2025 predictions

[Sledguy74]

Another 2-1/2 inches of rain here in Kitchener today 

tornado 🌪️ touched down in Ayr today as well, home hardware was damaged, no injuries that I know of 

Sure winter shows up this season 

[Strong Farmer]

9 hours ago, Sledguy74 said:

Another 2-1/2 inches of rain here in Kitchener today 

tornado 🌪️ touched down in Ayr today as well, home hardware was damaged, no injuries that I know of 

Sure winter shows up this season 

Winter can't be much worse then last year . Just bothers me to think last great winter was 2014 ish that's over 10 years ago. 2019 to 2020 was pretty good too but not as long as 2014.  We are do for a great winter this yesr. Leaves are starting to turn temps drop and boy rainfall amounts. Hopefully we get snow by the foot this year not cm 😎. 

[Sledguy74]

As much as I have enjoyed the earlier spring and longer falls I do miss good winters 

but I am honest with myself that winters may be a thing of the past in SW Ontario with climate change 

wait and see 

 

[Strong Farmer]

18 minutes ago, Sledguy74 said:

As much as I have enjoyed the earlier spring and longer falls I do miss good winters 

but I am honest with myself that winters may be a thing of the past in SW Ontario with climate change 

wait and see 

 

All you can do is make most of it when it arrives.
Last year I got one great day on local trails. That was it. Think they were only open 3 or so days. 

2019 to 2020 season me and wife rode around 8 weekends in southern Ontario mostly in district 9 and handful of times out of 5. That year had great snow just north of highway 86. With warm lakes a typical snow belt areas in 5 and 9 should be rideable for a few months I hope, this winter. 
Always wanted to ride from Kitchener to Owen sound and back. Maybe this is year 😎

[Sledguy74]

3 hours ago, Strong Farmer said:

All you can do is make most of it when it arrives.
Last year I got one great day on local trails. That was it. Think they were only open 3 or so days. 

2019 to 2020 season me and wife rode around 8 weekends in southern Ontario mostly in district 9 and handful of times out of 5. That year had great snow just north of highway 86. With warm lakes a typical snow belt areas in 5 and 9 should be rideable for a few months I hope, this winter. 
Always wanted to ride from Kitchener to Owen sound and back. Maybe this is year 😎

V2 did a ride to Sauble beach and back a couple of seasons ago 

back in the 90s I still remember going to tobermory in a day lol took 2 two days to get back 

[Strong Farmer]

21 hours ago, Sledguy74 said:

V2 did a ride to Sauble beach and back a couple of seasons ago 

back in the 90s I still remember going to tobermory in a day lol took 2 two days to get back 

I have gone to Duram and back in a day before, mid week when trails are good. Homestead a good stop for lunch. I have never been passed wiarton before. One trail  up and same trail back didn't sound to exciting to me. Maybe sometime if weather co-operates 🙏

[scottyr]

On 8/18/2024 at 11:59 AM, Sledguy74 said:

V2 did a ride to Sauble beach and back a couple of seasons ago 

back in the 90s I still remember going to tobermory in a day lol took 2 two days to get back 

 

My buddy has a cottage between Wiarton and Lions Head.    We rode to Tobermory and back a few years ago and it took us all day to go 200kms round trip.     Its a goat path.    Not a real enjoyable trail.    I wouldnt hurry back to do it again.  

[stoney]

I am not sure the trails up in that area have opened up much if at all the last few years.

I think I rode that area 6 or so years ago with my BIL (Red Bay and south), do not recall it being bad and was decent riding.

[scottyr]

14 minutes ago, stoney said:

I am not sure the trails up in that area have opened up much if at all the last few years.

I think I rode that area 6 or so years ago with my BIL (Red Bay and south), do not recall it being bad and was decent riding.

We did it in 2022.     I remember because I was on my 22 600XRS and it was the ideal machine for the tight and twisty trails.    The only thing that really stood out was the fact that the trails were so narrow it was borderline dangerous meeting another group coming the opposite direction.    Both sides had to have their right skis completely off the trail.   

 

 

[PISTON LAKE CRUISER]

38 minutes ago, scottyr said:

it was borderline dangerous meeting another group coming the opposite direction.    Both sides had to have their right skis completely off the trail.   

 

If it is still that way, how is the club(s) allowed to open the trail given all the risk management and trail signage/grooming regulations and requirements?

[95rxl650]

3 hours ago, scottyr said:

 

My buddy has a cottage between Wiarton and Lions Head.    We rode to Tobermory and back a few years ago and it took us all day to go 200kms round trip.     Its a goat path.    Not a real enjoyable trail.    I wouldnt hurry back to do it again.  

Thats my back yard with the tight and twisties I refer to in another thread I recently started. Even going to a 129" from a 121 feels like your towing a trailer. We would run from Owen Sound to the Tub and back in about 5 hours as long as we had gas stocks there and back. Up on the tank the whole ride. You can do hard labour all summer and the first couple weeks of riding felt you were hitting the gym for the first time. 

