Two seconds from death near the Willow Flowage

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liv2ride

Member
I feel the need to write this post so that it just might save a life. I have been riding snowmobiles for almost 40 years and well over 100,000 miles without incident. I am the leader of the pack 90% of the time. I have had some close calls over the years. I've had to bight the pickers a few times because someone was on my side of the trail doing 80mph. I like to ride at a good pace when the trail permits.

Last weekend, I was leading a group of five sleds. I was on one of my favorite trails (trail 12 on the north side of the Willow Flowage). Anyone that knows that trail, it's 20 feet wide, flat, usually smooth, gentle corners and a blast going fast. I have noticed earlier this season that it has been plowed on a good part of it. As I was coming up to the plowed section, I slowed way down to about 20mph because I saw a plow truck on the side of the trail. Just then, another plow truck came out of the driveway at a good clip and instantly blocking the trail! I was two seconds from that driveway! I could not see the truck with the snowbank until it was in front of me broad side on the trail. The plow driver could not see me at all! All I can say is that this really startled me! I took a deep breath, and proceeded down the trail. I stopped a couple miles down the trail and stopped and talked with the group about what just happened. My son was second in line and he told me the same. He didn't see that truck until it was on the trail. I realized just how dangerous this incident was and decided that I needed to go back and talk with the plow drivers. We had a talk. It was a father and son plowing to get access to their cabin and they got "defensive" over the plowing. The father said the there is a sign saying watch for vehicles. I let him know that it's not uncommon to have sleds going 60-80mph on that trail. If I was going any type of speed, I would have blasted the side of that truck. I would loose that battle. I was going only 20mph and if I or my son was there a few seconds sooner, the plow would have blasted me with the blade! I know the owner has the right to plow to get access to his cabin. I just wanted them to change the way of irresponsible plowing practice. I recommended setting up orange cones across the trail with a sign while plowing. I just don't want anyone getting hurt or killed! If anyone is riding this section of trail, please be careful! There is a hidden driveway and it is being used in the winter months.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
I’ve learned nothing to gain to try and discuss riding or driving habits with random encounters. Just wipe off your seat and proceed just not worth a confrontation no matter how honorable your intentions. I’m riding to have fun not have a hassle with other people. Live and learn keep riding defensively.
 
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WorkHardPlayHrd

Active member
Glad you slowed down and that nobody got hurt. My story from last night flips the coin. Me in the vehicle, the other individual on a snowmobile. I went to pick my daughter up from Foster where the late bus for school drops of kids after sports. I live two miles away. Going home on HH I went through the s-curve by the county shop and coming out of it I saw the headlight for a single snowmobiler over the field in the distance. I was heading for the T intersection with county rd K. Due to my experience I knew he was flying. I left my brights on approaching the stop sign, because if you are on a sled and paying attention you can see the lights from a vehicle shining of the bank. The Snowmobile trail has a stop sign. County rd HH is completely blind coming to the stop sign because of a very high bank on the south side of the road. In order see around it you have to stop then role forward. 15 ft from the sign I slammed my brakes. My daughter didn't even get to say Mom? Before a ski Doo was sitting in the road in front of me. She goes WTH? He has a stop sign she says. Why didn't he stop? How did you know? Experience I said. He guns it out of there as my 15 year old daughter said people like that get trails shut down.

If I hadn't seen him coming if he was lucky he'd be in the hospital. He would have T-boned the passenger side door of my Yukon XL. Unlucky he would be dead, and my daughter also injured. I like to ride fast, but there is a certain amount of responsibility we all need to have, and it just seems like it's missing. I'm glad nobody got injured in either incident.
 
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Garrett

Member
Really...60 to 80 mph. On a trail with limited sitelines and known driveways or roads for vehicle traffic. And they were in the wrong????
 
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Sandylake

New member
It's a tough call.

We are all sledders and vehicle drivers and we all need to be careful.

The trail right next to my home hits the road at a diagonal and it is very common for snowmobiles and atvs to come out way too far and stop in the roadway. They must live in a square world of perpendicular.
And I have seen both sleds and atvs rip right across the road without stopping enough that I slow down, cringing a little every time I go by.


I don't even want to start a conversation about speed limits on the trails......but maybe I just did?
 
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liv2ride

Member
Garrett said:
Really...60 to 80 mph. On a trail with limited sitelines and known driveways or roads for vehicle traffic. And they were in the wrong????
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Garrtett….Do you know the trail? Been riding that trail for 27 years. There have been no vehicles on that trail no known driveways and no plowing until this year. Yes. It's a trail that in the past I had confidence going 60-80 mph! The fact that a plow truck suddenly emerges across the trail with no notice is a recipe for disaster! I'm trying to give notice for other riders that enjoy going fast on that trail also...heads up. Even while I was responsible and slowed way down as I approached a vehicle on the trail, I could have been struck by a plow!! Got it?
 
