yes, just pointing out the cost to eat out when away riding vs. eating at home, x 3 meals a day x 2 days is a lot more - and adds to the expense    

I had a really good weekend too. I rode 240 kms with wife (two up on Friday)  On Sunday me and my son did 90 kms on local trails here. One smaller loop.  I see lots of families out and about this year on sleds. Lots on older 10 years plus sleds. They are just going from truck to warm up shack to hang out and then go back. With all snow locally this year things are open all way to Lake Erie. If southern Ontario gets snow, sport more affordable to ride local trails close to your house.  I don't add up food when I am out riding , since we have to eat anyways.  It take a few good winters for riders to get back in or decide to stay in.  I rode about 1400 kms so far this winter. I am almost done. Been on every trail within 1.25 hours drive in a car from house pretty much. Not much else to see really in this area. I might trailer to mount forest and ride a loop around top and back down when weather is nice. Even my son almost had enough this winter. You can only ride same trails so many times, before it becomes boring too.  Snow blowing been super expensive this year. My back up guy charges me about 250 an hour. 1.5 hours do my 1 km drive way can easily cost 400 bucks, when I don't have time to do it myself.  Had to use him half dozen times this winter and not over yet. 

Hard to justify all the costs when groceries are 200+ every time you go when you're young.    Only way this sport stays relevant and valid is if we retain the younger riders.    Now their is going to be a huge wealth transfer shortly and for a decent period of time but will that mean they will stay engaged. Not sure on that    

The Lynx might be short lived in my trailer, unless the back end loosens up some.   Great if ridden hard and fast, but that's not me  

After a really great weekend of riding, I gave a little thought to snowmobiling and it's sustainability. The #1 driver seems to be keeping existing riders in it, and somehow trying to get new riders into it.   When I look around the forums etc. seems "cost" is the #1 detractor - maybe it's inconsistent weather, but I would say the 2 go hand in hand.   After some reflection on my own "costs" this weekend - I have come to the conclusion that "cost" is not the issue. COST OF LIVING AND DISCRETIONARY INCOME is what is truly behind the "cost" factor.   Let's face it, if we have the money, we'll spend it on things we like to enjoy, but when you don't have the money - well you're friged.   Let me explain a little: I just looked at my weekend. Total cash out of pocket costs to go riding this weekend - now it's me and my son, but I paid for both of us totaled $379.30 That is broken down as follows:   Food: Friday - $23.70 - Dinner on way to the cottage Saturday: - $76.28 - lunch at Boiler Room Sunday: $13.05 - snack at Sprucedale Total: $113.03   Luckily for us, Saturday and Sunday breakfast and dinner was at the cottage courtesy of Grandma!, so no cost, but add those extra meals into the equation... yikes:   Fuel: Friday going up to the cottage: $0.00 - ( company card ) Saturday/Sunday sleds: $39.17, $67.39, $34.63, $57.08 = $198.27 Sunday going home: $0.00 ( company card )   Now, if I had to add fuel to/from the cottage to this - call it another $200.00....   OIl: 4 litres - 2 each @ $17.00 per - $68.00   We are lucky enough to have a free place to stay - so cost was $0.00   Add in 2 nights hotel.................:(   Bottom line, I spent $379.30 of cash this weekend - with a free place to stay, free fuel to/from our riding area, and food eaten at home and provided by others for the most part.   This weekend could have easily been $1,000.00   To me, the issue is LIFE affordability - moreso than sledding affordability. How many people out there are going to spend/drop close $1,000.00 a weekend to go riding? And if they are, how many of those weekends are they going to have in their budget with the cost of living today at what it is.   Put yourself in young peoples shoes these days with the cost of housing, insurance, vehicles, fuel, insurance, food, utilities, kids, etc.  There is more than likely nothing left to have any fun - so sledding isn't the issue - life is the issue and sledding is what suffers from it.   Cost of living is out of control more than the cost of sledding is. My 2 cents anyway