Decided to try to help out the clubs in the U.P. and help them figure this out. They have these and apparently don't know what to do with them half the time (being conservative on this). Figured if we all figured out what they are and told them they needed to be used more than once a week they might get the picture. Now we will see how many people reply trying to say they use them all the time but there's too much trafic,,,,,hahahahaha I've been there 6 times for a minimum of 4 days each trip and have only physically seen 2 working and probably been on a groomed trail 10% of my trips . So lets see what this stirs up....Have Fun

Another!!!

Don't they use those things for putting in drainage tile in fields :p

They dont need to use those, you need a new sled with better suspension. Just stand up and hang on, its more fun anyways. Groomed trails are boring unless your out to see rabbits and crap.

everyone likes a nice flat trail, but when theres open water and no snow it is hard to groom,,,,
my trips up there are always 4 or 5 days 3 times a year and I usually see a groomer every day,,,,

Just stick to your fine trail system there in Illinois. :D

:D no snow no grooming thats the deal . also why burn up funding when you guys just come up and grind our trails down to the gravel when the snow conditions are bad :confused:

Originally posted by Rolngthun@Jan 6 2004, 06:01 AM
Just stick to your fine trail system there in Illinois. :D
LOL, I 2nd that :D

For those in the Ishpeming area go to trail 8 and take trail 5 to 14 and see how fun trail 5 is! Called moose county to see why they aren't grooming it and since there is no snow in republic they say they can't get the groomer up to trail 5 to groom it. Don't the groomers have rubber wheels or rubber tracks and the drag itself lift up off of the ground and has wheels? Too much effort to go up there and smooth the ROCKERS out when it has 6+ inches in the bottom of the rockers of SNOW...Thats ok we will stick to our Illinois trail system since we now have 6 inches on the ground and the fields and the ditches are smooth and not all rockers for 15 miles or so. Since a weekend in Illinois fields and ditches can produce more riding fun than several days in the U.P. trail system! My group will also keep it's $3000 dollars we usually spend in a day when we all go up! So when you locals hear all the business owners crying about being slow or have to sell due to not enough income, you can pat them on the back and tell them it's ok because all of the locals can now ride on nice trails that are not torn to the dirt by the out of staters. But then when we all leave I guess you loose the trail permit money and the groomers will get some fresh flower seeds in the spring. Oh and you know why I end up there when there is no snow,,,,it's because I call the businesses and they say the trails are good and there is plenty of snow to ride on! So if they are lying to me to get my money up there you must not be supporting them very well so they depend on us. Oh well Merry Christmas You can have your trails and I promise I will not come and tear them up!!!

sorry man, but I travel up myself and I apreciate the volunteers that give their time to make the trails nice and safe for us,,,,,, they cant help that there is no snow on the ground and I dont blame them for tearing things up to try to groom a trail with virtually no snow,,,,,

not trying to coz problems sno nuts, but if your group is spending 3000$ each day your up there,,,,how many people you got going up??? We had 8 guys went up last year and were there for 4 days of riding and we didnt spend that much with all 8 of us combined for the entire trip,,,,,

At least we came to an understanding.
But I have to point out something. The majority of the people here could give a rats butt about snowmobiles or the out of towners that it brings. True there are some who cater to it and depend on it. It is proven all the time with the closure and rerouting of trails. They would much rather have cross country and down hill skiers and such. They make less noise, seldom die from drinking and riding, and as THEY say don't pollute the air. Now you and I don't agree with those reasons but the majority do. Clean, quiet towns has been the song they are singing.
Also there are many miles of trails, and very few willing to help. Not long ago I read a post here with so many reasons not to help with local clubs and all. Now, don't get me wrong, I certainly don't expect guys like you and your group to make the trip up here just to help with signs and stuff, but like I stated, there are not as many pro snowmobilers around that are willing to do the work.
So my opinion for guys who complain about the area for which I choose to live is simple, go elsewhere. The vast majority don't and won't care.
For those who enjoy it here, I hope to see you on the trail as soon as we see some snow. :) It will come and the groomers will be out.

Sounds like ya had a bad ride. You need to blame mother nature (The Biatch she's been this winter) on your trail conditions. Would you drive your rubber tracked Yami on dirt for miles so you could ride to trails? These guys aren't gonna tear up their stuff to groom for some guy from Illinois who thinks the U.P. trail system is in place for him, his buddies and their $3000.

Groomers do run up their now and then but the biggest problem is there is not enough trails to take the vast amount of traffic it has to handle. I have been within 20 minutes of a groomer and would have not known if I hadn't seen it for myself.
Most Michigan trails are old rail grades and logging trails that were built 100 years ago, fine 30 years ago but now we have 10,000 riders using a trail over the weekend and there is no way it will stay smooth.
I have no idea where 20 million dollars goes every year but someone is having a good time.
I say build more trails instead of buying fancy state-of-the-art groomers with everything but the kicthen sink.
Try riding in the Indian River area sometime "crap", they have a groomer at the DNR office that always has a foot of snow on it. Must be sav'in it for a special occasion.

I believe the trail in question is the one that runs from Ishpeming north to Big Bay or the one that runs west to three lakes. Both these trails go over rugid terrain that is very rocky and in spots very wet. It doesnt make sense for the clubs to tear up their groomer so people like you can tear them up imediatly by riding on them in 45 degree temps like we had after christmas.
Another reason the trails in the UP get bumpy on weekends is because of the massive influx of people from all over the mid west. We get more snow in a crappy year than most of MN and Wis in a good year.

yeah, i cant wait until your pathetic 6 inches melts away, and you come crawling back up to the u.p to ride. who cares about 3000 dollars from a whine *ss anyway? :blahblah:

:D I remember the days when the trails were never groomed and a sled had a top speed of 70 if you were lucky . The most fun a guy can have is when you are banging into the side of your buddy racing through a skinny ungroomed trail trying to pass him and he wont let you . you reach over and shut off his sled so you can pass him ha ha it was always a blast . yes we crashed alot but nothing ever got broke except winshields . but hey if you had a windsheild you werent cool . Getting gas in your lap didnt bother you at all back then . :D

Originally posted by cdgsledneck@Jan 6 2004, 08:24 PM
Sounds like ya had a bad ride. You need to blame mother nature (The Biatch she's been this winter) on your trail conditions. Would you drive your rubber tracked Yami on dirt for miles so you could ride to trails? These guys aren't gonna tear up their stuff to groom for some guy from Illinois who thinks the U.P. trail system is in place for him, his buddies and their $3000.
I agree. If you want to know about trail conditions check the net don't just call. If you don't like it don't complain find someplace new to go like farther south! FIB! :hallo1:

why do people complain about trails being trashed drop a few bucks in the groomer jar at some of the places you stop at. Its not cheap to operate a groomer too many ppl take them for granted stop your whining and get out there and do your share to make them better, and not just riping them up every weekend my .02

we wen't to brimley over Christmas week end and saw 2 groomers on the trails
working nice job guy's :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

this is an ungroomed trail................................ :D

Originally posted by powder@Jan 7 2004, 07:45 AM
this is an ungroomed trail................................ :D
[quote]
Do you have a picture for the next few seconds after this, Looks like this guy will be in a world of hurt.