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Garrett

Member
Guess you didnt know the trail as well as you thought. My point is this high rate of speed should be reserved for lake or open field riding. Not trails.
 
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mrbb

Well-known member
not sure if this would help or not, but here in my area,m they just passed a local law, that ALL plow vehicles, trucks, skid steers, backhoe and like machines, and even atv's UTV and so on, must all have BRIGHT flashing strobe lights on while plowing!
I know most buy cheap ones that don;t shine much in day time, but the better contractors all have some pretty darn bright lights like the police use,c an be seen pretty darn good in day time

I know most all groomers where I ride all have them as well and I know for a fact there AWESOME at giving you a heads up most times, all the more so at night
but, maybe your towns there could use a law like we have here!

cannot see it NOT helping any how and food for thought if nothing else!


Over the yrs I seen a LOT of close calls, on many trails that didn;t have good signage about stop signs ahead too
where riders blew thru interceptions NOT knowing a stop was ahead and were going to fast before they realized they were about to cross a road way!

lots of hazards out there that could be prevented with a little extra help!

another reason why more folks should join a club and HELP out!
 
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snobuilder

Well-known member
I can only speak for myself but I have had many moments on the trail that tell me to back off.
At the time I am not sure why they hit me, but time after time these intuitions are right on.
 
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blu2u2

New member
Why the negative remarks for someone who is only trying to help others by giving warning of what almost happened on the trails? I personally have ridden the same section of trail where this near collision occurred. Sounds like if liv2ride was traveling a little faster the plow would have t-boned him while he was on the trail. If that happened, is it the snowmobiles fault for being on the trail? It strikes a nerve when someone is only being a nice guy and trying to warn others of the incident that very easily could have turned out to be the last ride of his life!!!! Why the need for even one critical remark trying to put blame on him????
 
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Garrett

Member
Sorry, was not trying to be turd but just seemed to say that it was OK to be zooming down a trail at 60+ and in this instance he got lucky. No worries.
 
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sjb

Member
liv2ride - I know exactly where you are talking about - ride out of a place next to cedar falls. To your defense, this trail is generally fast and wide, with just about zero traffic in winter with the exceptions of sleds. Thanks for the warning. Most of us like the thrill of riding fast on a sled, which we know of course there are inherent dangers. I appreciate the call out on this one, just like other ones.
 
scoot

scoot

Member
There was a 'watch for vehicles' sign on a plowed road? What is the speed limit for that road? Even if it's not posted (probably is) you can look it up on line. I'll bet its not 60 to 80 mph though. Even snowmobiles must follow the speed limits while traveling on a road. This time it was a plow truck, next time it could be a UPS/FedEx truck, a pizza delivery person, a fuel oil/propane truck or even a kid chasing a pup.
 
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toddspolaris

Member
Garrett said:
Really...60 to 80 mph. On a trail with limited sitelines and known driveways or roads for vehicle traffic. And they were in the wrong????
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I was thinking the same thing, obviously the trail is part of a road, maybe, they have the right to plow, SLOW DOWN PEOPLE
 
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eyeman

Member
sjb said:
liv2ride - I know exactly where you are talking about - ride out of a place next to cedar falls. To your defense, this trail is generally fast and wide, with just about zero traffic in winter with the exceptions of sleds. Thanks for the warning. Most of us like the thrill of riding fast on a sled, which we know of course there are inherent dangers. I appreciate the call out on this one, just like other ones.
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It's a nice stretch of virtually unihabited road/trail with wide shoulders and woods cleared back very reasonably. Long and wide with stretches where you can see for miles. I didn't even know vehicles could travel it in the winter. Thanks to liv2ride for the heads up. Will watch for the mounded driveway snow banks. Glad you used caution and came out on the safe side.
 
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blkhwkbob

Active member
scoot said:
There was a 'watch for vehicles' sign on a plowed road? What is the speed limit for that road? Even if it's not posted (probably is) you can look it up on line. I'll bet its not 60 to 80 mph though. Even snowmobiles must follow the speed limits while traveling on a road. This time it was a plow truck, next time it could be a UPS/FedEx truck, a pizza delivery person, a fuel oil/propane truck or even a kid chasing a pup.
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I always thought orange blazers mean "trail" no speed limit. Green signs mean "road" follow the speed limit and ride to the right with traffic.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
To me no different than any grade MI trail 2,8, 3. If you choose to haul balls with driveways and xcross roads you always ride at your own risk. If on coming sleds no way I’m holding high speed always slow for driveways just out of respect to homeowner. Yes I power cruise a lot on grades but try to respect posted speed limits on plowed road trails. I would think flying by someone’s house or driveway has to piss off the owner. Have fun do your thing but also respect peace and quiet of home owners on plowed road trails or grades. Just what I do and always give a wave if home owner plowing or blowing driveway.
 
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