Snowmobiling and Pics

[Need A Vacation]

Any other sled heads in the north?

I know it’s still a little early, but it is already snowing in the Northern Lower of Michigan today, as well as the U.P. And the extra early season permit for Ontario is already on sale. Plus, it’s time to winterize the boats and campers.

So post up some pics of your rides, and the area where you normally ride.

We usually ride in a few areas. Cadillac Mi area, D13 in Northern Ontario in the general Sault Ste. Marie area, and sometimes in the U.P. of Michigan.

I ride an ‘11 Arctic Cat F8 EXT.
Wife rides an ‘11 Arctic Cat T570.
A couple buddies I ride with a fair amount have a ‘18 Ski Doo 850 Renegade X, and ‘18 Ski Doo 850 Backcountry X.

 

[Rustynuts]

We ride here in Oregon, I have an 08 RMK 155 and wife has a 08 RMK 144. Crater Lake is one of our favorite rides.

 

[112Vulcan]

Nice pics. I miss the old sled.

 

[biffdotorg]

North Central MN here. We ride wherever there is snow, that includes the Michigan UP and Wyoming. But I maintain a snowmobile Facebook group of over 160 members. I also upload sled videos to my youtube channel. www.biff.org

I have helped purchase almost every brand, but have only owned Yamaha. Other than the 1966 Johnson SkeeHorse I learned to ride on.

Good times, as we have had quite a bit of snow in our region. It will all melt yet, but it's happening.

 

[Need A Vacation]

@Rustynuts, @biffdotorg,

Awesome pics!!!

I just ordered my Ontario season permit yesterday. Talking with two buddies (their sleds pictured above) we decided to buy a season permit this year (first time ever) since it is about the same time, if not a little less to drive to Soo, Ontario compared to driving to Newberry or Paradise, Mi in the U.P. And unless the guys trip doesn’t happen, we will be up there for 4 days riding, so that would have been $140 Canadian for the 4 days, vs $217 Canadian (including s/h) for the season.

Biffdotorg,

Depending on how Far East in the U.P. You ride, you may have seen this tree before!!! This is the intersection of the trail from Newberry to either Seney or Grand Marias.

 

[biffdotorg]

ya, I'm familiar with the tree. But I have yet to ride out that direction yet. We usually don't get much East of the Keeweenaw.

We were out on SXS this past weekend "clearing trail" But it was a good reason to have beer in the woods. I'm getting pumped for the season now that the boat and waverunners have been put to bed for the season. With 30 degree temps, rain and snow for the past couple weeks, we have had a welcome 50 degrees yesterday and supposedly going to hit 65 today. That will melt some snow left over from the last storm.

 

[subysti]

My wife and I just sold all our sleds and gear. Too many years of crap riding in the northeast. Instead we bought another summer toy.

 

[Need A Vacation]

Yesterday at the Novi snow show I learned there is a new interactive trail map system being launched, that’s free. It will have real time trail conditions, and from what I understand, us users can actually change a trail status if/when needed. Say we encounter a tree across the trail, we can report it (not 100% sure how yet...)


It is Groomed Trail, currently web based but there is suppose to be an app eventually.


https://www.groomedtrail.com/

It is currently only for four states, but more may be added, as well as Ontario. Not sure about the rest of Canada since I didn’t ask.

Hopefully this works as planned and helps us sled heads!!!

 

[biffdotorg]

I'm trying to figure out how that works. You load an app, and it uploads your routes and reported ride conditions?

That's all cool, but we many times hide that info till the season really gets rolling. We always seem to be hiding secret stashes of snow.

 

[Need A Vacation]

I'm trying to figure out how that works. You load an app, and it uploads your routes and reported ride conditions?

That's all cool, but we many times hide that info till the season really gets rolling. We always seem to be hiding secret stashes of snow.

From my understanding you don’t have to update the trail conditions. And you can do it for each section, between intersections.

As for the mapping a ride out ahead of time, I believe it only emails those who you specify and choose in your group. Not all the users of the system.

