tricky

Thanks Blackstar. That is great news because my daughter lives in Erin close to the rail trail, and sledding from her driveway is the closest thing I have ever done to "sledding from home".

Speaking of riding from home in southern Ontario, has there been any news of trails re-opening this year on conservation authority lands that were closed last year over insurance concerns? Grand River, Conestoga and maybe Credit River authorities were effected close to me.

Each planner two meters apart of course.

But seriously, back to the plans for this winter. I have been a touring sledder since 1994. In the earliest days, we would just head north on a Wednesday or Thursday after work and stage where the driver got tired or the snow got good. Sometimes that was south of 17, sometimes it meant Cochrane. Never did we not find a room. In the 21st century we started to book the staging motel or lodge earlier in the travel week. Until 2019, we almost never pre-booked on route rooms, and then we ended up one cold February Wednesday evening in White River and found nary a room to be had. Miners and construction workers had all the rooms booked Monday through Thursday. Being quick learners, we have started to be a little more aware of where we are heading and book some nights in advance. This winter we will book all nights in advance, but not now for January, February and March. I see OCers have already booked accommodations night by night at various times during the winter. This seems to take some of the adventure out of sledding. Some days the weather is great, conditions are great and the group is in sync, so we doo 600 km in the north or 400 in the south. Other days we are out of sync, stuff happens and we have a tough time doing 250 km. I am really going to miss the spontaneity of booking from the trail at lunch time for that evening. I have stayed in a number of great lodges across the north and near north, that I would not have discovered if not for our now outdated travel routine. The other risk I see in long term planning, is the inability to always sled in the best conditions. Our group watches the two week weather forecast religiously and tend to plan trips no more than 10 days in the future. We go where the chances look best for exceptional conditions. Easy to do now that we are mostly retired, but we operated that way while still working. That's with a mix of self employed, small to medium business owners and large corporation management and union workers. I may get totally shut out this winter, because I can't bare the thought of organizing a trip with dud weather or trail conditions, buy booking now for the unknown. I hope everyone's plans work out and that there are some rooms open somewhere on a week's notice once the white gold covers the ground. Our ace in the whole is that we have learned that there are great sledding opportunities from Cornwall to Kincardine, and Orangeville to Longlac, so as long as the conditions are good we will go anywhere.

Glad I didn't say that! Generally, but not always, I found sledding and dirt bike riding, that younger women will exercise their right to relief tastefully, but surprising close to the trail.

Chickey, many here are uber experienced and sincerely wish to share their trail knowledge and experience. Go Bills highlighted the first caveat. For some sledders, 150 km of Haliburton sledding is a full day. For others 350 km is more to their liking. Generally, I concur with the advice to head east toward Bancroft/Lake St Peter. I have found great trails and less traffic in that direction, but the key factor to enjoying any trails is actual exact condition of the trail. That involves depth of snow, and quality of grooming relative to traffic volume. Haliburton is very rocky and hilly, which requires substantial snow depth to fill all the holes. Research, as best you can, on the ITG and on this forum leading up to your vacation week, and head where conditions are best, not where you decided on New Year's Eve to sled. Sometimes 60 km one direction or the other have a big effect on trail conditions. Know the weather forecast inside out. Some micro areas can handle February warm weather better than others. Know as much as possible what trails are side of the open road trails, and avoid them if there hasn't been recent snow. This might seem like a lot of preparation work, but It pays off in a better sledding experience. OC contributors on this forum will help steer you right regarding trail conditions up to and during your stay. In the right conditions, you are heading to a great sledding destination. Good luck with your week.

Thanks TD for the G4 info. I have only had a brief ride on a friend's 850 very early on. He admitted that he had not yet found the sweet spot for handling set up. That was a '17 and he has bought two more since then. I didn't take a ride on his '19 mostly because I am not a big power guy. I have very poor blood circulation to my hands and feet, so really enjoy the head-to-toe cocoon of still air once I put the taller windshield on my XS. The 2018 TNT that I just bought only has 2K km on it, so I won't buy again for 2 or 3 years.

I don't like the smaller fuel tank for starters. Fortunately I ride primarily with friends with 900 ACE XS sleds. We use the 300 km range and I don't want to loose that. I prefer the cold weather wind protection of the XS. I am not looking for better handling because I'm touring, not racing and I love the handling of my XS chassis. Is the G4 much superior is some aspects? Ox, as TD answered, my 17 is an XS.

My once only frozen relay was on a 2017 XS. I am avoiding the G4, just like I did with the XP, waiting for something better.

Back to the subject relays. If you don't mind holding on to them until I make a winter trip to the family cottage, or my first sledding trip up 11, I will gladly take them off your hands. You can message me thru OC to get my contact info for further follow up. The relay issue can be handled either way - carry spares, or get the better ones and be done with it. In 4 seasons and 20K km, I only had one freeze up on my '17 Blizzard. Took the relay out, warmed and dried it, and carried on. Spares though, is a better strategy. I had a local sledding friend visit Bracebridge Friday, so pick up is doable in a variety of ways. Rick

