Feel Bad for Guys with Snowmobiles

89 is fast enough.Where do you keep the fire extinguishers on that thing EP?

There ya go EP. Fun to have a sled with fresh snow!

chuck100 wrote:

89 is fast enough.Where do you keep the fire extinguishers on that thing EP?

well it’s a ski doo so… Awesome you got a chance to let it rip!!!

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Finally got er out.
Had it WOT across the lake and only 89 mph

It’s looks like that is the 130hp version of the 900 ace based on the hood. If so that’s all your going to get unless your on glare ice.
Sadly Doo’s dream meter is off approx 10% as well so 89 speedo is really around 80 gps.

Does it really matter if it goes 80 mph or 90 mph? I’ve never understood the need for speed on snowmobiles. To me it’s riding trails through the woods surrounded by pristine snow and the beauty.

Lets go from point A to point B in 1 minute at 100 mph and then complain about the lack of snow.

80-89 should be enough to skip the water under the bridge. Corona in hand it will be like a pontoon ride.

And we all know EPG gets different shots at that stop!!
Gotta have a few immunizations against snow snakes!!

Iowaboy1 wrote:

And we all know EPG gets different shots at that stop!!
Gotta have a few immunizations against snow snakes!!

got to watch out for them!!!

Just got back from another trip to the western UP. There are areas with snow and some with very little. If you pay attention to the NOAA snow depth map, that helps target the better areas. There was a TON of sled traffic which made lots of bumps! My arms are sore and my legs are sore. We rode 270 miles between Friday and Saturday and I can hardly walk today. Damn, this stuff was a lot easier at 26 than it is at 56! Basically, North of Bergland and south of Houghton up the center of the peninsula is the best riding get too far in any direction from there and the snow gets thin. Everywhere we went had ice corners due to the heavy traffic, but many areas had plenty snow between the corners; just had to be very careful. Not the best conditions, but way better than sitting on the couch.

I have chased that UP snow on lean years before and definitely know how you feel. On one of those trips we renamed Advil, adult mm’s.

to_setter wrote:

Just got back from another trip to the western UP. There are areas with snow and some with very little. If you pay attention to the NOAA snow depth map, that helps target the better areas. There was a TON of sled traffic which made lots of bumps! My arms are sore and my legs are sore. We rode 270 miles between Friday and Saturday and I can hardly walk today. Damn, this stuff was a lot easier at 26 than it is at 56! Basically, North of Bergland and south of Houghton up the center of the peninsula is the best riding get too far in any direction from there and the snow gets thin. Everywhere we went had ice corners due to the heavy traffic, but many areas had plenty snow between the corners; just had to be very careful. Not the best conditions, but way better than sitting on the couch.

I’ll be heading that way this Thursday so thanks for the report. Really hope we can some more snow this week for the trip.

KP wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>to_setter wrote:</div>
Just got back from another trip to the western UP. There are areas with snow and some with very little. If you pay attention to the NOAA snow depth map, that helps target the better areas. There was a TON of sled traffic which made lots of bumps! My arms are sore and my legs are sore. We rode 270 miles between Friday and Saturday and I can hardly walk today. Damn, this stuff was a lot easier at 26 than it is at 56! Basically, North of Bergland and south of Houghton up the center of the peninsula is the best riding get too far in any direction from there and the snow gets thin. Everywhere we went had ice corners due to the heavy traffic, but many areas had plenty snow between the corners; just had to be very careful. Not the best conditions, but way better than sitting on the couch.

I’ll be heading that way this Thursday so thanks for the report. Really hope we can some more snow this week for the trip.

You will have a blast. They’ve gotten a TON of snow since I left Sunday morning. I will likely be back up there as well.

to_setter wrote:

You will have a blast. They’ve gotten a TON of snow since I left Sunday morning. I will likely be back up there as well.

I saw they just got snow and happy too from reading past reports. This will be my first time snowmobiling up in the UP. We are staying near Houghton and ive been told the trail systems in Michigan are way better than in MN or WI because state grooms the trails.

I don’t know if anywhere except the far north of MN and the north shore can get enough snow soon enough to have even a decent riding season.

My son had his MN DNR safety certification class last weekend. Good thing it snowed the night before so there was at least wet grass to do the driving test on. Ironic thing is that the instructor’s sleds probably got more miles on them than most other sleds in the metro area will this year.

