This is the worst start to a season...in a longtime

[Attak man]

I know I am preaching to the choir...but what a poor start to the snowmobiling season, here in north central wisconsin, and the western U.P.....I was checking my notes from the past couple of seasons...and we had rideable snow, and decent lake ice last year...in fact I rode across nokomis last year at this time....this year...no way....4 inches or less of ice in the bays....and only 3-4 inches of snow cover...not rideable....I know things can change in a hurry, and am keeping my fingers crossed...BUT....my major concern is lake ice...we need some really cold weather to get that ice thicker...the last thing we need right now is HEAVY snow....as most of you know, the majority of trails in my area cross lakes, and swamps (Tomahawk WI)...meaning...even if we had the snow...you couldn't really get anywhere...you would dead end at most lakes, rivers or swamps right now.

I wish wisconsin would have been smarter with the old railrode grades (like michigan)...wouldn't have to cross water, and could actually get some riding in if we had snow....unfortunately we need ice FIRST...keep doing your snow dances if you must...but please do an ice dance first...heavy snow doesn't do us much good at this point, if we don't build the ice up.

 

[xcr440]

I'm sorry, but no amount of WHINING is going to change it.

I'm tired of these kinds of posts already this year.

 

[bigvin]

Every year is a crap shoot.
Heck, here (just North of Green Bay),... we had NO
snow until mid-March last year,...
It lasted 3 days, and then summer started.
We get what we get.
But it IS very early!

 

[Attak man]

I'm sorry, but no amount of WHINING is going to change it.

I'm tired of these kinds of posts already this year.

Then why answer the post??? First of all I was not whinning simply pointing out that we are off to a slow start...maybe that's stating something that doesn't need to be said...but many people have posts here asking about conditions...and Yes I do keep notes on ice conditions, and snowfall totals..and was alarmed to see just how far behind last year we were...so I posted it.

If you don't like my posts...don't answer them.

 

[snocrazy]

Call the Whaaaaaaambulance.....

 

[gary_in_neenah]

Vin said crap.

Just trying to lighten the mood. Everyone just take a deep breath.

 

[Highflyer]

Then why answer the post??? First of all I was not whinning simply pointing out that we are off to a slow start...maybe that's stating something that doesn't need to be said...but many people have posts here asking about conditions...and Yes I do keep notes on ice conditions, and snowfall totals..and was alarmed to see just how far behind last year we were...so I posted it.

If you don't like my posts...don't answer them.

I curious as to what your notes say......I'm one who really doesn't think the season starts until Christmas. With that being said, how far are the lakes behind schedule? I typically ride in the Hayward area and from what I can tell all lakes are frozen over with people even ice fishing in the smaller bays (saying 3-5" of ice). From what I recall, 6-8" is enough for snowmobilies...meaning that lakes are not that far off.

How long does it take to make 1" of ice?? If the temps is below 32 degrees for 24 hours straight does that make 1" of ice?

 

[fusionfool]

Attak man, you have taken the first step to snowmobiliers anonomas program. You have admitted you have a problem. Welcome! We all have this problem at this time of year. Along with that you have also admitted there is nothing we can do to change some things "mother nature". So we are prode that you have joined the rest of us in the program to recovery. We also understand the mood swings, it has happened to all of us.
I practice the one day at a time, wishing for snow, waiting another day and wishing again. frustrating as it is, I have alway found snow enough to ride around Chistmas to Newyears.

 

[snowfreak56]

Hang in there Attack man.Looking forward to your reports when we get things rolling,as you do report honestly and how it really is.Will be trying to ride your direction sometime this winter and maybe we can meet somewhere in between.But preferably not Rhinelander i just try to avoid getting to close to that town on sled.

 

[catalac]

I know I am preaching to the choir...but what a poor start to the snowmobiling season, here in north central wisconsin, and the western U.P.....I was checking my notes from the past couple of seasons...and we had rideable snow, and decent lake ice last year...in fact I rode across nokomis last year at this time....this year...no way....4 inches or less of ice in the bays....and only 3-4 inches of snow cover...not rideable....I know things can change in a hurry, and am keeping my fingers crossed...BUT....my major concern is lake ice...we need some really cold weather to get that ice thicker...the last thing we need right now is HEAVY snow....as most of you know, the majority of trails in my area cross lakes, and swamps (Tomahawk WI)...meaning...even if we had the snow...you couldn't really get anywhere...you would dead end at most lakes, rivers or swamps right now.

