Slow down in the UP

[snobuilder]

For those of you who continually predict doom and gloom and the demise and end of snowmobiling....Add more laws like speed limits and dui laws connected to a DL. Then add enforcement... It will all end right quick....then the 10 of you who are left can keep and maintain all the trails to your own teatotatling slow assed pace.

19 deaths in the only place in the midwest with decent snow is actually quite a low total compared to past records.

As far as being worried about non fatal injuries go, your avg jr. high school girls basketball and volleyball injuries would shock you.....LOL

Everything in life that is fun has risks....if you are getting to the point of frailty,....and sledding looks threatening everytime you go out... maybe it is time to hang it up....i doubt you will. Mid week riding is the best way to avoid the crowds .

 

[RHFD547]

I want to make it clear that opinions such as Yenan expressed is another reason why I hate to admit that I'm from Hellinois. What an idiotic statement! It's not the 150hp sleds fault, the groomers fault, or the lack of police patrol that cause these accidents to happen. The blame rests entirely on the operator and an extreme lack of judgement and or common sense. To many times, I've approached a hair pin turn only to find out another sled is coming around the corner at a high rate of speed on the wrong side of the trail. They must assume that they are the only riders on the trail and we all know what happens when you "assume".

 

[blkhwkbob]

For those of you who continually predict doom and gloom and the demise and end of snowmobiling....Add more laws like speed limits and dui laws connected to a DL. Then add enforcement... It will all end right quick....then the 10 of you who are left can keep and maintain all the trails to your own teatotatling slow assed pace.

19 deaths in the only place in the midwest with decent snow is actually quite a low total compared to past records.

As far as being worried about non fatal injuries go, your avg jr. high school girls basketball and volleyball injuries would shock you.....LOL

Everything in life that is fun has risks....if you are getting to the point of frailty,....and sledding looks threatening everytime you go out... maybe it is time to hang it up....i doubt you will. Mid week riding is the best way to avoid the crowds .

LOL, yeah, all the people that are concerned about safety should get out. That would probably be 95% of the real club members. Snobuilder and the remaining 5% can ride as fast as they want back and forth across lakes because there will be nobody left to maintain the trails.

 

[skidoolouie]

Groom trails are Fun but come on now with a 10 grand sled the bumps rock if everyone in the group can hang. Let's roll, get in your car if you want a smooth ride and want to follow the laws.

 

[mustardbkt]

To me, this has really ramped up since the popularity of snocross and the X-Games has increased. I, personally, don't mind pulling off to the side to let faster groups pass. But, I am from the sit down sled generation, not the always standing, hold it wide open, in and out of every corner, generation. When I am out riding, and I see someone washing out every corner, or pegging it at every stop sign (if they stop at all), or the worst of all, riding on my side of the trail, it really burns me. Absolute disregard for everyone else using the trails. Narcissism at its finest. It is because of this that our group stops riding at dusk, and then the drunk wannabe racers can take eachother out without us having to make the 911 call for them. Having some a**hat slide into my sled while pretending to be Levi Levallee is not my idea of an enjoyable ride. The ones who get mad about this post ought to look in the mirror.

 

[longtrack]

Maybe I need to start grooming on Saturday afternoon. It will only take a little while for a fast no Brains rider to meet me in a corner and then they will slow down.

 

[groomerdriver]

Maybe I need to start grooming on Saturday afternoon. It will only take a little while for a fast no Brains rider to meet me in a corner and then they will slow down.

I've had that happen to me at midnight in the groomer! How on earth they didn't see THE GLOW of the groomer is beyond me. Sliding sideways into the blade....if I hadn't saw them coming and stopped it would have been a different ending.

 

[RVR RNR]

*

 

[frnash]

(I should have posted this much earlier. )

 

[srt20]

Families and slow riders ride from 6am-2pm pick whatever speed limit you want.
Sober fast riders ride from 2pm-7pm no speed limit.
Drunks at any speed get 7pm-until close. No speed limit.

