Year/Town/Place you started riding in the U.P.

[mramerica]

long ago

Well dad bought the camp the year I was born, 1962,in Crystal Falls I dont remember the first year he took me sledding, but he made a sleigh to tow behind an old johnson ski horse, pre 1970, Im thinking. I was 11 or 12, when he built me a sears snowmobile with a 399 Kohler motor in it, It used to take a hole day to go to Amasa and back, now we dont even stop for breakfast until north of sidnaw. JT

 

[m10_mike]

Started riding that area in the early 50's. Back then it was not called the U.P. It was still part of Wisconsin. This was before the Great Wisconsin/Michigan civil war of 1956.

Back then there were no trails. We broke our own trails doing 1-2 mph. We would put on 6 to 10 miles a day if we were lucky.

I still have one of the old ones in good condition, still ride it once in a while.

 

[radrick]

First sled trip to UP- winter of 99/00, Then I was on a 98 formula z 670. My first trip was to paradise, went to the falls, newberry, brimley, ect ect. My first sled was a 74 exciter 440-WOW things have improved. Since my first trip I have rode pretty much end to end of the UP. Bergland area is now my favorite area to ride in the winter now.

 

[08m8]

First time

Not sure of the year maybe 78 on 72 440 tnt mass city mi adventure motel

 

[srobak]

Gwinn/KI 1987.

First sled was a 72 or 73 Yammi GP 340 or 380... can't remember. Looked like the 433 - same paintjob, but smaller motor.

 

[samc]

Late 90's started going to the UP to break up the trips to Northern MN on an 96 Indy 500. The good old days. Started in Lake Gogebic in 1997 then in 2001 went up to Houghton area and have been going ever since. 2-3 trips to Northern MN, the cabin still and 2 trips to the Up.

 

[bearrassler]

We went to visit some relatives for Thanksgivng 1967 in Engadine, and we brought 2 1967 Vikings with and rode them around the fields and ditches and roads.

 

[dafalls]

Winter of 1999 Paradise, MI. Hotels were booked, ended up getting a cabin from a group that was leaving early to chase snow in Gaylord. Cabin had big screen TV and remote control fireplace. We definately thought we were in Paradise. Over the next few years started riding based out of Newberry and now have a cabin near Tahquamenon Falls. Love the Eastern UP.

 

[kurt_g]

My first U.P. ride was January of 1988 on a 1988 Yamaha SRV, left Fence lake, headed up to Hurley, onto the Porkies with a map that took us a little past Ontonogan , spent the night in Copper Harbor and then back home the next day. Done a lot of saddle bag trips and haven't had a bad one yet. Been from one end of the U.P. to the other by sled, been on the car Ferry to Drummond Island and rode the ice bridge to Canada a number of times and loved every minute of every trip.

 

[hamburgchf]

1986 hauled to Tivola and rode to Copper Harbor and back on a 1974 Scorpion Super Stinger,trails were good then also, but that was a long haul in those days

Scorpion Rider as long as could be

 

[08m8]

tear

mass city mi 1982 440 tnt free air just about every year since ,adventure motel

 

[scottd]

78-79 range Gwinn, Mi on an early 70's Skiroule.

 

[8bu]

1995, Houghton. I had a 87 Exciter, and most of the rest of the crew had Polaris XLT specials. Had an absolute blast. Many trips after that.

 

[Ricardo]

1965 on the plains behind my aunt and uncles house in Crystal Falls. Riding my grandfathers new 16 horsepower Evinrude Skeeter. One afternoon and I've been hooked ever since.

 

[caged_beagle]

1981, Choo Choo Trail, Rock MI on the Escanaba River. 1975 AC Panther 440. Lots a miles in a cat-cutter behind in that thing too.

___________________

 

[signlightseal]

January 2000/Hancock/Ramada. Rode a 97 Indy 500 been addicted to the Keweenaw ever since.

 

[Banjo Man]

I believe it was 86 or 87. Staying in Boulder Junction and riding to Bond Falls
and back which seem to take the entire day.
Like stated before, Now it can be done before breakfast.

 

[rev500]

UP = Heaven

The Soo in 2005. Since then we have declared Paradise our home away from home. Been about everywhere and have taken a week to go from the Soo to Copper Harbor and back.

 

[buddah2]

Now this is a thread I can handle........having been raised in the South (S.C.) I'd never even seen a snowmobile until sometime in the 80's. I had a bud at my golf club back in OH who had a place here near Munising who'd been after me for years and years to come to "the U.P.". Pffffft! 600 mi. for snow a****** deep on a 10 ft. Indian? No chance.

So once they moved here in '95 we figured the only way we were going to see them was come for a visit. And the rest, as they say, is history. Third season ('98) we bought the house up here. Retired here in '04. Now we live here and my bud lives in south FL......go figure.

First sled : 87 Exciter II (followed a season later by a highly modded 98 SRX.......I did have 25+ yrs. of dirt bike experience so riding almost came naturally to me .

 

[krupps_resort]

We stayed at Paulding in 1972-73. The place we stayed at is now Running Bear Resort. I don't remember the name of the resort at that time. The owners were Chick and Red Gay. There were no groomed trails but lots of exploring. I rode a 1969 Johnson Challenger and a 1970Arctic Cat Panther. Can anyone remember the name of the resort at that time?
Richard

PS WooHoo-Richard's telling his age. LOL/Sandy