Rising fuel costs hinder planned trips?

indy_500

Well-known member
Absolutely it will affect me! Hotel prices since covid have gone crazy, add in $4 premium... Gets tough to fill up a truck, 2 sleds, fill 3 belly’s, and pay for the hotel when you have financial responsibilities at home too… If fuel prices don’t go back down I may consider ditching my long track. I have 2 riding buddies for that kind of riding, one gets 9-10 mpg towing, and the other gets 12-13 and has to use premium. So unless I drive and get 14-15 towing, it’s $150 at minimum to drive up there and back to use it.
 

pclark

Well-known member
Absolutely it will affect me! Hotel prices since covid have gone crazy, add in $4 premium... Gets tough to fill up a truck, 2 sleds, fill 3 belly’s, and pay for the hotel when you have financial responsibilities at home too… If fuel prices don’t go back down I may consider ditching my long track. I have 2 riding buddies for that kind of riding, one gets 9-10 mpg towing, and the other gets 12-13 and has to use premium. So unless I drive and get 14-15 towing, it’s $150 at minimum to drive up there and back to use it.
Yes, We have a vehicle that uses Premium, lowest is has gotten up here Vilas is $4.40 per gallon. What pisses me off is that it never had to get this way. We didn't have to stop drilling, and using gas as a tool to push this on everyone. In the late part of the year it will really start to hit even people who have what they thought was enough because Natural gas for heating is going to put a real hurt on people. Then add in the already high inflationary prices caused by still super high Diesel prices and we are in for a long winter. Electricty rates up here in the Noerthwoods are also outrageous. FJB!
 

pclark

Well-known member
I noticed yesterday as we were out on lake that this weekend so far is very light on traffic. Typically it's the last big weekend for many but we were even able to sit down at Greers pier for lunch at 1pm when it should have been wall to wall people. Not sure if it's that the kids are wrapped up in school events or ??, but have to believe that rising costs of everything has something to do with it as well. 40 degrees up here this morning, chill is in the air. Back in 80's next week.
 

snoden

Active member
Nope not my group. We figure our weekly trips will cost double what it cost a few short years ago. We do bring our own food and that helps. Back in 18,19,20 and 21 our weekly trip would cost around $600-650 a guy, this past season was up to $800-850 but this upcoming season we figure it be around $1200 a guy for the week. We average 200 miles a day riding. Two diesel trucks pulling inline 4 place trailers 600 miles one way and food for the week.
 

matti

Active member
pclark, we have a cabin in Iron River, WI and I noticed less boat traffic on the lake than I would have typically expected. It was pretty cool and windy on Saturday, though, so maybe that was a factor. Also, we had 39F on Sunday morning!
 

whitedust

Well-known member
I wouldn’t judge winter season activities on Labor Day up north. Lots of summer residents come up Labor Day weekend to work take piers and boats out and shut down the cabin. Usually
Fall let you know it’s arrival in Vilas in early September so it could be really cold to be in /on the water by October.
 

dfattack

Well-known member
I wouldn’t judge winter season activities on Labor Day up north. Lots of summer residents come up Labor Day weekend to work take piers and boats out and shut down the cabin. Usually
Fall let you know it’s arrival in Vilas in early September so it could be really cold to be in /on the water by October.
There is a line of boats waiting to be taken out of the water at our landing right now. That's what half the labor day traffic is...end of summer work.
 

pclark

Well-known member
pclark, we have a cabin in Iron River, WI and I noticed less boat traffic on the lake than I would have typically expected. It was pretty cool and windy on Saturday, though, so maybe that was a factor. Also, we had 39F on Sunday morning!
Yes, About the same here, 40 Sunday morning, just didn't see that many people out this weekend. I still think people are cutting back their trips up north, I know I would have had to if we hadn't moved here.
 