I haven’t been to MI in a long time when they were the only place around with snow. I did figure out quickly I would only go over there and ride Wednesday-Thursday, and head home after riding. No way I would do a weekend when they are the only game around. Way too many people and back then I rode with guys with cans, and it seemed they were always checking for loud sleds and giving tickets. It may be different now, but I think my last trip up there was in 1996 when I just got a Mach Z. Wow I’m old.

to_setter wrote:

Just got back from another trip to the western UP. There are areas with snow and some with very little. If you pay attention to the NOAA snow depth map, that helps target the better areas. There was a TON of sled traffic which made lots of bumps! My arms are sore and my legs are sore. We rode 270 miles between Friday and Saturday and I can hardly walk today. Damn, this stuff was a lot easier at 26 than it is at 56! Basically, North of Bergland and south of Houghton up the center of the peninsula is the best riding get too far in any direction from there and the snow gets thin. Everywhere we went had ice corners due to the heavy traffic, but many areas had plenty snow between the corners; just had to be very careful. Not the best conditions, but way better than sitting on the couch.

Yeah, if going to the UP dont even bother hanging around Ironwood/Hayward. Tourist trap and drunk fest and you will throw up in your helmet on the way home from the woops in the trails. We would always stay in Bergland and ride from there. Yeah its a bit more of a drive to get there, but well worth it.

I use mine exclusively for ice fishing, so no snow sucks, but with picked tracks it’s doable. I’ve been looking to upgrade both of mine the last few years thinking that with crap snow cover the prices would come back to earth, but unfortunately they are still stupid high.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

My son had his MN DNR safety certification class last weekend. Good thing it snowed the night before so there was at least wet grass to do the driving test on. Ironic thing is that the instructor’s sleds probably got more miles on them than most other sleds in the metro area will this year.

My daughters had theirs this past Saturday too. Benton county snowmobile club had to put wheels on just so the kids could take the drivers test. At least they got to take it. 31 kids in the class though, that was good to see.

weedis wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>TheFamousGrouse wrote:</div>
My son had his MN DNR safety certification class last weekend. Good thing it snowed the night before so there was at least wet grass to do the driving test on. Ironic thing is that the instructor’s sleds probably got more miles on them than most other sleds in the metro area will this year.

My daughters had theirs this past Saturday too. Benton county snowmobile club had to put wheels on just so the kids could take the drivers test. At least they got to take it. 31 kids in the class though, that was good to see.

Buddies daughter took her test last year. They actually walked the course. No sleds were used.

I took my test way back in the day with wheels lol.

It’s not really worth riding if you don’t hit Hurley on the weekend. The girls need the money.

mxskeeter wrote:

It’s not really worth riding if you don’t hit Hurley on the weekend. The girls need the money.

Is the Corkscrew still open up there?

Brings back memories.. used to stay at the Pine Lake Lodge… Home of the Sizzling Steaks !! That ride back from Hurley at 2am… YIKES !!!

Got back from the UP late Sunday night and even though there was a ton of sleds out due to free ride weekend and also lack of snow every where else, we still had a blast. We stayed in Atlantic Mine just south of Houghton. Trail 3 south of us was just brutal last Friday and from what I’m told its always beat up from traffic. The whoops were like a dirt bike track and saw a few bogie wheels on the trail.

Saturday we went north because of that and the trails north of Houghton were great! Some awesome riding up to Brockway Mountain and also stopped at the warming shack Frostys for a couple cold ones and a heat donation.

Sunday there was less people out and it was some great riding but I got a little bit of Frostbite on my nose from my goggles not sealing tight. Need to invest in a new balaclava after Sundays ride!

Great time up there and well worth the trip up there. We put on 450 miles in the 3 days of riding and I’m still feeling it!

Congrats KP. That’s some miles. That area is beautiful to ride.

Doe any snowmobilers here get frustrated to see the damage out west that the sledders show on FB, Tik, on and on in videos? Really bothers the chit out of me. Just got done watching some numbnuts tear up the inside Glacier ice caves, etc. I was a snowmobiler growing up – but respected the ecosystem. And they still can have fun but why do they get off damaging the environment in a second what took dozens or hundred years.

They showed a snowmobiler in Florida, riding down the empty street… WHY is there a snowmobile in Florida ? Looked like a mid 90’s Indy 600 !

jimmysiewert wrote:

Doe any snowmobilers here get frustrated to see the damage out west that the sledders show on FB, Tik, on and on in videos?

I havent seen many of these videos, but I agree if these jackwads are damaging public property and anything sensitive they should pay the price for any damage for sure.

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>jimmysiewert wrote:</div>
Doe any snowmobilers here get frustrated to see the damage out west that the sledders show on FB, Tik, on and on in videos?

I havent seen many of these videos, but I agree if these jackwads are damaging public property and anything sensitive they should pay the price for any damage for sure.

If one doesn’t get angry – then I don’t know what to say. And yes for sure there are plenty that appreciate and respect the land they are snowmobiling on. But you never see any of them sadly on these videos – that are viewed by millions.

I have little regard for mountain sledding so I dont watch the videos on purpose.
We have our own version of bad people sledding here. Just not this year and never on video.