I wish wisconsin would have been smarter with the old railrode grades (like michigan)...wouldn't have to cross water, and could actually get some riding in if we had snow....unfortunately we need ice FIRST...keep doing your snow dances if you must...but please do an ice dance first...heavy snow doesn't do us much good at this point, if we don't build the ice up.

Use your posts all winter! Keep up the good work!

 

[ecopter]

I understand the frustration, especially considering all my trips must be planned since I have to trailer so far. However, I've come to accept the fickle nature of this chosen activity and simply go with the flow. I always look on the bright side of how much money I save, how nice and new my sled stays, the countless hours I don't have to spend trailering north, and the extra time I get to spend with my family instead of being away. With that said, I still hope we get blasted soon.

jf

 

[440_chazz]

...the extra time I get to spend with my family instead of being away. With that said, I still hope we get blasted soon.

jf

Yeah i am sick of my wife. I need to get away from her. HAHAHA!

 

[Trees4Traction440]

Im happy this year, i just bought my first house so i had to cancel my early december trip (last weekend)...well luckly there was no snow so everyone in the group cancelled. Im happy this year is the year i had to sit out due to bad timing, or good timing? lol

 

[98panther]

Worst start to season you have seen, Were you just born in June?

 

[Polarice]

Call the Whaaaaaaambulance.....

Haha!

Attac man just go fishing instead if there's no ice. That's what I'll do. It's all the same to me...fishing/snowmobiling. My two money sucking hobbies. I could go either way. Although I would like to drive the brand new sled that I bought as a leftover last year.

 

[Attak man]

I curious as to what your notes say......I'm one who really doesn't think the season starts until Christmas. With that being said, how far are the lakes behind schedule? I typically ride in the Hayward area and from what I can tell all lakes are frozen over with people even ice fishing in the smaller bays (saying 3-5" of ice). From what I recall, 6-8" is enough for snowmobilies...meaning that lakes are not that far off.

How long does it take to make 1" of ice?? If the temps is below 32 degrees for 24 hours straight does that make 1" of ice?

Excellent Questions...but I am not a scientist....I can tell you that we are a good two weeks behind on ice then we were last winter at this time....also..with 4 inches of ice, if you get heavy snow...say 6 plus inches on top of the ice...it acts as an insulator, preventing the ice from freezing further, even if it gets really cold...it has been in the teens over night lately...so I am sure it's making ice...but slowly. Normally the trails here open a week before xmas (that would normally be this coming weekend)

 

[Attak man]

Worst start to season you have seen, Were you just born in June?

Not sure what you are getting at..but I have been living here since 1990, and have always been able to ride before xmas...even in the low snow years we had ice.(we could always trailer to nokomis, and spin around the lake even if we had low snow)..this year...way behind....ice not safe...no rideable snow.

 

[Attak man]

Yeah i am sick of my wife. I need to get away from her. HAHAHA!

I hear ya....I have 3 girls, and a wife....my only escape from ESTROGEN in the winter is snowmobiling....lol

 

[Attak man]

Hang in there Attack man.Looking forward to your reports when we get things rolling,as you do report honestly and how it really is.Will be trying to ride your direction sometime this winter and maybe we can meet somewhere in between.But preferably not Rhinelander i just try to avoid getting to close to that town on sled.

Sounds good....I hate to say it...but I have been going south and west to western marathon county, and taylor county (when they have snow and are open)...as there is far less traffic, and the trails are really nice (big and wide)...usually nicely groomed too.

 

[Admin]

Well, this is not really as much a complaint as it is a wonderment. As I have in my AL Cam page, I have the least amount of snow on the ground outside my door in a 400 mile radius, even more than 400 miles if you go east, north, west and SW. That pretty much almost NEVER happens. What hurts even more is we were actually off to a pretty good start in the 5-6 day following Thanksgiving.

It is still early and things can change in a big way in a short time up this way and I know we will get our snow sooner or later. Just an amazing thing to have the least amount of snow on the ground for 400 miles around me.

Sorry to hijack your thread Attack man.

-John