Snowmobiling trip verses bar hopping
- Thread starter boatssleds
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Well, I live in the Northwoods and just had to pipe in.
First, sorry you had a bad experience, but dont blame it on the state blame it on the group you choose to ride with. Drunks are everywhere I've seen plenty a guys sloshed at the local watering holes in da UP too! everywhere for that matter. In my opinion Cable and Hayward are very popular riding destinations, a lot like Brainerd, MN. So the more sleds you see, the more drunk sleds you will see. If you want to avoid the riff-raff ride mid week or try riding out of less popular destinations. I used to live in Babbitt, MN and a snowmobilier once said to me "you guys have awesome trails up here but not enough bars" can you believe it! I told him to ride somewhere else!
I get a kick out of the concern for the local who sits at the bar and wastes his money on booze and cigs, yes it's sad but I got news for you, there in YOUR town too! Alchololism and drunk driving are social problems that extend way beyond Wisconsin and snowmobiling.
Sometimes the truth hurts and the truth is there are a lot of people who see snowmobiling as a great way to go drinking. You just wont see them advocating it on this forum!
Wishing you all a safe 2010.
First, sorry you had a bad experience, but dont blame it on the state blame it on the group you choose to ride with. Drunks are everywhere I've seen plenty a guys sloshed at the local watering holes in da UP too! everywhere for that matter. In my opinion Cable and Hayward are very popular riding destinations, a lot like Brainerd, MN. So the more sleds you see, the more drunk sleds you will see. If you want to avoid the riff-raff ride mid week or try riding out of less popular destinations. I used to live in Babbitt, MN and a snowmobilier once said to me "you guys have awesome trails up here but not enough bars" can you believe it! I told him to ride somewhere else!
I get a kick out of the concern for the local who sits at the bar and wastes his money on booze and cigs, yes it's sad but I got news for you, there in YOUR town too! Alchololism and drunk driving are social problems that extend way beyond Wisconsin and snowmobiling.
Sometimes the truth hurts and the truth is there are a lot of people who see snowmobiling as a great way to go drinking. You just wont see them advocating it on this forum!
Wishing you all a safe 2010.
boatssleds
New member
And the Ely Babbitt area is also on our list of places to go. My husband went up there for many years, but lately the snow has not been that good when we were able to travel up there. He has said many times that it's the best trail system he has every rode.
boatssleds
New member
So if there are 6 bars on a lake and full of people riding drunk, why is the DNR no where to be found. Even the resort owner closed the bar @9PM on a Friday night, to go out riding, and crash their sled, and I saw first hand that they were pretty well in the bag when they closed the bar. How come nobody ever gets caught??
I guess I shouldn't assume this happens all over the Wisconsin trails, but when the bars are so close together it just makes it much easier to bar hop.
I wish we could hear from some of the people that do these kinds of activities and think it's cool.
I guess I shouldn't assume this happens all over the Wisconsin trails, but when the bars are so close together it just makes it much easier to bar hop.
I wish we could hear from some of the people that do these kinds of activities and think it's cool.
I think I saw your group on Friday early afternoon at the junction of Trail 7 and 6. This is a trail junction just west of Drummond heading towards Delta. I was on the side of the trail with two other sledders. I looked at your large group and said to my friends something like "I never sled with that many people...you never get anywhere". BTW, I sled that general area at night all the time without issue. I don't sled directly around Lake Namekagon at night though - I would expect that area would be more prone to drunk bar hopping.
boatssleds,
people do get caught, and the DNR does go out, they just keep doing it anyways. Part of the problem is the DNR has a big time deer population problem in WI so they're spending all the funding on deer herd management as opposed to law enforcement. DNR wardens are few and far between in WI too.
Ely/Babbitt is an awesome place to ride. If you go DNR does do a lot of speed/alcohol enforcement, especially on Lake Vermilion on weekends. probably my favorite too, better than the UP in my opinion. They get plenty of snow most every year, I've ridden well into April before, especially near Isabella. the terrain up there is very rough though so it takes lots and lots of snow to bury the rocks and stumps, therefore not much boondocking unless you know the forest service roads.
people do get caught, and the DNR does go out, they just keep doing it anyways. Part of the problem is the DNR has a big time deer population problem in WI so they're spending all the funding on deer herd management as opposed to law enforcement. DNR wardens are few and far between in WI too.
