The group i ride with goes to the UP for all early season riding then northern wisconsin after that. I like both areas but wisconsin is closer for me and if they have the snow its a no brainer. Some in the group enjoy more stops so northern wisconsin is their preference. I guess its all into your preference. We ride during the week also so the trails wherever we go tend to be very unpopulated.
All I can say is we will be heading up for the 8 hour drive to the Keewenaw without even thing about it! Im glad we always go their and spend the money at the bars, on trail passes and in the local businesses. They all treat us well and I wouldn't think of going anywhere else even if their was snow! Thanks to all in the Keewenaw for making it enjoyable for the snowmobilers!
berglandbaybar
New member
My fault I started the "complaining" Leave Firecatguy alone. Snowmobilers are the best bunch of people I have at the bar. Hopefully some day soon it will be the ATV's and side by sides too. It is just too bad that we cannot get support like the non-motorized sports do. Motorized sports pay their way totally. Opps here I go complaining again.
You can either fork out the money and ride where ever the snow is (45 for the UP if that be the case), or you can sit at home and look at your sled in the garage. For extra 45 and some extra gas money to get there……….I RIDE!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe I should make t-shrit
Snowmobiling=$$$$
T
Team Elkhorn
Guest
Agreed. Why is everyone always so touchy about this. You would think they'd be thankful that the $45 trail fee is keeping some people away. I mean, its all about them right. Heck, i would spend four times that, if it would keep some people away. Sadly the people that actually put less miles on the trails, and more time at the scenic overlooks, in the stores, and restaurants and are in the motel pool and lodge when it gets dark, are the ones staying home. And the $45 trail fee isn't the only reason. Thankfully all my stuff has long since been paid for, so I don't need to continually use that to justify taking trips.
Amen!
Hoosier,The Blue Man Group are on their way, and man are they pissed. I just bought some parts from out west. They said they have had a lot of cansilations and things are slower than years past. They thought it was because most of the Midwest has good snow. I will have to call them and let them know it's because Of the MI 45$ trail permit...
I think Iowa needs to officially be removed from "The Midwest" because we don't have crap for snow, we haven't had much snow this year & we haven't had decent snow for 3 years. I keep hearing people talk about "most of the midwest" having snow so the riding is spread out but the sad reality is I am 5 hours away from anything resembling decent conditions. Jim
Speaking of the Blue Man Group,
This is what the $45.00 trail permit fee allows the DNR to provide relatively small clubs like ours and allows us to keep the trails groomed almost daily, if not daily. Unlike the days past where breakdowns were common and wait time for parts/repair let the trails go to crap real quick.
This is what the $45.00 trail permit fee allows the DNR to provide relatively small clubs like ours and allows us to keep the trails groomed almost daily, if not daily. Unlike the days past where breakdowns were common and wait time for parts/repair let the trails go to crap real quick.
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goofy600
Well-known member
I think it does have a lot to do with snow cover people are getting the opportunity to ride some different areas. As nice as the UP is there are many areas with great trails and sights to see that are not so far of a ride. On the other point of the trail permit it will be interesting when wisconsin does start charging a permit or club fee how people react. I register my sleds(3) in wis. have a place in michigan near the border so I ride both. Have friends that register in Ill. Have a place in Mi. So they buy the Mi. permit but won't spend the money to buy wis. trail permit and chose to stay in michigan only. It's a choice every individual has to make.
bluetoysguy
New member
Maybe its just me, but it seems like every year its getting harder and harder to get 3 or 4 guys to be able to actually commit to a weekend of riding. Everybody's schedules are just jammed packed all the time with work and kids' activities. Getting the kitchen pass from the wife never gets any easier either. Its a cultural thing more than a $45 trail pass thing-year round sports, work weeks that are no longer 9-5, travel nightmares that make you not want to leave your house, and lots of competing hobbies for your time and money.
Add to that all the costs involved to enjoy our sport and the fact that fewer and fewer can easily swing it and you have a sport that is facing some serious challenges.
But then again so are a lot of leisure activites.
Add to that all the costs involved to enjoy our sport and the fact that fewer and fewer can easily swing it and you have a sport that is facing some serious challenges.
