Swiss Sledder
TY 4 Stroke God
I read this on another site and thought it was some pretty good advice. The guy is a Yamaha rider and I have seen his posts before over in the Viper forum.
On February 25th, myself, my older brother and two good friends were in the U.P. for three days of riding. We left Twin Lakes that morning heading toward Copper Harbor. It was a perfect day, sunny, temps in the teens, heading into the upper 30's by afternoon. The trails were UNBELIEVABLE!! Flat, flat, flat! On three or four different occasions I realized that I was going much faster than I thought I was. Thinking I was doing 60 I would check my speed and noticed my speedo reading 70-75 mph. Each time I slowed down.
We were on trail #3, which is pretty much a railroad grade from Hancock to Phoenix. We passed the little town of Mohawk and headed over to the Vansville bar to gas up our sleds. About 3 miles south of the Vansville bar, the trail narrows to groomer width and goes down a little hill, across a bridge, into a sweeping right hander, and then a left hander. As you come across the bridge the trail goes up hill a little bit as you go around the right hander.
Well as stated above, I was going too fast and as I neared the apex of the right hander, there was the groomer :shock: Yep, you guessed it, right into the blade I went. From the moment I saw the groomer until I hit it was about 2-3 seconds. I hit it at a slight angle, when I hit the brake the back end swung out a little bit. I hit the top of the blade with my chest, flipped over the blade and landed between the back of the blade and front of the track on the groomer. My sled flipped on it's left side and the track of the groomer rolled up on it. If my sled would not have gone where it did, the groomer probably would have rolled up on me. I think that was one of two things that saved my life, the other is the fact that I was wearing a tekvest. I am very lucky! I walked away from this with a very sore left leg and knee, and bruised/cracked rib(s).
Why did this happen? Because I WAS GOING TOO FAST!! I have been snowmobiling for 15 years, I am 36 years old. I am very proud of the fact that in 15 years I have never been involved in a serious accident. I do like to ride fast, and usually have enough sense to slow down in a blind corner situation like this. This time I didn't, and it almost cost me my life.
So that is my story, some people will call me an idiot, and that is fine. I admit to my mistake, and was taught a very valuable lesson in the process. I am truly sorry that, because of my stupidity, my older brother had to see this happen, and probably thought he had lost me. I am truly sorry that, because of my stupidity, the groomer operator had to watch this, and probably thought I was seriously hurt or worse, and now every time he gets in the groomer he gets to think " I wonder if some dumba$$ is riding to fast today?"
I don't care how long you have been snowmobiling, if you are not thinking about the worst case scenario all the time, it might be you next time.
On February 25th, myself, my older brother and two good friends were in the U.P. for three days of riding. We left Twin Lakes that morning heading toward Copper Harbor. It was a perfect day, sunny, temps in the teens, heading into the upper 30's by afternoon. The trails were UNBELIEVABLE!! Flat, flat, flat! On three or four different occasions I realized that I was going much faster than I thought I was. Thinking I was doing 60 I would check my speed and noticed my speedo reading 70-75 mph. Each time I slowed down.
We were on trail #3, which is pretty much a railroad grade from Hancock to Phoenix. We passed the little town of Mohawk and headed over to the Vansville bar to gas up our sleds. About 3 miles south of the Vansville bar, the trail narrows to groomer width and goes down a little hill, across a bridge, into a sweeping right hander, and then a left hander. As you come across the bridge the trail goes up hill a little bit as you go around the right hander.
Well as stated above, I was going too fast and as I neared the apex of the right hander, there was the groomer :shock: Yep, you guessed it, right into the blade I went. From the moment I saw the groomer until I hit it was about 2-3 seconds. I hit it at a slight angle, when I hit the brake the back end swung out a little bit. I hit the top of the blade with my chest, flipped over the blade and landed between the back of the blade and front of the track on the groomer. My sled flipped on it's left side and the track of the groomer rolled up on it. If my sled would not have gone where it did, the groomer probably would have rolled up on me. I think that was one of two things that saved my life, the other is the fact that I was wearing a tekvest. I am very lucky! I walked away from this with a very sore left leg and knee, and bruised/cracked rib(s).
Why did this happen? Because I WAS GOING TOO FAST!! I have been snowmobiling for 15 years, I am 36 years old. I am very proud of the fact that in 15 years I have never been involved in a serious accident. I do like to ride fast, and usually have enough sense to slow down in a blind corner situation like this. This time I didn't, and it almost cost me my life.
So that is my story, some people will call me an idiot, and that is fine. I admit to my mistake, and was taught a very valuable lesson in the process. I am truly sorry that, because of my stupidity, my older brother had to see this happen, and probably thought he had lost me. I am truly sorry that, because of my stupidity, the groomer operator had to watch this, and probably thought I was seriously hurt or worse, and now every time he gets in the groomer he gets to think " I wonder if some dumba$$ is riding to fast today?"