Ely/Babbitt is an awesome place to ride. If you go DNR does do a lot of speed/alcohol enforcement, especially on Lake Vermilion on weekends. probably my favorite too, better than the UP in my opinion. They get plenty of snow most every year, I've ridden well into April before, especially near Isabella. the terrain up there is very rough though so it takes lots and lots of snow to bury the rocks and stumps, therefore not much boondocking unless you know the forest service roads.
SHAME YOU FOR BLAMING WISCONSIN!!!! Sounds like you need better friends!!! I see your from Illinois, is that correct?? You really don't want me to start on Illinois people coming up here (northern wisconsin) and making azzes of themselves in the bars, do you ??? I used to tend bar in the UP in Twin Lakes (8 years ago)...and believe me there were just as many drunks on the trails there as in wisconsin...I refused to serve overly drunk people. But they got drunk somewhere. It's true there are less bars on the trails in the western U.P...but you need to remember the northern wisconsin bar owners are the guys that developed the trails, and the trails system...so yes our trails go to many bars...but with out those bar owners we wouldn't have a trail system. Don't blame the bars, when somebody over drinks...whena re people gonna start taking responsibility for themselves and start using their head??? We go on many sled trips in both wisconsin, and the western UP...and we do have a couple while out..BUT WE KNOW WHEN TO SAY WHEN...and yes when we get back to where we are staying, we let her snap.
The sleds are parked for the night, and don't move until the next day.
Bottomline is: Ride with people who ride like you do..take care of yourselves
and Be responsible..blaming a bar/bartender for somebody being drunk is like blaming a gun for shooting somebody.
F
fusion
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This is quite the interesting title thread post. I symphathize with your situation.
Quite some years ago, when I first got back into snowmobiling, say mid 90's or so, I joined a club because I wanted to ride with other people and share experience. This was a local club (southern WI) that would go to the north woods on one big trip per year. I of course was anxious to do this, so I signed up. Well guess what, it wasn't quite as bad as you describe, but the primary purpose of this trip was to ride from bar to bar and drink at each stop. I found myself ready to make the same comment as you did on several occasions. Finally, after riding one very cold day just south or Mercer, with snow dust very bad and obscuring people in front of you, I had an incident that changed my opinion of this group. Keep in mind, there were quite the number of very young riders, just like in your situation. These kids had no concern for hand signals and thought it was funny when I tried to implore them to think about the people behind them. It really P'd be off and after that ride, I packed up early and went home, and pretty much never rode with a large group or club again. I have much more fun riding in smaller groups, or by myself, where you plan your stops. I don't get people that think snowmobiling is all about riding from bar to bar and drinking at each stop. But the majority you see in bars when you stop for food or warmup are all drinking. I refuse to ride at night, and this limits my exposure to others stupidity.
Quite some years ago, when I first got back into snowmobiling, say mid 90's or so, I joined a club because I wanted to ride with other people and share experience. This was a local club (southern WI) that would go to the north woods on one big trip per year. I of course was anxious to do this, so I signed up. Well guess what, it wasn't quite as bad as you describe, but the primary purpose of this trip was to ride from bar to bar and drink at each stop. I found myself ready to make the same comment as you did on several occasions. Finally, after riding one very cold day just south or Mercer, with snow dust very bad and obscuring people in front of you, I had an incident that changed my opinion of this group. Keep in mind, there were quite the number of very young riders, just like in your situation. These kids had no concern for hand signals and thought it was funny when I tried to implore them to think about the people behind them. It really P'd be off and after that ride, I packed up early and went home, and pretty much never rode with a large group or club again. I have much more fun riding in smaller groups, or by myself, where you plan your stops. I don't get people that think snowmobiling is all about riding from bar to bar and drinking at each stop. But the majority you see in bars when you stop for food or warmup are all drinking. I refuse to ride at night, and this limits my exposure to others stupidity.
boatssleds
New member
I must say this group was very VERY good about hand signals. They stay on the trails and don't run at crazy speeds.