You can ride at anytime, but have to follow the rules for that time frame. If not a drunk at drunk time, expect to be riding near drunks.





Just a joke, don't get grumpy

 

[Willbuzz]

We all are doing the thing we love - riding, whether it's pucker fast or molasses slow. Unfortunately, those two and all in between meet often on the trail. No one has the answers and everyone wants to be safe, I have been riding for 25 years and I still get nervous riding the twisty trails with the blind corners for fear of hooking someone riding harder then me. You can only hug the right side of the trail so much, it is especially concerning when my sons ride with me. The only time I ever let my guard down is riding the one way trails, the only way I hit something is driver error. I get that it would be tough to recreate the trail system, but imagine what it would be like to ride with traffic going the same direction vs speed limits or doing nothing at all. Just my two pennies.

 

[zrt600lc]

We as snowmobilers need to clean this problem up, or the State of Michigan will do it for us. I've lived here all my life and ridden since I was a kid. Drinking and or Drugging and riding a 150 horse machine is suicide. Doing it around other innocent riders is just total disregard for the other persons life. The state will put patrols on the trails and those patrols will focus on the bars. Putting a few in jail will help get the word out. We are doing this to ourselves. Don't drink and ride !

 

[70chevelle]

That would be me. 39 years old and left 6 years ago. Snow conditions and too many F****** idiots out there. I'll keep my sports cars for the summer and be happy with that. Yes I miss riding, but not worrying if I will come home alive or not due to reckless idiots.

Now cue Mr Magoo who doesn't see a problem. ''We don't need more rules. All we need is to get along, share the trail and police ourselves." Sensible people have been leaving the sport in droves. If you don't believe it, see the reason behind Cap/Step. Rather than trying to get the people that are left to reluctantly join clubs, let's try to get the families that used to do the work to come back. Speed limits would be a start. Families look farther down the road then just the end of the season. They do this because they want their grandkids to have trails to ride 20 years from now. A family should be able to go for a ride on a trail they help maintain without needing to feel like a scared rabbit, "swiveling their heads" for safety and getting blasted by trail bullies for not getting out of the way fast enough. Without the families, I give the sport another 10-15 years before the only snowmobiling left will be north of highway 8, very crowded and very expensive.
Soupbox clear.

 

[Winter Warlock]

Just to clarify.....that's a different Jeb not the Winter Warlock's opinion!

POLICE YOURSELVES........OR THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO IT FOR YOU......

We've seen how that's worked the last 15 years!

 

[big_jim]

How fast is to fast? I'm not sure but when you're riding a straight trail ( old railroad grade) like from Burgland to Bruce Crossing and running 75 to 80 and some guys blows by you like your standing still That might be to fast

 

[longtrack]

That's probably a good Trail to run a 100. Hope he passed you when you were stopped at a Stop Sign!!!!

 

[POLARISDAN]

For those of you who continually predict doom and gloom and the demise and end of snowmobiling....Add more laws like speed limits and dui laws connected to a DL. Then add enforcement... It will all end right quick....then the 10 of you who are left can keep and maintain all the trails to your own teatotatling slow assed pace.

19 deaths in the only place in the midwest with decent snow is actually quite a low total compared to past records.

As far as being worried about non fatal injuries go, your avg jr. high school girls basketball and volleyball injuries would shock you.....LOL

Everything in life that is fun has risks....if you are getting to the point of frailty,....and sledding looks threatening everytime you go out... maybe it is time to hang it up....i doubt you will. Mid week riding is the best way to avoid the crowds .

yea no doubt..i dont ride trails in mn or lakes becuz of the speed limit..i take my money to MI..and when that state gets a speed limit..i will most likely be done riding..i cant help it that alot of riders dont know when and how to use high speeds..it is not my fault that they hit trees and kill themselves..it is not my fault they dont know how to safely take a turn on the right side..i am sick of being cast as a problem because i go fast..how hard is it to just slow down when oncoming is coming..or slow down when you are passing someone on the side of trail..its just common sense..but speed gets looped as the problem..not the idiots without no regard for others..and as for the deaths this years..its 20 avg every state every year when there is a good amount of snow..this year is no different

