Looking for something new!!!!

[nate007]

Our group normally goes to Mercer every year, and rides up towards Hurley, and Lake Superior. After about 5 or 6 years of the same thing, the same places, etc.., we're ready for something new.
Living in Eastern Iowa, it's quite a haul for us to get to prime riding no matter what, but we're looking for something really worth the trip!!
None of us have mountain sleds, so that's out.
We've thought about the Adirondaks if we head East, or ??? out West.
Any good ideas, or even a few great scenic photos would really help us decide!


~N.

 

[sinjin]

Check out Northern Ontario. You can find some info at www.snowchallenge.net or www.ofsc.on.ca
It will be a haul for you to get to but you will love it with miles of perfect uncrowded trails. There are many on this site who can assist you in planning a trip. Let me know if I can help.

 

[nate007]

From my house to the Mercer/ Hurley area is about 6 1/2 hours. How far would it be to Northern Ontario, 4........5 days??? LOL!
Some of the guys in the group have mentioned Laramie WY. I have looked on the web for photos of different areas, but I can find anything that really shows what the scenery/ area(s) are like.
Does anybody know of any good sites to view pictures??
Nate

 

[Grassfirebob]

We are from central Iowa and took our first trip "out West" last year to Snowy Mountain Range (about 30miles from Laramie, WY).
(pics from that trip: http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=37353)

We took mostly shorty's (standard 121 track machines). A few had longer tracks. Worked out fine. You only need a mountain machine if you intend to get off and aggresively "play in the powder" or do some serious hill climbing. Stay on the trails and you'll be fine. Get off trail and.... take your chances

In the pics you'll see several "stuck" machines. That's because the young boys (my son, nephew) would get a bit too adventurous and get stuck. No big deal - they're young and can dig out

I rode a shorty & I never got stuck once - and yes I went off into the meadows a bit and even did some light hill climbing (not as adventurous as the young'ens, but then.. I never got stuck either

It was stunningly beautiful scenery.

Lots of varied riding. Day 1 the trails were groomed to perfection. We went down stretches of some of the trails at 80-90mph. Day 2 we went up to the Northern part (higher elevation) and played in a lot of meadows. Third day trail riding and lots of just-off-trail hill playing.

One noticeable difference from U.P. riding, there were few stops. In the Snowy's area there are maybe 5 places in 200 miles to stop. I believe 2 (maybe 3) had fuel so that was no problem.

We are going to try and get back there on one of our trips this year (probably March but we'll see).

If you go, I would highly recommend staying at the Albany Lodge. Right on trail, food, fuel, repair shop, etc... (they were booked when we went - we stayed in Centennial. Nice facilities but no trail access [we took our chances and ditch-rode to the trail but signs are marked against it]).

 

[sinjin]

From my house to the Mercer/ Hurley area is about 6 1/2 hours. How far would it be to Northern Ontario, 4........5 days??? LOL!
Some of the guys in the group have mentioned Laramie WY. I have looked on the web for photos of different areas, but I can find anything that really shows what the scenery/ area(s) are like.
Does anybody know of any good sites to view pictures??
Nate

From Minneapolis area to Wawa, Ontario is 9 hours. Another site to look at and ask questions would be www.ontarioconditions.com I make at least one trip sometimes 2 to this area every year and put on 1200-1500 miles everytime on the best trail conditions I have ever ridden. We start at a point and saddlebag it for 4-5 day loop. Stops are few and far between so if you are sledders that like to bar hop it is not the place for you. If you want fantastic trails, beautiful scenery and adventure it is great. One thing is that a sled must be able to make it 100 miles on a tank of gas as some stretches are that far between towns. It is very remote area and sometimes might ride 200 miles without seeing another sled.

 

[rx1mtn]

Check out www.medbowlodge.com we have been there a couple of times.
I would guess this would be 12 to 15 hours from you.
We had every type of sled with us, from mountain sleds to a Indy 500. There is great trails and some of the best off trail riding also.
If you go, ask for Cody Bishop to be your guide for 1 day.

