2020 Sled Season

[Wannaviper]

This year was funny in my area of Maine (Jackman). We had a ton of November snow, which got melted into an icy base by two separate December rain storms before the trails opened. We got enough snow on top of that base to be able to ride, but for most of the winter, it seemed like we didn't get all that much snow. The good news was that the grooming has gotten so good in that area that they made good riding out of what was really pretty marginal conditions. Jackman, Coburn Mountain and Pittston Farm groomers must all be driven by certified magicians. I am truly impressed with the magic they made this winter. We had a lot of hard, flat and fast trails, and the way my Sidewinder rides, I barely felt any bumps all season long!

I took a February vacation week, so it was a relatively good mileage year for me. I put just over 3,300 miles on my Sidewinder and Viper. We are headed to camp for one more weekend tonight, but I don't expect to get many miles because we are going to spend most of tomorrow watching my 6 year old grandson race his 120cc Yamaha! With a little luck, I may still hit 3,500 miles.

 

[Phazer2Viper]

Awesome riding season in Northern Wisc and the UP. First ride was November on the lake 3170 miles on the year. Viper now has 11,600 on it. Hoping i can get out 1 more time to mess around.

 

[Norse]

Our season has barely started! The trail to the mountains in my home town haven't legally opened yet because Norway.
We have 3ft of snow at sea level, the ditches by the road have so much snow you can't look over them in a car, and around 10ft of snow at 3000ft elevation. And there's even more to come.
The trails in town are kept flat with local grooming equipment for sleds, making the ride very comfortable at any speed.
I've put around 300 miles in this season. I have yet to put 600+miles in and have till May to do so. That's when they close the trails.
I'm currently putting on new decals, awaiting a new exhaust manifold, then I'm ready again.

Around this time of year we set up camps on the mountains far away from everything. We go there from a different town till our trail to the mountains have opened.
Trails heading there are placed differently each year to stay clear of rocks, we mark the trails with branches. Those trails are great for a safari too.
Can't wait to escape the virus that is about to quarantine our entire country!

 

[DTJ]

3100 miles this season on my 190hp 14' Viper XTX, she just turned over 12,000 miles total since new. 200 miles on my wife's 13' Apex XTX, and about 100 miles on the old 2 smoke 04' Polaris 800 Switchback. Every mile was right from my garage across the lake to the trail. I love Minnesota!! Crazy good winter with snowfall this year! Ice scratchers were a must for the last 3-4 weeks. We started riding the first week of December and I put my last 100 miles on last Saturday. I also started grooming this year so I think I am probably over 4000 miles total on tracks.

 

[twyztid]

7 trips to Michigan U.P. (Seney/Newberry/Grand Marais/Munising area mostly)
2 trips to northern Michigan L.P.
2400 miles total this season (2200 on 15 Viper, 100 on 12 Vector, and 100 on 06 Apex)

For the most part, the trails were very good. I would guess that 75% of the riding was smooth trails.

 

[cannondale27]

I rode every weekend since NewYears weekend till now. I don't think I will ride this coming weekend. Bums me out. Due to grooming a lot I only got a one day ride in right from house. But that's okay I waited till trails were prime! No breakdowns that caused walking! No crashes. #1 rode with a lot of new and old friends and both my Daughters. Most of my rides started in WI and went to UP or close. so I know this year I put more mi on sled than I did on truck. I also had to do a few solo trips. One was 675mi. Enjoyable and fine tuned my sled while riding. Sad to see it end and did not meet my goal of 18000 on it but it's ok. Lot of great Memories!

I take it back. Had a weekend off riding but it drove me crazy then this stupid disease a good buddy who had a sorta bad UP ride last and being deployed soon and a big snowstorm in UP made me go again! As you all know that goal. Heard of some Upers that didn’t want us WI people up there so was worried and Boarders closed. So we camped. Right in Kingston Plains. Awesome weekend trails were great and most of all the UPers were so friendly. I got treated like family from all. F the Corona!

 

[swampcat]

EPIC Steve, just EPIC.

 

[cannondale27]

EPIC Steve, just EPIC.

It was! Will call you tomorrow

 

[Vmax]

Sleeping in a ice fishing tent!! You sir are the king of sledding and have my utmost respect. What an adventure and awesome pictures, thanks for bringing us along

 

[sailor joe]

Just shy of 2,000 trail miles for me this year. Not bad for a farmer from central Indiana that has to drive 600+ miles each way. My Apex turned 10,000 miles last week.

I put over 3,600 miles on my truck driving to Michigan and back, three times this winter. My mileage to drive vs. mileage to ride is way off! That's what you do for what you love.

View attachment 153920 View attachment 153921

great photo's!!

 

[cannondale27]

Sleeping in a ice fishing tent!! You sir are the king of sledding and have my utmost respect. What an adventure and awesome pictures, thanks for bringing us along

The Shanty was Bens Idea. It was Waay nicer than a tent and actually very comfortable. I bet a Propane tank would last a week and cook you out of there if kept on all night. We had good Sleeping Bags and shut it off till morning. That part sucked as did bathroom runs at 4 deg f!

 

[Vmax]

I am an avid ice fisherman and fish out of ice huts similar to the ones you used. As you mentioned they do not need a lot of heat to be comfortable
Again....awesome trip

 

[cannondale27]

I am an avid ice fisherman and fish out of ice huts similar to the ones you used. As you mentioned they do not need a lot of heat to be comfortable
Again....awesome trip

Some people at the out of way Campgrounds in UP drove in as far as possible with Jeeps and 4x4's then Snowmobiled there gear the rest of way to camps. They plan on staying a month. Saw at least 3 or 4 abandoned and stuck alongside trail and lots of tracks going into the Campgrounds. All of them. Never went to look since not my business but not a bad idea for awhile as long as snow is deep nobody will bother them. Lot of places to Bug out and get lost up there.

 

[rbell14]

I rode every weekend since NewYears weekend till now. I don't think I will ride this coming weekend. Bums me out. Due to grooming a lot I only got a one day ride in right from house. But that's okay I waited till trails were prime! No breakdowns that caused walking! No crashes. #1 rode with a lot of new and old friends and both my Daughters. Most of my rides started in WI and went to UP or close. so I know this year I put more mi on sled than I did on truck. I also had to do a few solo trips. One was 675mi. Enjoyable and fine tuned my sled while riding. Sad to see it end and did not meet my goal of 18000 on it but it's ok. Lot of great Memories!

Steve - you have a spine of steel! LOL (how many miles for the season ?)

 

[cannondale27]

Steve - you have a spine of steel! LOL (how many miles for the season ?)

Just short of 4000. Will be more next year hopefully