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Thread: What's fascinating about snowmobiling?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Question What's fascinating about snowmobiling?

    Having just read about snow and sleds and trails again, I have to wonder what the hubub is all about. I've never known anyone who does a lot of snowmobiling, er, sledding, so I'm a little ignorant. Seems like driving through the woods in the freezing cold on a noisy machine wouldn't be all that attractive. Then again, I've never been on one before.

    What is the attraction here? Why do you sled? How would you convince me to take a ride?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
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    Burnham, Maine
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    Default I'll take a stab at it.........

    You can go and see places that are inaccessable any other time of year. Its been a few years since I've owned a sled, I sold mine back when our weather patterns started changing and the price of good sleds started climbing. I cross country ski alot now and find it gives me the same adventure as sledding did, however, I would still go if the opportunity presented itself, such as being able to purchase a "good" sled that would get me to where I want to go or going with generous friends. New sleds today can cost up to 10,000 dollars not including all the accessories that you "need," certainly unafforable for alot of Mainers which is why the industry DEPENDS on folks from "away" to come to Maine. Believe me when I say, If you tried it, you'd like it but its just gotten too expensive for me.
    What if the Hokey Pokey is what its all about?
    Have Fun & Be Safe!

  3. #3
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    Default

    Sorry, you can not add yourself to your own ignore list.

  4. #4
    d’76 Guest

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Smitty & Co.
    You can go and see places that are inaccessable any other time of year. Its been a few years since I've owned a sled, I sold mine back when our weather patterns started changing and the price of good sleds started climbing. I cross country ski alot now and find it gives me the same adventure as sledding did, however, I would still go if the opportunity presented itself, such as being able to purchase a "good" sled that would get me to where I want to go or going with generous friends. New sleds today can cost up to 10,000 dollars not including all the accessories that you "need," certainly unafforable for alot of Mainers which is why the industry DEPENDS on folks from "away" to come to Maine. Believe me when I say, If you tried it, you'd like it but its just gotten too expensive for me.
    I agree, I used to own a sled. It was pretty cool. Unfortunatly it only takes a few to ruin it for every one else much like ATV riding. The sleds today go way to fast for me to be comfortable on the trails. Not me that I am worried about its the crazy bastard that insist on driving way to fast because they can. I suspect after meeting many of the folks from Geocaching that ride I'm sure they make responsible decisions when it comes to safety however I have a camp on a lake and spend much of my time there in the winter and see how fast these guys drive.

    Just like anything its great if you have the right equipment and enjoy adventure. When I had a sled I enjoyed Ice fishing in places that would ordinarly be hard to get to otherwise. I also enjoyed trail riding. But now its just to expensive for me to be interested. I have a 2003 Susuki Vincent 500 atv that sits in my garage with 1000 miles on it and not registered because I cant afford to gas it and the truck up to get to the trails to ride.

    I think if you tried it you would be hooked. Just what we all need is another hobby.

  5. #5
    d’76 Guest

    Default

    which one was yours

  6. #6
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    Default

    I've been riding for the past four years or so. The main reason I started riding was the fact that I was spending way too much time inside during the winter complaining about the cold and snow. Snowmobiling for me has been a great way to get me out and about in the winter and to see areas that may or may not be easily accessible on foot or by other vehicles. It has a certain appeal like geo-caching . . . it's not for everyone.

    Folks that enjoy snowmobiling often tend to be the type that also enjoy riding ATVs or motorcycles. In fact, snowmobiling is similar to riding a motorcycle on snow . . . not necessarily a good thing since as Dave mentioned a lot of folks go pretty fast. As for me, I tend to be a slower rider than many . . . ATTROLL can attest to this since I went on a ride with him once.

    One common belief though is that snowmobiling is cold . . . if a snowmobiler is cold it's only because they've got the wrong gear. I've often gone out and been cold on only a very few occasions -- usually because of a poor choice in clothing. When you bundle up with thermal underwear, polar fleece, outerjacket/pants, helmet, balaclava, good gloves, etc. and turn on the heated hand grips you're often toasty warm.

    Snowmobiles can be noisy and smelly . . . particularly the sleds that are using older technology. Newer sleds however are designed to burn cleaner and the four stroke models (most new Yamahas for example) are not all that smelly and are really quiet. However, if you want to get out and about with zero smell and little noise snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing are great outdoor activities as well . . . they also offer the added bonus of giving you a better work-out than riding a sled (which may require some finess, but nothing like snow shoeing and X-country skiing.)

    Snowmobiling can be expensive. I originally bought a used sled for $1800 and then bought a new sled for around $6,000 a few years later (not the biggest and best of course.) Getting outfitted in gear can be cheap or expensive -- I probably have around $400 in gear . . . mostly clothing that I use for other activities as well. Some folks go crazy and get the brand name stuff which can add up to a alot. I also bought a trailer for $1,500 which I use to haul both my sled, ATV and "stuff." And then there is the miscellaneous expenses like gas, oil, registration, eating out, etc.
    "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the realization that there is something more important than fear."

    "Death is only one of many ways to die."

  7. #7
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    Default

    We all have hobbies.... snowmobiling is one for alot of people where in thier state it snows! Snowmobiling is great and you don't know until you try it.
    Sorry, you can not add yourself to your own ignore list.

  8. #8
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dave1976
    I think if you tried it you would be hooked. Just what we all need is another hobby.
    I'm not looking for another hobby, really. I'm sure if I tried it, I'd like it. I was wondering what about it would make me hooked... why are some folks so passionate about it? Just trying to understand another man's (and woman's) obsession

  9. #9
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    Default

    What defines snowmobiling?

    Speed

    Going out to the bars or resturant

    Out with friends, away from stress.

    No reason people don't like it.
    Sorry, you can not add yourself to your own ignore list.

  10. #10
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bhansenme
    I'm not looking for another hobby, really. I'm sure if I tried it, I'd like it. I was wondering what about it would make me hooked... why are some folks so passionate about it? Just trying to understand another man's (and woman's) obsession
    I can't speak for others, but for me the sledding attraction is going out with some friends, seeing some incredible winter scenery and heading out with a goal in mind (making it from point A to point B . . . with Point B often being a restaurant in my case. ) I suppose one of the reason sledders seem nearly obsessive about this activity is that we only get 3 months or so of good sledding in Maine . . . maybe if we had snow for 6-9 months it wouldn't be such a big deal.
    "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the realization that there is something more important than fear."

    "Death is only one of many ways to die."

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