place to be when the computer systems that ran the world stopped working - and that was before everyone had their face buried in a cell phone 24/7. Think I was about 22 then, and I think we expected Hurley to be a lot different than it turned out to be. Had fun but haven't been back since.

Uu havent missed much