ToSlow, your question is like asking if the pope is catholic. Many here have done that ride many times, north to south and south to north. Great area. Times have certainly changed. In '99 a pair of us did what we and others called, 'the big loop'. Left GTA after work Thursday with the tow vehicle of that time, a 1990 Dakota V6 pickup, and drove to Iroquois Falls to stage. Our sleds were my '96 Indy 500 and Brian's '97(?) Formula 500. Our Friday day 1 route was to Chapleau, via the old 101 trail which was way tougher and slower than the current trail. Saturday took us to Hearst via the F and D trails, which I believe were also slower then. I recall almost being out of fuel twice that day (carried no spare fuel). We rolled into Hornepayne and both took 45+ litres of gas in our 45 L tanks. Very Close! Got into Hearst and took 43+L. Just close. The last 20 or so km into Hearst, we passed two groups traveling the same direction who had one or more sleds out of fuel. The final day, Sunday, we rode back to the motel at Iroquois Falls. Drove home Monday - a part day. Not sure of the exact total mileage, but we did the minimum the trip offered. I think we had over 1800 km. One of those days was close to 700 or more and we didn't ride in deep darkness. Fast forward to 2020, better sleds, better fuel economy, better gear, GPS and better towing combos and my recent similar trips have taken 4 or 5 (side trip up to the canyon) days on smoother faster trails. Not sure if we are smarter now, just softer or just older. My riding mates have a name for the process that we have undergone, but I don't think I can use it here. ToSlow, for sure get up to District 13,14,15 to ride this winter. It is snowmobiling heaven, and the traffic on any open southern trails will be unbearable and unsafe this winter with all the sleds that have already been purchased this fall. There are damned few new or used sleds available to buy and prices are sky high.

I can't "like" that. I am dreading the day that I give up my outdoor power sports. My toys and toy friends completely define my life. The only other things that I liked were hockey and golf, and medical conditions have already ruled them out. I won't know what to do!

X2 on the 4 stroke Poo. Scott, I can imagine how your Dad and you are looking forward to this winter. It gives me goose bumps thinking about it. Good on you! Your Dad is only a couple years younger than I am, and I know I get really stoked whenever my son or daughter can join me for even a day of sledding or dirt biking. Tough time for them, even with Covid 19 restrictions, to get them away from my grandkids organized puck and ball sports. Meanwhile I am trying to keep enough dirt bikes to outfit the whole extended family just in case there is a day or two that we can ride together before I am TFO. Enjoy the winter and many more to you and Ross.

X2. Its a beauty either way.

He technically ordered no colours, since black is the absence of colour. His 129 (no shocks) is pretty much all black. Her 137 with shocks is black and grey. They weren't too imaginative when it came to colour, IMO. The only thing wrong with my new-to-me 900 TNT is that its all black with a little grey trim. Skidoos should be yellow, Polaris red or blue, Yamahas should be Yamaha blue and Cats green. Simple! Who screwed up the whole colour thing?

Thanks gobills. No more explaining required, but got to be hard on WE, Polaris, dealers and customers. Those shocks are new this year, at least as standard issue on any Polaris model, aren't they? My buddy snow checked 2 VR1 s - one came with shocks, one without. One was ordered by the original date and the second during the Covid (?) extension.

Have any of the Polaris faithful heard of their new snow checked VR1 sleds arriving at the dealer minus the front Walker Evans shocks. The decision to ship short the shocks could not have been made lightly. Sounds kinda '80s ish, but with a $500 promised delivery date penalty staring at them, maybe the decision was easier than would normally have been the case. Somebody's got some splainin' to do.

Congratulations to you and to 02 also. Used sleds are a hot commodity now, as dirt bikes, ATVs and SxSs were all summer and fall. You can add camper trailers, motor homes, boats, bicycles and golf clubs to the list. The year of Covid has been exceptional.

Under ideal circumstances for myself, I would only be interested in a two to three month winter rental, cause the missus in not the least bit interested in what lies north of 17. Those circumstances are only going to exist in a depressed housing market, and I am much happier to see the current resources boom and prosperity. I don't mind driving north half a dozen times a year to enjoy my sport in different locals. I did learn a tough lesson in late winter of 2019 when I lead my buddies into White River on a weekday at about 8 PM without reservations and found out there was absolutely nowhere to stay. Taxi to Wawa and back the next day was expensive and tricky to find. Good for the business operators, miners and building trades though. I just hope there is motel/hotel accommodation available this winter, with prior reservation of course. This is really going to cramp my style as I have seldom made week day reservations in 25 years of sled touring. We have always enjoyed the option of traveling 300 km or 700km in a day, depending on how the day went. No more free lancing.

02, have yo tried kijiji? Your wife's sled seems like too good a machine to have not sold yet. All the best in recycling that ride. Somebody is going to get a beauty.

This is great news. Maybe this winter of Covid will help deliver more southern sledders to vacation in the North Western districts. Clubs like the Marathon Sno-Kickers and many more deserve the support. I hope some businesses will enjoy a good winter season to help build/maintain local enthusiasm. If some of the previously mentioned temporary(?) trail closures can be avoided, then sledders like me will feel more comfortable dragging their friends up to the White River/Marathon/ Manitouwadge area. There are so many areas in the north that I want to visit this winter - I might have to find a house to rent somewhere north of 17.

Those are two good sleds for the appropriate application. If not on Kijiji, I suggest listing them there. Kijiji sled sales are on fire right now.

Can Hearst to Longlac and back still be done with a Gen 4 normally aspirated 900 ACE with 4 litre smaller tank (than the XS chassis)? I would like to hear from someone who has owned both XS and Gen 4 900s regarding fuel range. Won't affect me yet as I have my 'knew to me' 2018 for a couple of years, and just today sold my 2017, which is hands down the best sled I ever owned. Can't wait to get out and challenge the 300 km fuel range. Carry snacks and fuel up less frequently seems like a good Covid strategy.

Boy do I hope Ski is wrong, and the Donald is right, but I fear not. Could be a long sad season. Would be nice to get snow throughout the old traditional snowbelt areas so that we sledders can at least spread out.

I was part of a couple of late summer bike trips in eastern Ontario and western Quebec and we had no issue finding on the route lunches and suppers. We did however often eat on outdoor patios which will be a bit cold this winter.