I don't care how long you have been snowmobiling, if you are not thinking about the worst case scenario all the time, it might be you next time.
A
Anonymous
I want to thank the guy who wrote this for sharing his experience. I do not think he is an idiot or a dumbass. Everyone has taken a chance or two. He got lucky to live another day. Maybe it was destiny for him to live through his accident and go on to share this story with others who someday might remember and slow down saving their life too. I thank him for sharing his experience and will hopefull not do the same thing as he did. I wish him Good luck and hope he recovers quickly.
You are not a dumbass, beacuse you realize what could have happened.
Glad you learned from your experience.
Glad you learned from your experience.
race24x
TY 4 Stroke Master
I would hope no one would think he is a dumbass how many have done this and gotten away with it and I am not talking about just snowmobiling. Cars bikes 4 wheelers etc. We all take risks that sometimes we shouldnt. things happen sometimes all we can do is our best to be safe.
welterracer
TY 4 Stroke God
Been there dont that...at way higher speeds... Its an eye opener!!
He definitly isnt dumb..
He definitly isnt dumb..
jim-bob
Pro
Actually I think the guys got a lot of guts admitting to his mistake and then putting it on the web/We all need a reminder now and then that we're not ten feet tall and bullet (groomer) proof when we get on these sleds/ I've been riding since '69 and I still have to remind myself now and then that there could be something or someone just around the next bend/ I thank him for another reminder and hope that this post saves someone from a bad experience/later
I am going to forward this to a few of my friends. We can be "dumb asses" as well at times. We are all good riders, and we enjoy a good "rip" at night. You think the lights do a better job of warning you than in the day time when there is no view beyond line of sight, but it is still a risk.
I am glad to hear all ended well... no permanant health problems.
I am glad to hear all ended well... no permanant health problems.
WOW :shock: :shock: :shock: !!!! Not only was he luck and didn't lose his life, but he probalbly saved the life of a few other "going to fast and not thinking ahead" riders (like me, for instance.) Just sharing this story will, undoubtly, save sombody's life. Thanks.
SnowBandit
Expert
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He is not dumb.. He realized he did something wrong.. Most dumbass would not.. We lost a person here in the northeast a few years ago when he hit a groomer on the side of the trail.. Basically did the samething.. Superman right over the drag into the groomer.. Now his parts are sueing the club..
Swiss Sledder
TY 4 Stroke God
Guys, we all agree he wasn't stupid. I e-mailed the guy letting him know that I posted his story on this site because sometimes we have to keep things in perspective. It took a lot of courage to admit it and post it for everyone to see on the internet.
There was another story posted that occured on the same weekend, but it was much longer. In summary, two brothers riding 30-35 mph down the trail. One brother looked back and didn't see any headlights. Turns out the other brother clipped a rock on the left side in a turn, and was shot into a tree. He is now in the hospital with a dislocated femur, broken femur, pulverized kneecap, and enough steel in him to build an Elan. The full version of the story is at this link:
http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/i ... opic=30600
There was another story posted that occured on the same weekend, but it was much longer. In summary, two brothers riding 30-35 mph down the trail. One brother looked back and didn't see any headlights. Turns out the other brother clipped a rock on the left side in a turn, and was shot into a tree. He is now in the hospital with a dislocated femur, broken femur, pulverized kneecap, and enough steel in him to build an Elan. The full version of the story is at this link:
http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/i ... opic=30600
I agree with everyone, as I hope everyone learns from this, including myself. But something occurst to me about this picture, and I see this all the time. There looks to be an awful lot of room on the right side, that he could have possibly avoided the groomer, had he been hugging his side of the trail. Especially when coming over a blind hill. I'm not trying to be insensitive, just trying to remind people because I think we take for granted too many times that there won't be anything on the other side. That's why I really hate to see groomers out during the day. They almost need a sled out front, kind of like the 'wide load' trailers. Let's say he wasn't driving 'too fast', as I really don't think 60 down a smooth trail is too fast, but even at 40 he would have been in trouble. I guess my point is always 'assume' there is someone on the other side of that hill, and always hug your side in those blind spots. You know, I really feel sorry for this guy, but I went back and reread his post about the incident, and his claim to the trail being 'groomer width'. That trail looks much wider than that. The more I look at that picture, the more I get upset with the driver of the sled. I was in the UP that weekend, and heard about it, but the picture blows my mind. I can't imagine going up that hill that far in the middle, especially leading the pack. Still, very unfortunate, and hopefully everyone can ride a little safer.
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