 

[FAMILYMAN]

Nate, I would like to try Wyoming. But the extra day of driving usually stops us.

Been to Deadwood southdakota chasing snow, They just got 5' of fresh and riding was great.

I typically go to LandoLakes and ride out from there all over the U.P.

From me its 6.75hours, it would be about the same going up 151 to dubuque for you.

 

[nate007]

My group usually consists of anywhere from 4 to 8 people depending on who can get off work, etc.. , but I would love nothing more than to get together with some of the other guys from Iowa (or anywhere else for that matter) and do one of these trips out west. I have a client that has offered their motorhome for me to use inreturn for keeping it in my shop, so I don't necessarilly need a hotel if something's booked, but cramming too many guys and gear may get cramped. It's an'05 36' Pace Arrow with 3 slides, and all the ammenitites of home, but it would sure make a long drive more comfortable at the very least.
I think a few of us are thinking doing the Wyoming thing, but I just don't want to go there if there aren't as many miles of trails, and we wind up circling the same stuff over and over. I've never been there, but it seems to me that the would be much more "off trail" riding than groomed stuff.
One other place we though about was Eagle River, but a few guys think that it would most likely be over crowded. If we go there, who ele would be interested in meeting upwith our group?
Just once this year I'd like to show all my guys what kind of power the Yamaha group(s) have. The old 2 vs. 4 stroke thing is always a fun subject to throw around, and I'd love to surround them with Yammy's! One fo these days it may convince a few to convert! I'd like them to be the odd guys out for once. I catch alot of grief for being so passionate about Yamahas, but I think if they saw the comradery here at TY they may be more interested???
~N

 

[FAMILYMAN]

We here piss more money in sleds then most will pay for a vehicle

I would drive 1/2hr past eagle river and get up to the Michigan border. Ride the U.P. the hole trip.

White Pine is another destination that is pretty nice.

 

[Bullet69]

white Pine is another destination that is pretty nice.

That's where I usually stay when I ride in Michigan.

 

[rx1mtn]

We normally go to the Continental divide area of Wyoming. For us here in mid Michigan, it takes 28 hours of drive time. This will be the 1st year in 12 years that I will not be going. I recommended Medicne Bow lodge because it was closer to you. There are a lot of trails there.
The Continental divide area, there is like 800 mile of trails, and if you really want, you could ride to Idaho and connect to another 650 miles from the Continental divide area.
Belive me, once you ride the mountains from riding flat lands, you will always want to ride the mountains.
Last year my whole trip cost less than $800 including EVERYTHING.

 

[nate007]

I'm not sure if I can convince everybody else to drive an extra 10 hours over what we do now. Maybe I'd get my "something different" fix I just went on a TY Ride!!


I just picked up my 40th Nytro RTX, so it's back to the garage to sleep on the new toy!!
~N

 

[yamadoo]

Nate
I live just 3-4 hrs north of you and am thinking of doing the Manitoba ride in February they say just 8 hrs from Mpls/StP and the prior descriptions are of miles of smooth fast snow covered trails. See TY rides pages. I am thinking this may be fun and different


Yamadoo

 

[Convert]

U guys decide to do Manitoba you won't be sorry and if you go for the whole week let me know U guys can overnight up at my lake place (half way there) and we can caravan the rest of the way. Me and the wife will probably go the Sat or Sun before.

 

[Sled Dog]

Nate
I live just 3-4 hrs north of you and am thinking of doing the Manitoba ride in February they say just 8 hrs from Mpls/StP and the prior descriptions are of miles of smooth fast snow covered trails. See TY rides pages. I am thinking this may be fun and different


Yamadoo

You guys would love Manitoba trails I will guarantee it. Once you get to Convert's place your half way there. He is an old hand at getting there, he knows the way so just make him drive. He likes to be abused so dont be too nice to him. LOL