 

[whitedust]

How fast is to fast? I'm not sure but when you're riding a straight trail ( old railroad grade) like from Burgland to Bruce Crossing and running 75 to 80 and some guys blows by you like your standing still That might be to fast

That should never ever happen on snowmobiles. I was out leading in that neighborhood last week & admitt I was doing well over 100 I can always tell as my windshield starts to bend at top & I hardly ever look at speedo at those speeds. We regrouped at settlers gased up & discussed how to tighten pack up. One rider retired at that point we all encouraged him to stick it out and later found out he was passed on 8 taking up the rear doing 75mph. We proceeded west on 8 to 3n & came up on a young couple riding together. We came to 2 stops signs & hubby didn't let us by & saw us for sure. I pulled to left but behind moma held everyone back maybe doing 45mph. Finally at 3rd stop sign hubby pulls over waved us by & I gave him big thumbs up & out of their hair forever. Later at lunch we found out #2 roosted them...I'm not sure what happened there but he is still learning. He now knows to NOT do that. To me packs have to discuss what is going on during the day & tighten things ups. No one should get pissed imo just part of the day an always can be said in good natured humorous way.

 

[Cirrus_Driver]

I used to go 100 once a year on Fisher lake, now I think about "what if". You do realize if you hit a deer or other trail obstruction at triple digits, it's all over, as in - sayonara? I think you are completely missing the point if you think "it only effects you and nobody else", if you decide to ride at excessive speeds. You do expose others to significant risk. Never thought I would say this, but I think speed limits are becoming a necessity.

 

[boilerrph]

It is interesting reading the various posts in this thread. A lot of guys seem to have a good grasp of the problem while a few obviously do not (i.e. Snocrazy, Yenann, Snobuilder). There is no reason 20 deaths and 4-5 times as many injuries (many serious) should be acceptable to anyone, especially in this shortened snow season. Comments have been made that there are risks involved in all fun activities. That is true, however there is no way to rationalize these deaths and injuries on a public trail system. These groomed trails are set up for a safe and pleasurable environment for us to be able to enjoy our hobby of snowmobiling. They are groomed and routinely cleaned up of obstacles such as fallen trees to make for a safe and scenic ride. The only place where I can see higher risks of death or injuries should be on the racetracks, after all that is the nature of that activity. Some of you seem to think it is your right to ride in any manner that you want on the public trails. I have news for you. These trails are a privilege and could be taken away at any time and I think all of us should treat them that way. As others have stated, I too have thought about giving up this sport because of all the close calls that I have had in recent years. I have a wife, kids and now several grandchildren who all love me and I want to be around for them. The only reason I have not called it quits is because of the deep love I have for this hobby. It is a great way to to get out and enjoy winter and relax and get away from work and be around people that love winter rather than voice their dislike for snow and cold as most where I live do. I also must admit I love the thrill of the speed and acceleration from today's snowmobiles (They have come a long way in the 40 years that I have been riding), but there is a time and place for using it. Alcohol has also been mentioned. I am by no means against drinking alcohol, however it must be at the end of the day when all riding is done (I enjoy a couple of beers or drinks at the end of a day of riding while watching a basketball game or playing cards back at the motel.). As John said, I also do not know what the answer is. I think a good first step would be to step back and think about what is important in life and also to think about what each of us can do to make this safer and more enjoyable for others around us. Put others first, after all we are all involved in the same hobby that is so much fun and we should think first before doing anything that could put the lives of others or yourself or the use of the trail system in jeopardy. The principle of the "Golden Rule" always applies. Definitely off the "SOAPBOX" now. Thanks and be safe.