Togwotee Lodge reservations...

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lookin4snow

New member
Couple thoughts. Regarding the raising of prices if it is a good year, it is supply and demand. Ever go to Sturgis or Bike Week and get there early or stay late? Your motel before or after the big week will be half the cost per night.

I have ridden Tog for quite a few years. I consider myself an experienced mountain rider. I have been paired up with first time mountain riders several times, and have elected to ride without a guide on a couple trips for a day even though I paid for a guide with the package deal. Many times they get so busy for so long that guides need a day or two off (many work weeks straight) and then scheduling problems happen. Last year I rode once with a new guide, Brent, who had us with a group of newbies and still made it fun for the experienced riders. That was nice. They have balancing issues when they get busy, but overall I have been very happy with them and they have been accomodating for me. Heck, even went riding with Ben a couple times on his days off. I'm a better cook than their cook though, so we are likely to go the cabin only rate for this year to save a little coin and eat better.

Whatever you do, make the reservation cause the riding is awesome.
 
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yamahauler

Active member
lookin4snow:

I understand supply and demand and that is when I think corporate greed takes over. WHY does a company think they have to raise the price of their product when everyone wants it...answer....to please some executive or shareholder making a ton of money off of them. Instead why not just chose the price and sell more volume of it to make the same profit which in turn still makes the exec and or shareholder more dough. Sounds like a good problem to have...to many orders to fill and not enough time to get them done but people will wait to some degree while you keep making them. It is kinda like a Harley back in the day, you had to wait months to get one but I surely don't see how they worth what people payed for them imho.
 
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admin

Guest
yamahauler-

Perhaps you need to think of it as not them raising prices when the demand is strong, rather lowering them at the slower times to try and entice folks to come and stay.

And it's not just "corporate greed" that runs by the economic law of supply and demand. Happens in every facet of our economy. That's why they call it an economic "law".

-John
 
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kevisip

New member
You hit it on the head there John. Yea for capitalism.

Speaking of Harleys, did the prices go way up in the good o'le times in the 90s and 00? I know they did in my area and you still could not get one when you wanted it. And the used held there prices. Now that demand is slow, I see them for a lower price. Now if I just had all that OT from years back when I was doing well!
 
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marty__kms

New member
Wow, and to think I majored in economics...all I needed to do was get on the JD site and I could have skipped the 5 years. (lol, at my own sarcasm, sorry)
 
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techsledder

Member
Our group of four will be going out in March timeframe and we are all experienced riders as far as riding the hills and valleys in the Keweenaw. I know these pale in comparison to the mountains in Montana/out west as I have down hill skied a few times out west in the past. We know what we are getting ourselves into. We just would like an experienced guide to take us like you guys said out backcountry and not return until late afternoon. We don’t expect to be returning for lunch. So thanks guys for your suggestions and sharing your experiences at the various lodges.
Skylar, who was/were your guide/s?
polarisrider1 & iusmit , At Turpin ranch, did you guys pay for the guides service separate from your lodging package??
 
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skylar

Guest
Well if you are experienced Keweenaw tree climbers/boondockers/brush runners, you should have no problems out in Tog! Some of those hills don't even have any trees on them to get in the way! LOL.


Like this one for instance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTHtEBa1lzA

That area was called the rock garden.


Our guide was Nate, he led us to some great spots. I would say his personal preference for riding would be technical tree riding, but, he will do whatever. Super mellow guy also.

One other thing I should have done, but didn't, was to pace myself. As in, don't go and get all crazy the first and second day, if you are out there for a week like we were, you will be tired and worn out after the first three days. Then instead of seeing a nice hill to climb, and doing it, you look at it and say, if I don't make it, how bad is it going to suck to get out of it? When you start thinking more about the digging out, then the challenge of doing the climb, that is when you know you are tired. LOL. Unless of course you are in great shape, or 20 years old. I am 41, and no where near in great shape.
happy.gif


Anyways, I hope you have a great time when you are out there, we always do.
 
H

Hoosier

Well-known member
Tech - the deal and pricing we had was unique because we had to work out a deal with Turpin at the last minute to reschedule because one of us broke his arm at the last minute and couldn't go out there when we originally booked. We were very happy with how they worked with us considering the circumstances.

Our lodging price included breakfast and dinner. The quality of each was top notch - definitely better than we normally go for when out riding with the guys. Keep in mind that Turpin does not serve alcohol - although when they picked us up at the airport, they took us to town where we could buy our own. I actually view this as a plus - since you don't have to pay bar prices for drinks and I'm not a big sit in a noisy bar guy anyway. Their main lodge has a big screen TV where you can hang out at the end of the day. Worked great for us.

We also rented sleds, and the price we paid included guides. Given that it was our first trip out there, the guides were very helpful. As we got more comfortable riding off-trail, they took us to more and more challenging areas. I wouldn't say that they are all expert mountain riders, as it seems the guides from Togwotee are, but they definitely knew how to ride better than us and we learned a lot from them.

Turpin is only 8 miles from Togwotee, which is good because Togwotee has a good gear shop. Next time we go out there, we'll definitely go back to Turpin. The only thing different will be to skip lunch so we can ride more. I'm sure Togwotee is great too.
 
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yamahauler

Active member
John: Good way to look at it...I do understand supply/demand, maybe just for some stupid reason don't always agree.

Kevin: Everytime I drive by the Harley dealer, there are plenty to choose from and they are new. yea, now of course if you want something special you may have to wait.
 
