Anybody own a snowmobile?

And fuck off if you call it a snow machine.

Use to have one as a kid. Took one for run today. Kind of missed it. Might be fun at the cabin in the U.P.

Or will I die riding one?

Never bought one but have ridden a few. Definitely fun. Where's your place Up North?

Went to a plant in Roscommon this past week. Lot of people there ride sleds to work during normal winters. Despite the lack of snow this winter (shockingly little on the ground there) the operations manager told me the trails were good. A few people at the plant, including himself, volunteer to groom them. Said the state-owned tractor caught fire last weekend due to an auxiliary lighting unit failure.

Between Munising and Grand Marais. Yeah it seems it's not uncommon to ride your sled to work up north. Might dump 1-2k on a early 2000's sled just to check it out. Already been a couple deaths up here (Alpena area) from dummy riding.

Your place on Superior? Had a great time camping at Muskallonge SP years back. Superior was the warmest I'd ever experienced...was actually comfortable swimming.

Get some skis. Exercise.

Other Teams Pursuing That wrote:Get some skis. Exercise.

You've never got a sled stuck, have you? Lol.

The Pantry wrote:Your place on Superior? Had a great time camping at Muskallonge SP years back. Superior was the warmest I'd ever experienced...was actually comfortable swimming.

No, off of H-58. Bout a 20 minute trail ride to my trout stream/Superior. Drove by muskellunge last summer scouting walleye lakes.

Last time I rode one was when I was a little kid. While fun, I ways got hurt. We would take a rope and tie a sled to the snow mobile. I was my brothers favorite punching bags, so they weren't too nice while I was on the sled. I learned when to jump off in time. They're a load of fun. But it always seemed to break on us.

Probably better off renting if you're not gonna ride a lot. Storage, upkeep, insurance, lots of costs just to own.

Cameron wrote:Probably better off renting if you're not gonna ride a lot. Storage, upkeep, insurance, lots of costs just to own.

Very true. Be nice to have one in the barn if you get the urge spur of the moment though.

Don't own one, but I've ridden the trails from Cadillac up to Mesick. Pretty cool when you get up early enough to hit fresh snow.

kingstonlake wrote:

Cameron wrote:Probably better off renting if you're not gonna ride a lot. Storage, upkeep, insurance, lots of costs just to own.

Very true. Be nice to have one in the barn if you get the urge spur of the moment though.

If you've got some extra cash, they're a fun toy, no question.

I've got ATVs and utvs. Just as good and not seasonal.

Checked out an old sled swap/show this morning.

I know more than a few people who have gotten seriously injured on those. My brother cut his femoral artery in a crash. Almost died. So no. I don’t own one. I had to ride one for work many times, to get to remote areas. They’re fine I guess.

Lots of people own snowmobiles, Kingston. What kind of question is that?

Yes, of course. I like to be prepared.

No more winters

Rocinante wrote:I know more than a few people who have gotten seriously injured on those. My brother cut his femoral artery in a crash. Almost died. So no. I don’t own one. I had to ride one for work many times, to get to remote areas. They’re fine I guess.

Back in 2003 we were neighbors with a younger couple in grand Blanc. My step daughter played with their youngest. The mother hit a tree around grand Marais on a trip with her husband. . Killed her. It was horrible.

Noticed Kingston won’t let anyone call them snow machines but he keeps calling them sleds.
#whitemaleprivilege

Won’t ever own one. When I’m in the great outdoors, I prefer peace and quiet. Same reason I don’t ever want one of those insanely loud jet ski-type pwc.

Turtleneck wrote:Lots of people own snowmobiles, Kingston. What kind of question is that?

Why did you wait so long to tell me?

tGreenWay wrote:Noticed Kingston won’t let anyone call them snow machines but he keeps calling them sleds.
#whitemaleprivilege

That's because it's ok to call them sleds.