Too bad everyone commenting wasn't as passionate about this issue as we are towards driving a CAR while drink, or bar-hopping. FACT is, getting in your car and simply driving to WI, MN, MI, or wherever just to go snowmobiling is more dangerous and risky than snowmobiling itself! An average of 112 people die per day in car accidents, whether their fault or not. Society has come to accept that there are drunk car drivers and people will die. People die in snowmobiling crashes that do NOT involve alcohol, same thing happens with automobile accidents. Does this fact prevent you from getting into your car to go grocery shopping, or over to a friends house for a party? Probably not.
thunderstruck88
New member
may have a solution for it Zero Tolerance I am for if you get caught drinking on your sled and even in your car or what ever else your driving TAKE that Vehicle AWAY and if you want it back it's going to cost you dearly Like $10,000 bucks Then maybe you would see less of this crap and people getting killed while being drunk
Wow! You think this guy is just as bad as those that sit and drink all day or bar hop and then ride their sleds totally messed up?
I guess I am too as I will occasionally have a beer when we stop for lunch or make a late afternoon stop at a bar. Sometimes I have a Coke or coffee. There, in your opinion, I am just as bad and a danger to society apparently.
HIGHLANDER
Member
wow this thread is getting crazy fast! someone chime in who likes to bar hop please and give us your reasons. might as well get this done with....
X2
I'm with you boatssleds. When we're up there, it's to ride. I think for some people though, they have intentions of riding, but it goes downhill from there. First night up, drink too much. Next day, don't feel like riding too much, so they drink again. Downward spiral after that. I don't understand why you can't have fun without alcohol. I like drinking also, but the season is so short!
I've been riding in the UP (mainly mid and east with 3-4 trips west) for 10 seasons and the excessive drinking has dropped off alot from what I saw in 2001-2002. This seems to have gone hand-in-hand with fewer people riding. Just my guess but as the economy has tightened up in MI, the people who can still afford to snowmobile are focused more on the riding.
Not sure how much impact this has had, but in MI (and MN too I believe) any alcohol offense on a sled goes right to your auto license. This is not the case in WI. The 'bartenders association' has a pretty strong lobbying precense in WI as well, there wa an article about this last winter. Not trying to diss anyone from WI, I have lots of freinds and wife has family there, just stating what is different.
Having said all that - yes, if I'm going to trailer 350-400 miles I'm focused on the riding. If drinking is all I'm going to do I could stay home and do that and pocket the $1000 I don't spend on the trip......
I don't have a problem with people having one beer with their lunch or dinner. I just know that I want to be in total control when I ride and any alcohol is going to cloud my judgement.
We were on the trails at 8AM last Saturday and didn't see another sled until 10AM or so. For us, the earlier, the better -
Not sure how much impact this has had, but in MI (and MN too I believe) any alcohol offense on a sled goes right to your auto license. This is not the case in WI. The 'bartenders association' has a pretty strong lobbying precense in WI as well, there wa an article about this last winter. Not trying to diss anyone from WI, I have lots of freinds and wife has family there, just stating what is different.
Having said all that - yes, if I'm going to trailer 350-400 miles I'm focused on the riding. If drinking is all I'm going to do I could stay home and do that and pocket the $1000 I don't spend on the trip......
I don't have a problem with people having one beer with their lunch or dinner. I just know that I want to be in total control when I ride and any alcohol is going to cloud my judgement.
We were on the trails at 8AM last Saturday and didn't see another sled until 10AM or so. For us, the earlier, the better -
harvest1121
Well-known member
If someone wants to have a beer with lunch or dinner I do not see a problem with that, I agree I drive 400 miles to ride it going to be on the snowmobile and not the bar stool. Now we stay at places that have bars in them and no one drinks we just get up and get riding. But when younger we stayed in Hurley and took a cab,
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