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techsledder

Member
Skylar, Sweet videos! Thanks for sharing. Yeah, those quarters are wide open compared to what we see here in the Keweenaw. ‘Cept for when you make a mistake on some of those slopes your sled can tumble to the bottom… As far as pacing yourself goes, I know what you mean, when we’ve been out west in the past skiing, the time to acclimate would be a factor into how hard we skied the first few days. I kind of figured that would be the same for the sled trip. Plus with the anticipation that there will be shoveling of buried sleds, I am actually starting to work out again for a prep.

Iusmit, We’ll be taking our own sleds since we all ride mtn sleds or a facsimile there of, so we are hoping to get the lodging, meals and guides as a package. I know Turpin doesn’t serve alcohol, I’m not concerned with that, but it was the “perk” happy hour at TML has that swayed a couple guys. I’m with lookin4snow, I can cook better than most, but this time I’m not looking to pull KP duty on my vacation. So both lodges with their packages of breakfast and dinner meals is a plus for both.

So it sounds like there is good and bad with both, just what are you willing to deal with.
 
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Hoosier

Well-known member
Tech - I'd probably just give Dennis a call. He runs the place and the buck stops with him. I think the guide service was mainly intended for sled renters, but I'm sure you could work something out. Maybe even tag along for a small fee. Again I wouldn't talk you out of Togwotee - seems like an incredible experience as well - but Turpin is another option worth looking into. From what I could tell, the difference might be in the feel of the lodges - Turpin is smaller and quieter while Togwotee is bigger and has a lot more going on, and may have more seasoned guides. There will probably be more people there to compare stories with at the end of the day. Either way, you'll have trouble wiping the smiles off your face until they drag you out of there at the end of the trip.
 
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einne

New member
poarisrider-we too were told that a guide comes with package-didnt happen. then two days later when wanting only one, we ended up with two. i guess they were feeling bad. ? and yes it was Matt that we got. awsome! unfortunately they kinda messed up a few things while we were out there. though would go bac, just learn from past.
 
F

Firecatguy

New member
OK need to straighten some things out!!
I made a mistake in my earlier post about "rate changes", I misunderstood what Ben was trying to say, The rates do CHANGE as the season goes on and I did know that.The rate also depends if you choose lodge room,cabin or suite and how many people you have in your group. The rates have always reflected all that and the diffrent times of the year.
I thought he meant they would be changing the posted rates..

If you have any questions I would just call the lodge..
LOOK HERE AS YOU WILL SEE ALL THE RATES FOR THE PACKAGES.
http://www.togwoteelodge.com/bookonline/winter.cfm

not sure if everyone is on the same page..but
TOGWOTEE WAS PURCHASED BY ARAMARK CORPERATION LAST YEAR AND LAST SEASON WAS THEIR FIRST YEAR RUNNING THE PLACE..so all the stuff in the past is NULL AND VOID

I spent over an Hour talking with "friend from the lodge" and they are working very hard this year to coordinate the reservations with guide service, so if you book the all-inclusive you will be able to book guide at the same time.

If you are calling a booking room ONLY I would call their Reservation line in Phoenix.

but if you are calling to reserve "THE PACKAGE" you need to call,
SUE at the lodge-- 307-543-0400 she will have the guide schedule right in front of her, all you need to do is tell her the type of riding you do.

just so everyone knows
My group has had nothing but great times at Togwotee and the guides are top notch,we did not have any problems last year with booking and the Riding was over the top.
we had the pleasure to meet and ride with looking4snow in one of our groups..
 
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skylar

Guest
Ya know when I read about the rate changes above I guess I didn't really think anything of it because I knew that their rates changed through out the season. No big deal I thought. The same thing happnes in Eagle River, WI during derby week.
 
L

longtrack

Member
If your worried about Rates, it cost me about $40.00 a night to stay out there last Winter. Eight of us Rented a nice House on the Highway near Lava Mtn.

Staying at the Lodges that are available is great. But if Funds are tight there are some alternatives.

I never had a Guide, so I guess I may be missing something. I always got around on my own and if I wanted to get stuck I made sure there was a young Guy around to dig me out.

Bottom line is this. You can stay at a Hyatt or a Super 8, both are comfortable. If you can't afford the Hyatt you will still have fun at the Super 8. Some in our Group can't afford the Hyatt.
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lookin4snow

New member
Here are some numbers from two of my trips to Togwotee last year. Between Christmas and New Years we stayed there for two nights with three days of riding. We drove all night on Friday night, rode Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and left after riding Monday, drove all night to get home. We did the cabin only. Cost per person, include diesel from Wisconsin to Tog and back, lunch meat for sandwiches, bagels, energy bars, paying for two meals (dinner) at the lodge, water, propel, lodging in the cabin - $302/person. This was four people in a crew cab Duramax. FYI, if you want to rent a guide and are not on the package deal it will cost you $60/person/day.

Went there in March, three nights lodging and four days riding, doing the same drive all night routine. This trip we did the all inclusive package – breakfast, dinner, happy hour, guide, water propel, everything, staying in a cabin, gas from Wisconsin to Tog and back in my big block GMC. This trip the cost was $707/person.

For comparison, in late February, we did a trip to the Snowies where we stayed at Old Corral and I was the guide. Continental breakfast was included in the motel rate. Did a kitty for the dinners and cooked lunch in the muff pot. That trip was four days riding and three nights lodging, same deal driving all night. That trip cost was $317/person (two crew cabs with 4 guys in each).

So there are three sets of numbers from three trips I took last year, so hopefully that will help folks with what a trip costs. I really like riding with Carter at Tog, so I spend the extra coin for guide service, but can’t do it all the time. We have driven the houses down by Lava many times, and have/are considering trying them for a trip this year, as I want to stay for a full week in February or March.
 
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