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LOL - no, not for us at all! Way better in terms of scraping down to the gravel all the way to the ditches.......cannot afford any law suites now a days.....

Actually sanding is coming back in style for some rural townships for gravel roads. Salt has gotten so expensive and eco unfriendly that sand is looking better. The largest salt mine in the world in Goderich laid off 87 of over 400 workers a few weeks ago due to low demand for salt in the US and Canada. I'm sure the mild winter had something to do with it. They have gone from normally loading 5 Algoma ships a week at this time other years to 1 or 2 ships a week this spring.

In a non city storm drain/sewage system, that is ok but, most municipalities have adopted the no sand/dirt on road solutions, to prevent clogging the drain systems, and costly cleaning/repair from using aggregate for winter road treatments. Believe me, I would rather see lightly sanded, over any salt but, with liability, litigation and politics, and the govt trying to save us from ourselves... That isnt possible any longer. Ski

Pack it down hard and just lightly sand it. Way better traction and vehicle control. This wet mushy mess that salt creates is a mess for everyone!

Yes and they put that blue chloride salt that works down into minus 30 too. Never had that option years ago.

The "new" Canadian generation of truck and car drivers

Way better now to whom? - not sledders!

All of my crew are buying the early bird Quebec permits this year.

One more thing added to list that differ from ON to QC - efforts to ensure the roads are entirely cleared to avoid liability issues. I know we had more snow years ago, but I am sure all can remember the roads are cleaned way better now then they ever were in the past......used to be considerations for sledders, all but gone now in ON.

Road running wouldn’t be so bad if it were not for the winters and now the winter maintenance expectations, they are plowed and sanded now they’re pavement most of the time after one day in the sun.

Going to be less trails in future too, no way around it. I can see more trails in d5 and d9 disappearing for a variety of reason. Road running already increasing over the years. Some of these trails only used a day or two last year and some none at all. My uncle said in parry sound trail behind his place only opened for two or three weeks too. Sad state of affaires from 6 week season we use to get in south and 8 to 12 weeks in musoka area been shrinking too. North is getting season musoka use to get too 😳

Weather is the only thing we can't control. Prices will go up as ridership goes down though - there is no way around it.

I am a little worried about future of Ontario sledding. With way things are going below barrie could be snow free in next decade. Musoka barely getting what southern Ontario use to get years ago.,North is seeing a shorter season too with big loop not open because of shortage of snow again, cold this winter. Big permit increases won't bold well for ofsc this winter. Ultimately if it snows permits will sell themselves if it stays. Wait and see what un folds this winter.

Here are last year's prices. First post from Scottyr. 😉

Ontario and Quebec are so different, why would permit rates be close to the same. Totally different way of thinking, approach to life, spending habits and cost of living. Are the upcoming permits prices always out this early, seems earlier than normal? Ontario releases theirs, around Sep?

That's true if you going to ride. Quebec smart though they have kept 3 day and 7 day passes reasonable. Ontario can't get a one day pass, 7 day pass is more then full cost of a season permit so many just shake thier head and go to Quebec I think lately.

I believe the pre -October 31 is a first this year but then there is a second discounted time until Dec. as well.

Is the October 31 deal new ?

The last 3 years I’ve bought 2 Quebec and Ontario passes last year I didn’t use the Ontario ones. This year I may have to forgo the Ontario ones . In the big scheme of things the passes are a small part of the deal I’ve put 400 dollars worth of gas and oil though the two sleds in one day before .

If Ontario charged that permit sales will melt away guranteed. That's why it is where it is today. Still some riders that felel we should get a free or discounted permit because of lousy weather last few years. Not many hard core rides left in province willing to drop that much on a permit. A few but they aren't majority percentages that's for sure.

Quebec Permit Fees for next winter. Ontario is way too cheap.

Cannot recall a MAY24 weekend that nice in a while.....but my memory has failed me before..... Heat is welcomed as is the nice weather considering we have hardly strung together many nice days up to now - lots of rain though.... Good for the bugs, good for ater temps, etc..... I was anticipating a crappy summer since the winter was, who knows though.

Already way too hot. Lets go back to winter please

I had the top on the boat. My natural cover is getting a wee bit thin these days.

Hot here in sudbury as well