LoveMyDobe

Active member
pclark, we have a cabin in Iron River, WI and I noticed less boat traffic on the lake than I would have typically expected. It was pretty cool and windy on Saturday, though, so maybe that was a factor. Also, we had 39F on Sunday morning!
I've notice this with atv/utv traffic this summer, until this past weekend. Usually more traffic Fall though. I am lucky I live up here year round, I have Iowa friends who still made 3 trips for a week with their toyhauler and camped.Those weeks I did put on a few miles with them. Not sure how much I'll be out sledding this winter, had to drag hubby out last winter, he's already complaining about cold and snow this winter............
 

Highflyer

Active member
Just stating the facts, I look at Minocqua where Perkins just closed and many restaraunts are overwhelmed, their hours are sporadic at best because they don't have consistent help. Perkins may be no great loss but it's just another place gone. For breakfast in Manitowish Waters now there is only a couple places serving this summer, better eat at home before you leave in the winter. It's not like it used to be is all I am saying. I feel for the people trying to run a business up here, it's not easy, we try and support them as much as possible.
Breakfast is a hard business......You don't make as much as a place serving lunch and dinner. The booze adds up and most places in the Northwoods can't be open for all three.
 

pclark

Well-known member
Breakfast is a hard business......You don't make as much as a place serving lunch and dinner. The booze adds up and most places in the Northwoods can't be open for all three.
You're right, it's just one more thing that has changed that I think people liked. Being able to go out for breakfast was nice. I know we used to go out for a big breakfast before we ride sometimes. Have to really look hard to find a place anymore in our neck of the woods anyway. But I get what you are saying about breakfast not being very profitable for the business especially with what they are paying for food service items from their suppliers.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
Yes, About the same here, 40 Sunday morning, just didn't see that many people out this weekend. I still think people are cutting back their trips up north, I know I would have had to if we hadn't moved here.
Let us know if Cranberry Fest falls short that’s a big event rain , shine or snow. Cranberry Fest has been setting attendance records the past few years. If attendees don’t want bear the costs of that event then inflation is keeping them at home.
 

euphoric1

Well-known member
Let us know if Cranberry Fest falls short that’s a big event rain , shine or snow. Cranberry Fest has been setting attendance records the past few years. If attendees don’t want bear the costs of that event then inflation is keeping them at home.
we are headed to Warrens Cranberry fest end of sept, will be curious to see if any effect, last year that place was jammed with people and vendors
 

hermie

Well-known member
We also went bicycle riding and the parking lots on M&N was overflowing with cars on Saturday. We took off from Maintowish airport not as many cars there but plenty of people out riding. We got gas for $3.29 on our way up not much higher than last winter.
 

Highflyer

Active member
we are headed to Warrens Cranberry fest end of sept, will be curious to see if any effect, last year that place was jammed with people and vendors
I think you will see some dips in attendance but I wouldn't relate it all to gas prices, etc. A lot of people spent significant time in the Northwoods the last two years during COVID. Those people have other things going on now (kids sports, other vacations, return to work) that can likely have them skipping some weekends/events now.

Most industries that were booming during COVID are starting to slow down/return to normal now. The Northwoods will see some of the same.
 

harvest1121

Well-known member
I was up last weekend was not many people on the lakes was windy and 60's. We could not get into Whitetail or 4 Seasons was told 2 hours and the other just too busy to get a seat. I use premium gas for my first tank in my 2022 Skidoo 850 and used regular the rest of the time. Was the same thing with my friends 2022 Polaris 650's and 850's. The 2022 Sidewinder will be the same thing.
 

blkhwkbob

Active member
Breakfast is a hard business......You don't make as much as a place serving lunch and dinner. The booze adds up and most places in the Northwoods can't be open for all three.
You buy breakfast in Chicago lately? $17.65 for a corned beef hash skillet and a Coke in Des Plaines. That's how to make money. Charge more.
I think one of the breakfast places in St. Germain closed, too, but I'm not positive.
 

wiscrev

Well-known member
You buy breakfast in Chicago lately? $17.65 for a corned beef hash skillet and a Coke in Des Plaines. That's how to make money. Charge more.
I think one of the breakfast places in St. Germain closed, too, but I'm not positive.

If you are thinking of the 3C's, it was sold and now open again. , The old owners stayed open everyday, but now 3C's is closed a couple of days a week.
 
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