#getoffmybackgrandpa

AvgMSUJoe wrote:No more winters

The lack of snow last few years has been kind of stunning. Not much so far this winter and not much last. Drove up to Roscommon on business mid-January two years ago and the only snow on the ground was banks in parking lots from plowing.

They're going to be obsolete in MI with climate change. For once I have actually wanted snow, so my kid can go sledding.

Dendrobates wrote:They're going to be obsolete in MI with climate change. For once I have actually wanted snow, so my kid can go sledding.

Man sledding was one of my favorite things as a kid. Poor Greenway. I'm sure this is all very confusing for him.

Shit loads of snow in the Keweenaw when I was a kid. Sometimes could walk across the back yard of my grandparents home and walk onto the roof of the garage. Town had snow removal trucks I recall being called "snow-go's". Basically, the size of a freeway salt/plow truck but with a massive snowblower on the front. Remember going up there one winter they'd created a snowbank in front of the house maybe 20 feet tall. Carved a winding saucer run into it and had fun for days.

Dendrobates wrote:They're going to be obsolete in MI with climate change. For once I have actually wanted snow, so my kid can go sledding.

This might be the post that brings Goose back.

Have never seen so many snowmobiles (many with trailers) with for sale signs in my life.  Usually see a few in early November with riders wanting to upgrade or around St Patrick’s Day as the season is wrapping up.

In-laws who retired to Manistque went ice fishing on some small inland lakes that finally got 5” of ice for the first time on Jan 10.  They walk and pull a pop up shanty. 3 years ago there was 12”-14” of ice when I fished that same lake.  

The 300 acre lake across the road from my place where I fish has zero ice.

My wife had a snowmobile until a few years ago. She got it when we moved up here so she could ride with her cousin. I was never a big fan so never got one for myself. Anyways, she had an accident on it a few years ago and never enjoyed riding after that so we got rid of it.

On the climate change note, the expectation isn’t that we will have less winter, but weather overall will become more extreme and volatile. They won’t become obsolete in our lifetime.

In highschool, a friend got a Chevette from the junk yard running (barely). Junk yard guy sold it to him for like $50. They cut out the floor of the back seat, put swivels on the front and drove it to the Saginaw bay. It was the best shanty for like two seasons. Drove to the spot, heat... Then they just parked it close to the access spot on the water.

kingstonlake wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:Noticed Kingston won’t let anyone call them snow machines but he keeps calling them sleds.
#whitemaleprivilege

That's because it's ok to call them sleds.

#getoffmybackgrandpa

Didja buy a snow machine or not, Kingston?

I'm not a huge fan. Very noisy, and my one-only trip I nearly ripped every tendon in my knee. I'm just not into noisy or exceptionally speedy transportation. I have a quad and a side-by-side, and the quad has been idle for years. The side-by-side is like a quad with conversation, and much more useful in my environs.

I'm more of a utility/function over fashion guy.

I'll go for a ride on a sled when the opportunity presents itself.

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:I'll go for a ride on a sled when the opportunity presents itself.

Red Flyer or toboggan?

Extra dirt from drain project beefs up Ranney Park sledding hill

tGreenWay wrote:

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:I'll go for a ride on a sled when the opportunity presents itself.

Red Flyer or toboggan?

Toboggan. The trick is to get the hot chick to sit right behind you. That way you're letting her know you're DTF.

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:


Red Flyer or toboggan?

Toboggan. The trick is to get the hot chick to sit right behind you. That way you're letting her know you're DTF.

Greenway should be embarrassed he doesn't know the difference between a sled and a toboggan. #notselfaware

kingstonlake wrote:

Watch Out Pylon! wrote:

Toboggan. The trick is to get the hot chick to sit right behind you. That way you're letting her know you're DTF.

Greenway should be embarrassed he doesn't know the difference between a sled and a toboggan. #notselfaware

Good point. I didn't want to say he's stupid, but he's stupid. Up your winter sports knowledge dude.