12/30/09 Snowmobile Ride...

I went out for a few hours just now. Sled performed well...I am working on getting my suspension setup for my size. It might take a few tries...but I am confident that I will get it. The snow we received over the last few days has really helped the trails. I am still riding on two tracks instead...the trails still have quite a bit of dirt, sticks, rocks and other stuff that pop up from time to time. I imagine the groomers are doing the best they can at this point...but I still say they should have waited a bit initially. Oh well...at least we can get onto the trails now. :) I forgot my camera this trip otherwise I would have taken some pictures of the trip. The rail road grade in Alanson was probably the best. I drove up to Pellston before kicking off to some two tracks...it was in really nice shape.

I would rate the trails...oh I guess fair to good. I would not rate them very good or excellent by any means. Get out and enjoy the snow!

-Derek

12/26/09 Snowmobile Ride...

We got a ride in! Not a very long ride...but we made the Harbor to Pellston to Alanson loop. The trails were bad to fair at best. There was a LOT of dirt mixed in with the snow...and LOTS of bumps toward Pellston. I will say that the railroad grade was the best riding all day. Very smooth, clean snow and overall very well maintained. The rest of the trails were in pretty tough shape though. (Note: If you go off the trail to ride you will find much better results! Just be sure you are not riding on private property!)

There is a note on a local snowmobile club page that there is a 6" base in most spots with some dirt on the corners. I would love to see where they are speaking of. Most areas I saw today (in over a 30 mile ride) were snow with a lot of dirt mixed in on the entire trail...not just the corners. We need a lot more snow to fix the conditions. If you are a die hard though...there is more snow than there was in April when you put your sled away. ;) Check out some of the state land logging trails...we hit some of those today and it resulted in some pretty decent riding...not a ton of snow though.

Anyway...I just wanted to throw my opinion on the trails out there...if you would like to update or differ with my opinion please feel free to post comments. :)

-Derek

No Riding...

I mean the sled has not been started since my last time out bringing it back from Indian River. I am lying a bit...I started it today to get it out of the garage. The gas gauge continued to work...so something must have been loose or stuck in the tank. I am happy it works...and no issues that I had on my first ride exist.

Since our last big snow over a week ago we have received NOTHING. A few light flurries here and there to dust everything have passed through...but there has been no meaningful snowfall. To top that off...we are supposed to see rain Thursday and Friday. This will certainly not help the already weak trails. They were bad enough the other day...combine that will all the traffic and the grooming...not a good combination. From what I see there IS a decent base starting to build...not over 3-5" in most spots though. That should keep the rain from totally ruining the trails.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve already. Hard to believe that another year is almost over. They keep going faster and faster. I really need to discover how to slow down and enjoy more life instead of just letting it pass me by. Maybe I will find some way to work that into a New Year resolution. ;)

Enough for now...I am sure I will be riding a bit over the next few days so I will update with trail conditions in our area. :)

Goodnight from Northern Michigan!

-Derek

12/16/09 Ride

Wednesday was my day for busy work...I had to wake up early and ride my sled over to BLM to have it worked on. They took the gas tank off and tested everything...and found nothing wrong. I am guess that something just had to be jarred loose for the gas gauge to start working again. The check engine light I had was due to something in the R.A.V.E. system sticking...but they thought it was probably a early season hiccup. I rode it back that afternoon and all was good.

The trails were not terrible...but the trip between Harbor and Alanson is quite dirty. There is snow...but a lot of leaves and sticks poking through. Once you had beyond Banwell Rd. in Alanson going toward Indian River the trails get nice. Not sure about North of HS though...from what it looks like that is where the most snow is. Kind of up the east side of Emmet county.

That is my quick update...probably will give more reports tomorrow or Sunday. :)

-Derek

Any trail reports?

I have no been out since Sunday so I do not know what things are like. (Darn work anyway!) I get to take the sled in for service again tomorrow...gas gauge continues to bother me and the check engine light came on a few times. I did not have problems with either Sunday...but I am not real trusting of the beast right now. From what I am reading online...people are liking the trails. Unless there was a big change from Sunday I am doubting some of the trail reports I have read...unless I am missing something or maybe missing the areas with the most snow. However, our area typically sees higher snowfall than the rest.

So, you tell me. Where are the good spots? Where is everyone riding? Is there anywhere that is particularly sweet right now? I do not want you to give away your secret spots...but some trail info would be cool.

Hopefully I will see some of you on the trails this weekend! I might have the break out the ol' Yamaha for a few days if my Renegade is not done.

-Derek

12/13/09 Trail Conditions

I took a ride toward Harbor Springs this morning...(Alanson yesterday morning) and found fairly poor trail conditions. Where the groomers have gone through already the trail is covered in leaves and some dirt. There is a lot of nice snow in some spots...but overall I was very discouraged compared to where the trails were BEFORE grooming. I think the gun may have been jumped just a little bit on bringing the big equipment out. They probably should have waited until the snow had a chance to pack a bit. Do not get me wrong...the trails can be ridden...but I would not spend too much time in the area if you are looking for good riding. However, the further North I got the better the trails seemed to be...so maybe the Northern sections of the trail system are worthwhile?

Leave comments on trail conditions!

Thanks,

Derek

We Got Some Snow...

That might even be an understatement. Since Friday evening we have picked up around 18 inches of new snow in our neck of the woods. Everything is white...the sleds are out...and I have even made it out for a short ride. Unfortunately, not many of the surrounding areas were as lucky as we were...and the snow levels are far less. Where we had 18 new inches...others only received in the range of 6-10. We rode into Alanson yesterday to hit the rail road bed...and I was tossing up a few rocks and some dirt. My skis did not appreciate the trip. Once we rode back up on the hill though...travel was much better.

I have another problem with my sled...the gas gauge is not working. Hopefully that is a quick fix and life will be back on track by next weekend. If that is the only problem then I will be extremely happy. I am still working on my 10 hours for the new piston...I do not think it will be an issue with all the new snow!

If anyone is up for a ride in the next week or so let me know. outdoorsmi@gmail.com I would be more than happy to ride along!

Enough for now...I think I need to squeeze a quick few miles in before getting ready for the work week. ;)

-Derek

Get Your Sleds Out!

From what it sounds like we are going to see a pretty good lake effect snow event that takes over for a couple days starting Thursday evening into the weekend. Not sure how much will fall...but winds are looking to be from the West/Southwest which provides our area with high potential for LES. Temps look to stay in the low 30s for highs and in the low to mid-20s for lows. This should put us in pretty good standing for a decent event...that will bring enough to at least get the sleds out of the garage. We can only hope I suppose. :P I am no meteorologist...I just go by what my observations have been in the past...and what is general knowledge.

The sled should be ready to rock and roll...it came out of the shop at the end of the season last year...ran it for a few minutes and the house and then winterized it. I have warranty left and will probably purchase the second year warranty toward the end of the month. You never know when something might go wrong I suppose.

Anyway...just wanted to update about the snow. :) Keep your fingers crossed! If we get decent snow I will make sure I get the OutdoorsMI Cam back up this weekend.

-Derek