I still enjoy the logging roads & forest roads. When I started riding back in the 60's, that's all we had. It was a real feat to make it 30 miles to a pit stop. I don't do any boon docking, the risks are to high that I might damage the sled, go to get the part and have the dealer say we have the right A arm, but the left is back ordered for 3 weeks. The season is to short to have the sled just sittting waiting for parts. So I'll have to contend with the racer wannabes on the trail, and ocassionally the FR's.
Why is off trail riding more fun than trail riding in your opinion?
- Thread starter chillywilly
- Start date
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lenny
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lenny
Guest
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lenny
Guest
the very first pic was a morning after a big dump of "freshies" We just stopped riding, we are not nosed into a bank or anything, that's how deep the snow was on this 2 track lane
cuzzinolaf
Well-known member
Exactly what I was gonna say.
polarisrider1
New member
Besides you great Humor I knew there was another reason I like you guys! Not even sure if I am going to get to ride with either of you this year. Cooke, IP and Wawa for trips. Maybe, but a long shot 10 mile.
polarisrider1
New member
lenny your pics are better than the ones in Playboy. (No air brushing).
cuzzinolaf
Well-known member
10 Mile might happen but not sure. You'll see us in the UP this summer if you do the ride like last year.
wisyooper1
Member
Peter has it right - it is, and always has been, snowmobiling. I might now consider it "old time sledd'in" but I grew up riding, and continue to ride (with a short-track nonetheless), just like Peter describes.
Old time sledd'in! Yeah coach!!
wisyooper1
Member
I have to add that the last ride that my Grandpa and I took on da sleds before he died was just that - a snowmobile ride. We rode just like Peter described - a little on the trail and a little off. But we didn't call it "off trail" it was just sledd'in. We spent most of the time in the woods, going back to the old springs where Lake Linden used to get their water. I'd be surprised if more than a select few know where this is. I've since been there with more than one girlfriend in an attempt to impress her with the stark silence and serenity of the springs. Only one was really impressed - I kept her.
shoelessjoe
New member
For me there is actually two types of off trail riding. One is cruising down a logging road or skidder trail, just taking it easy and enjoying the great outdoors. Going to be doing that in about 30 minutes!The enjoyment from that comes from exploring some place I have never been before, or perhaps getting off the beaten path- the path less traveled. I feel safer and can just enjoy the snow, my sled, the persons I am riding with and life in general.
The second is the extreme, hill climbing through trees or jumping creeks or fighting my way back up a drainage that I should probably not have gone down into in the first place. Lots of stucks, lots of digouts, perhaps a little bit of sled carnage, etc...I like this type because it challenges me, is a work out, gets the adrenaline going and that REALLY helps to clear my head of all things, but the task at hand. The adrenaline rush is fun too. Sleep pretty good after rides like that!
Well said and I couldn't agree more. This is pretty much an accurate description of our rides nowadays. We use the main trails to get out of the staging area and to "our trails" which are fire roads, two tracks and some single rut tracks from time to time. From those "trails" we get to our play areas and that's when the real fun begins.
We ride in the UP so we aren't climbing mountains or anything but playing on small hills, carving, small jumps etc. It's amazing how much fun you can have in a few acre area when there is good snow.
We use to do pretty much all trails with a little bit of playing around but over the last 3-4 years its changed into pretty much all playing around with a little bit of trails. We find it to be more fun because of the ability to play and do what you want without worrying about other riders and the normal dangers of the trails. It also allows us to see different scenery than what you see on the trail (usually tree after tree whipping by at 60+ mph).
Old trail days were measured in miles and if you weren't pushing 200 by the end of a UP day it was almost a wasted day. Now we will ride all day long and do maybe 100 miles on a high mile day and be exhausted and sore.
Man, this makes me want some snow!!
bearrassler
Well-known member
In the parts of northern Minnesota that I ride in the off trail riding in the trees is hard to do. The trees and brush are to close together but there are some places to do it and it is a blast. We do have some forest and logging roads that are great also. It is more relaxing not having to worry about traffic and the scenery is better. In North Dakota when we get snow without wind (not very often) it is my favorite, We run the feilds along the Red River or shelter belts or just across fields. Two years ago we rode to Pinehurst Resort in MN and we didn't hit a trail for the first 100 miles and only crossed about 10 roads. In the Turtle Mountains of north central ND (not really mountains, just hills) you can ride in the trees, in hay meadows, and across many lakes and sloughs and they get enough snow to get stuck. You find a landmark a few miles away and work your way over there. I ride more miles on the trail but about half of my time is off trail. Now we just need some snow, it is going to be 50 here tommorrow and beat our record high by almost 10 degrees.
I like both. As many have said the off trail gets you away from crowds. Getting stuck the last two days makes me wish I wouldn't have been slacking and should've got into the gym before they happened.
It's all fun though as long as your sled is running right. I think it would be smart to upgrade to a longer track!
It's all fun though as long as your sled is running right. I think it would be smart to upgrade to a longer track!
poprivetus
New member
x2. Also there is nothing like riding fresh drifts on a logging trail in the middle of nowhere.
polarisrider1
New member
Most definitely a must do for sure!
polarisrider1
New member
As far as safer, well the on coming tree is not drunk and **** bent on making it to the next bar for last call.
cobalt_502
Active member
I find it ironic that all the Boondockers choose to do it cause it is safer? As a very long time trail rider my closest calls on the trail were near Twin Lakes when the wannabee boondockers came flying over the burm of the trail out of the woods without ever looking to see if there was any oncoming traffic? Yes the trails are very unsafe, especially in the Twin Lakes area!
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Had it happen. I don't consider that Off Trail riding, just stupid poser off trail riders. Nothing we can do about it. Can't fix stupid.
polarisrider1
New member
Especially everywhere. Now if you was riding slower and looking for missing signs, than just maybe the trail would of been safer? Is that what your trying to say?
Hmmm, we call reckless trail riders Ricky Racer, maybe we should call the same guy, who suddenly thinks he is an off trail rider, Bobbie Boondocker?