Trails like that, all you need is enough power to keep the track free through the corners. A track thats not spinning= a healthy helping of bark. 🫣

[stoney]

2 hours ago, scottyr said:

We did it in 2022.     I remember because I was on my 22 600XRS and it was the ideal machine for the tight and twisty trails.    The only thing that really stood out was the fact that the trails were so narrow it was borderline dangerous meeting another group coming the opposite direction.    Both sides had to have their right skis completely off the trail.   

 

 

Ya, I recall that in the bush as well, fields were all good.....and my sled had a lot of sand in the skid after that ride as well!

[stoney]

1 hour ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said:

If it is still that way, how is the club(s) allowed to open the trail given all the risk management and trail signage/grooming regulations and requirements?

Are you suggesting all trails need to fit two sleds side by side in order to be open?

I do not think that exists in many places.

[PISTON LAKE CRUISER]

1 hour ago, stoney said:

Are you suggesting all trails need to fit two sleds side by side in order to be open?

I do not think that exists in many places.

I know there are some very short narrow stretches normally between groomer turnaround locations. This is a long distance we're talking about. I can't find any regulations regarding minimum trail width in public OFSC sites. I don't ever remember riding any long stretches of single width prescribed trail but my memory has failed from time to time.  

[stoney]

2 hours ago, PISTON LAKE CRUISER said:

I know there are some very short narrow stretches normally between groomer turnaround locations. This is a long distance we're talking about. I can't find any regulations regarding minimum trail width in public OFSC sites. I don't ever remember riding any long stretches of single width prescribed trail but my memory has failed from time to time.  

LOL, yes, happens often....

 

I cannot think of the trails off the top of my head, but I know there are some feeder trails in dist #7 that are groomed by sled and small drag, so they are out there for sure.

[95rxl650]

Maybe thinking of maximum ski width? I recall reading something about that last season. Might have been State side.

[Sksman]

Aberfoyle is clearing out Sidewinders.  Big savings for anyone wanting a 4 stroke.

 

Used market is going to suffer

[Spiderman]

[Strong Farmer]

On 8/21/2024 at 11:24 PM, stoney said:

LOL, yes, happens often....

 

I cannot think of the trails off the top of my head, but I know there are some feeder trails in dist #7 that are groomed by sled and small drag, so they are out there for sure.

I know what you mean but I figured ofsc had certain trail standards that had to be met now . Ones I remember where in snow crest territory near mouse house, trail 4 rings a bell. That one was shut down a nunber of years ago for this very reason I believe. 
Only place I remember seeing narrow trails are some of single tracks in haliburton forest in last few years. I have not come across any others in last few years on ofsc system that I can recall. Even all bush trails that weren't wide enough have been widened or trails moved. 

[oldslowsledder]

This will be the season I make a decision about our trail sleds. Life is busy enough that trips and backpacking are difficult if not impossible to plan. So if it's another bummer year the 3 trail sleds will go up for sale and I'll stick to the ice/bush sled. Becomes hard to justify the cost, insurance, passes, and depreciation (according to my wife ). And honestly, I get tired of maintaining and storing things that rarely get used

[LuvMyViper]

9 minutes ago, oldslowsledder said:

 I get tired of maintaining and storing things that rarely get used

 

#MeToo..... that's why I got divorced

[Strong Farmer]

22 hours ago, oldslowsledder said:

This will be the season I make a decision about our trail sleds. Life is busy enough that trips and backpacking are difficult if not impossible to plan. So if it's another bummer year the 3 trail sleds will go up for sale and I'll stick to the ice/bush sled. Becomes hard to justify the cost, insurance, passes, and depreciation (according to my wife ). And honestly, I get tired of maintaining and storing things that rarely get used

What a bummer. 

[LuvMyViper]

Last night my friend told me that his son is selling is sled because there's no snow anymore. He lives in Timmons. That's not good..

[Spiderman]

Well, while I was rifling through some of the stuff I have around ( see pic in last page ) - I did come across the bill for my 2004 Pro-X 600, 

 

$9,475.00 pre-tax/trade-in value

 

I'm out of the loop on today's pricing - but I think it's gone up a bit over the 11 years?

[Strong Farmer]

11 hours ago, Spiderman said:

Well, while I was rifling through some of the stuff I have around ( see pic in last page ) - I did come across the bill for my 2004 Pro-X 600, 

 

$9,475.00 pre-tax/trade-in value

 

I'm out of the loop on today's pricing - but I think it's gone up a bit over the 11 years?

Sleds have gone up no doubt but they have also got better and more realible, with less wrenching then those days. 
Todays sleds are amazing and technology the manufactures put into them, is very good.  
It's weather and cost of living and fact new Canadians can't afford a snowmobile, that's hurting the sport. 
New 25,000 k sleds are a tough pill to swallow especially when a family needs two to have fun. 
I said to myself, I quit when all my friends do.

Guess what all my friends are out and have been looking for another sled, so they can ride my old one and we can do a trip or two still 😎.  This is what real sled heads do to keep sport going.