And I completely understand if you don’t want the trails beat up before they have a good base. I know here in Michigan that is one huge issue the minute we get a fair amount of snow!!! Especially if the previous season or two was total schit!!! Last year from about mid season on the snow was pretty much the north half of the U.P. So there was so much traffic there as a result it was crazy!!!

 

[giroux68]

I'm going to the U.P. in march to sled for the first time. Pictured rock park area. Looking forward to it. Glad to hear there is snow already

 

[biffdotorg]

March will be a non issue. We ride Michigan in January many times. But lake effect is all ready in full swing. The bigger issue in the UP is washed out trails. But you will be much further East of that problem.

Here are the snow coverage maps from last night. We got a good start this week, and we are expecting below zero wind chills. That should freeze up those swamps good. That's what is needed before any significant snow!! I may have to go get my sleds out of storage. I think one needs it's tunnel polished again!

 

[2kwik4u]

That looks so cold. I don't see how you guys spend that much time outside in the cold. Looks miserable to me.

Guess good gear helps a lot?

 

[biffdotorg]

Good gear is key. As trail riders, we dress quite a bit warmer than the mountain guys. So being ready to ride as low as -20f is the norm. Most of it is layered so we can take off layers as it warms up, or ventilate if we are riding more active.

Just this past year, we rode as cold as -20 and as warm as 45 above. It's amazing what these machines can take.

I have been updating my YouTube channel this past week. As I get tired of editing during the season. So I am getting up the last few trips from last season. This was a nice sunny day, but fairly cool. The sun is deceiving

 

[Need A Vacation]

That looks so cold. I don't see how you guys spend that much time outside in the cold. Looks miserable to me.

Guess good gear helps a lot?

Good gear is the key as biff mentioned.

Depending on the temp, I will wear an Under Armor cold gear mock base layer, t shirt, 1/4 zip fleece or mid layer UA, and possibly long underwear, with jeans, and full synthetic socks. Or possibly just a t shirt with my coat slightly unzipped, and my bibs unzipped as well. I have been very happy with the UA cold gear stuff, and am very thankful for the sales the outlet near us has. Otherwise I would have gone broke!!!

We also have rode in temps from ~-20* up to the mid to upper 30s. Never know what you may encounter.

What is really crazy is one year we had almost a 70* temp swing from one w/e to the next, and it was still below freezing!!! We got up to the cabin outside the Soo, Ontario area and it was almost -40* below that day. Following w/e was almost 30*.....

@biffdotorg,

Sweet video!!!

 

[biffdotorg]

Happy New year! We have almost 250 miles on so far this season. We were blessed with two blizzards in the Fargo area, and heavy snowfall across the Northern half of Minnesota! So while those jokers down south stuff the "picture of you last outing" page with swimsuit clad honeys, we will fill this thread of us riding the "hard water"

 

[2kwik4u]

Forgive my southern ignorance. I've never so much as seen a snowmobile in person, let alone ridden one.

Why are there loops on the front of the ski's?

 

[props2you]

Forgive my southern ignorance. I've never so much as seen a snowmobile in person, let alone ridden one.

Why are there loops on the front of the ski's?

To pull you out when you're stuck!!

 

[biffdotorg]

Forgive my southern ignorance. I've never so much as seen a snowmobile in person, let alone ridden one.

Why are there loops on the front of the ski's?

As stated above, they do make for a handle when pulling the sled around, or out of a situation. Many times, one has to maneuver these machines around where they were not meant to be driven as well.

The primary purpose of the first ski loops were to keep the shape of the ski, and the front tip up. Over the years, the plastics used held their shape. They now are used as handles ore than anything. You do have much less chance of hooking objects with a loop too.

 

[biffdotorg]

To pull you out when you're stuck!!View attachment 86271

View attachment 86272

That’s funny. The Gay Bar is always a stop for us to. What a run down old bar, but it’s a landmark that has to be visited at least once a year.

I ask the bartender one year, “can I get a Michelob Golden”. She says, “sorry, we don’t have that here”. I said, “Then I will take any light beer, i’m Easy”. She replies, “that’s not the right thing to say in here”

True story.