Where is everyone?

[Deleted member 10829]

I just got home from 5 days in the Western UP, and there was hardly any traffic! We've been going up there since 1993 and have never seen anything like it. I feel so bad for the businesses that rely on a good winter business to keep the doors open. Based on what I saw for 5 days (and the temps were nice) there will be a few more businesses we lose after this year.

I have a feeling there are 2 reasons for this, snow in many other areas this year and the tepid economy. If you are on the fence this year, make the trip up there. They need our business and we want them there for years to come. Plus, the conditions are about as good as they get!

 

[rmk4ever]

Weve been riding local trails here & there great. Heading up mon morn (if parts get here) with a pocket full of dead presidents. Probably a good time to take the kiddo's up.

 

[ezra]

deff the snow all over is having a impact . most trail guys say hmm 7hrs or 2.5 ok decision made .

 

[indy_500]

I've been thinking the same thing all winter its been dead up their all year! Oh well more for me Houghton bound in 42 hours

 

[legend02]

Leave in the morning for Watersmeet till sunday then were back packing to Copper Harbour.

 

[blkhwkbob]

The times they are a' changing.

 

[russholio]

deff the snow all over is having a impact . most trail guys say hmm 7hrs or 2.5 ok decision made .

That would be my guess, too. Except in my case it's more like 10-12 hours!

 

[whitedust]

10-11 inches in Wausau area yesterday spreading us out all over. We did our bit for UP & Pats today Kip gave me good deal on Klim Tog gloves....what a guy!! Trails were in super condition Phelps to Mass City & Greenland RT.

 

[Hoosier]

I'm heading to Eagle River/Phelps tomorrow night. Going with my wife and 5 year old. Never done that before. Staying at a relative's cabin. Not sure if we'll get out on any public trails with my 5 year old. They have a 120 he can ride, and I'm not sure if I feel comfortable with him riding with me with other people on the trails. Can't wait though. First time out for the season.

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The times they are a' changing.

I have a feeling the lack of real growth in the economy is starting to catch up to more and more people. Yes, I know the stock market is up and the official unemployment rate is down but a lot of blue color people particularly in the rust belt have been un/under-employed for quite a few years now.

 

[Team Elkhorn]

Without going into details, what I'm getting while talking to people, and I tend to agree, is snowmobiling has lost the family friendly vibe. Everyone we used to ride with has all but gotten out of the sport because of it. They would just as soon take the family to an indoor water park, or fly out to Vegas for the weekend. Oh well, better for the hardcore guys, eh?
We've been going up in the summer to get our northwoods fix. This winter though we're trying to plan a trip with the grandkids, leaving the sleds at home. Looking into taking them to see some winter waterfalls and do some light hiking. My snowmobile trailer hasn't left my driveway for a few seasons. But I still get my winter fix by concentrating on my vintage sled, my evil fat bike and ride my Catillac when we get enough snow down here. And the sun still rises and it sets.....

 

[dfattack]

I'm heading to Eagle River/Phelps tomorrow night. Going with my wife and 5 year old. Never done that before. Staying at a relative's cabin. Not sure if we'll get out on any public trails with my 5 year old. They have a 120 he can ride, and I'm not sure if I feel comfortable with him riding with me with other people on the trails. Can't wait though. First time out for the season.

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I have a feeling the lack of real growth in the economy is starting to catch up to more and more people. Yes, I know the stock market is up and the official unemployment rate is down but a lot of blue color people particularly in the rust belt have been un/under-employed for quite a few years now.

unemployment rate isn't down. They just aren't counting the many who stopped looking for jobs.

 

[groomerdriver]

I have a feeling the lack of real growth in the economy is starting to catch up to more and more people. Yes, I know the stock market is up and the official unemployment rate is down but a lot of blue color people particularly in the rust belt have been un/under-employed for quite a few years now.

X2 MILLION! The REAL cost of living has been skyrocketing for years and there is no end in sight. I've busted my azz for years to keep a roof over my family and raise my children as best I can. We really have no extra money for recreational purposes. I just delay paying or pay less on a bill to have a little fun. The government is going to find a way to take whatever it is we have. (can you tell I'm just a teensy bit upset about this!)

With all the snow we have around home I have no reason to drive 6 hours to the UP to ride. If there was no snow (like last year at this time), we'd come up and put the trip on the CC's!

 

[Firecatguy]

X2 MILLION! The REAL cost of living has been skyrocketing for years and there is no end in sight. I've busted my azz for years to keep a roof over my family and raise my children as best I can. We really have no extra money for recreational purposes. I just delay paying or pay less on a bill to have a little fun. The government is going to find a way to take whatever it is we have. (can you tell I'm just a teensy bit upset about this!)

With all the snow we have around home I have no reason to drive 6 hours to the UP to ride. If there was no snow (like last year at this time), we'd come up and put the trip on the CC's!