But then again so are a lot of leisure activites.
I agree with all above.
I quit trying to get every other weekend pass to head north for 8 hrs in the truck each way .
I just commit to 2 big trips a week or 9 days each make the 16 to 20 hr drive .
any thing other than those is just a spur of the moment storm chasing bonus. I will not make planed trips to the UP any more only spur of the moment after a huge dump to long of a drive for well it could snow when we get there.
and I would never drive 6 to 8 to go strictly trail riding that is what the around the house sled is for.
I really dont think the 45 bucks is keeping any one away that is hard core but it is deff keeping the casual boarder crosser away.
I quit trying to get every other weekend pass to head north for 8 hrs in the truck each way .
I just commit to 2 big trips a week or 9 days each make the 16 to 20 hr drive .
any thing other than those is just a spur of the moment storm chasing bonus. I will not make planed trips to the UP any more only spur of the moment after a huge dump to long of a drive for well it could snow when we get there.
and I would never drive 6 to 8 to go strictly trail riding that is what the around the house sled is for.
I really dont think the 45 bucks is keeping any one away that is hard core but it is deff keeping the casual boarder crosser away.
I used to go up every other weekend. From Waterford, Mi to Sidnaw is 500 miles.
The $45.00 is nothing to me.
My money goes for my kids, who are older now, and are involved in travel hockey and competitive figure skating. After paying those bills, along with the rest, not a lot left over for me to play.
That will change and I will be back but, the kids come first.
As I posted before, the $45.00 has done wonders for the clubs so, don't be so quick to complain about it. Trails are SO much better now than they were 15 years ago.
The $45.00 is nothing to me.
My money goes for my kids, who are older now, and are involved in travel hockey and competitive figure skating. After paying those bills, along with the rest, not a lot left over for me to play.
That will change and I will be back but, the kids come first.
As I posted before, the $45.00 has done wonders for the clubs so, don't be so quick to complain about it. Trails are SO much better now than they were 15 years ago.
I believe its the very good snow cover across northern Wi, MN and the lower. Trail riders do not have to travel as far to get to very nice conditions. When the states surrounding the U.P. have decent ride-able snow, the U.P. is not as busy, when the opposite happens, the U.P. gets hammered with people.
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Well said Dave.
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Well said Dave.
polarisrider1
New member
What a deal. Vacation in Ontario and spend a grand in permits. It is all part of it. Four sleds tearing up our trails for a weekend should cost much more. Oh, where is everyone? I am tacking on my fourth state trail permit on my sled again this year. Utah will be the fifth. Cost of fun is way higher then the cost of no fun (financially but not mentally). Build memories. Ride on!
I ride in NW Wisconsin and we have great snow but I sure don't see the number of sleds out even 3-4 years ago.
The economy is not good and people don't have money to spend on $13000 sleds. 25 years ago we had 4 sleds and a 4 place trailer for a cost of about $6000. Gas for 4 sleds today and 5 people eating, just the gas would break me. I have 1 sled and a covered trailer, $8000. Gas for 1 sled and eats and drinks for 1 person is affordable for me but not for 5.
It is a sport that my kids grew up in and they still do snowmobile but they have really good jobs so they can afford it. Many families don't have the money and I only see adults sledding anymore. Very sad and thanks to the decline of the middle class.
This weekend my son and his 2 kids will be at my place and we will go riding for 2-3 days. Looking forward to some great trails and good fun.
The economy is not good and people don't have money to spend on $13000 sleds. 25 years ago we had 4 sleds and a 4 place trailer for a cost of about $6000. Gas for 4 sleds today and 5 people eating, just the gas would break me. I have 1 sled and a covered trailer, $8000. Gas for 1 sled and eats and drinks for 1 person is affordable for me but not for 5.
It is a sport that my kids grew up in and they still do snowmobile but they have really good jobs so they can afford it. Many families don't have the money and I only see adults sledding anymore. Very sad and thanks to the decline of the middle class.
This weekend my son and his 2 kids will be at my place and we will go riding for 2-3 days. Looking forward to some great trails and good fun.