I know i will get flamed for this but who cares.......raise the price of trail passes again that should fix everything....wait gas prices help a ton....the price of a sled trip got to be waaaay overboard.....just short of 800$ in fuel to go west and back....yep 45$ trail passes will keep people from coming(and snow everywhere else) 2.5 hr a 25$ trail pass and good snow...hmmm

 

[Admin]

I know i will get flamed for this but who cares.......raise the price of trail passes again that should fix everything....wait gas prices help a ton....the price of a sled trip got to be waaaay overboard.....just short of 800$ in fuel to go west and back....yep 45$ trail passes will keep people from coming(and snow everywhere else) 2.5 hr a 25$ trail pass and good snow...hmmm

Not a flame, but last season when the snow was good in the W. UP and not so everywhere else, it was a mad house up here. Then as snows spread into other areas, traffic dropped off some, but was still pretty good the rest of the season. So apparently, a lot of folks did not balk at the $45 when it was the only choice and did not want to wait it out another week or two to see if snows would fly elsewhere. I am sure the permit price it plays a role, but for most, probably more of a distant role to the costs involved in making such a long trip to ride when they can head right out their doors to ride or travel only a fraction of the distance.

Either way, for anyone that has always wanted to ride up here and see what it is like to have the trails virtually to yourself (especially during the week), now would be the time! Reminds me of the years prior to the winter of 1994-95 when the Keweenaw was the ONLY place to ride for all of January.

-John

 

[harvest1121]

I will be driving the 400 miles today to go riding for the long weekend. Its my third trip of the season. This will be the first trip that I will be riding with my brother in 30 years.

 

[berglandbaybar]

I know i will get flamed for this but who cares.......raise the price of trail passes again that should fix everything....wait gas prices help a ton....the price of a sled trip got to be waaaay overboard.....just short of 800$ in fuel to go west and back....yep 45$ trail passes will keep people from coming(and snow everywhere else) 2.5 hr a 25$ trail pass and good snow...hmmm

At least Michigan charges residents the same as they charge non-residents, unlike Wisconsin who includes resident trail passes with their registrations. So stay in Wisconsin where the people that get to use the trails more pay less.

 

[Firecatguy]

Not a flame, but last season when the snow was good in the W. UP and not so everywhere else, it was a mad house up here. Then as snows spread into other areas, traffic dropped off some, but was still pretty good the rest of the season. So apparently, a lot of folks did not balk at the $45 when it was the only choice and did not want to wait it out another week or two to see if snows would fly elsewhere. I am sure the permit price it plays a role, but for most, probably more of a distant role to the costs involved in making such a long trip to ride when they can head right out their doors to ride or travel only a fraction of the distance.

Either way, for anyone that has always wanted to ride up here and see what it is like to have the trails virtually to yourself (especially during the week), now would be the time! Reminds me of the years prior to the winter of 1994-95 when the Keweenaw was the ONLY place to ride for all of January.

-John

my group would travel to the Up every other weekend and go right past GREAT snow in Bayfield year after year....My group went up last weekend for a sat and sun ride!!!only thing they said was 45$wth......for 2 days....started to talk about our old stoping grounds in Wis...closer and cheaper.....and the years their was good snow everywhere the trucks and trailers are thick coming across wis and border towns like Ironwood.....last few years it nothing like that...not saying it is all the price of trail passes...its just part of the entire picture.....

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. So stay in Wisconsin where the people that get to use the trails more pay less.

ok!!!

 

[Admin]

my group would travel to the Up every other weekend and go right past GREAT snow in Bayfield year after year....My group went up last weekend for a sat and sun ride!!!only thing they said was 45$wth......for 2 days....started to talk about our old stoping grounds in Wis...closer and cheaper.....

Not going to argue at all that is the case with your group Pat. That is why I use the words "but for most". I think your group making the $45 fee the number one determining factor is not the same for the general population. If it where, then the only time the amount of traffic would change up here is when the trail permit fee changes. That has proven to not be the case. Our traffic seems to fluctuate more by how much snow is available in other places to play and to a lesser extent, the cost of gas.

-John

 

[Firecatguy]

Not going to argue at all that is the case with your group Pat. That is why I use the words "but for most". I think your group making the $45 fee the number one determining factor is not the same for the general population. If it where, then the only time the amount of traffic would change up here is when the trail permit fee changes. That has proven to not be the case. Our traffic seems to fluctuate more by how much snow is available in other places to play and to a lesser extent, the cost of gas.

-John

wow...ok sorry if you think I was arguing...wow....the thread was "why no one there" guess we are not typical riders then....

and again NOT THE #1 reason is trail pass but it is one them....

 

[Admin]

wow...ok sorry if you think I was arguing...wow....the thread was "why no one there" guess we are not typical riders then....

Sorry, I certainly did not think you were arguing at all. I just wanted to make it clear that for your groups reasons, I am not going to "argue" at all.

If your #1 reason to go to travel to a place or not is the price of a trail permit, then yes, I believe you are not typical riders. Just my opinion based on observations. If you choose to think differently, perfectly fine by me!

-John