Yoopers...sledding advice needed

It was briefly discussed in another thread. A buddy & I are interested in doing a little sledding. UP is the chosen venue, but not opposed to the northern tip. We will only have 1 or 2 days to actually ride. It will take a whole day driving to get up there and another to get home. Will likely be an extended weekend trip.

I have been looking around online, but not making much progress. Seems there are hundreds of places to stay and go sledding. Hoping to get some suggestions from the FHC members.

Will be renting sleds and will need lodging. Staying close to trail head and or ski rental preferred.

Are there areas that have both trails and free ride areas? Any licensing requirements to operate machines? I understand a DOT helmet is required. I was considering taking one of my motorcycle helmets to ride in...any reason that's not a good idea? What is a 'reasonable' rental rate for a machine for a day? I read that prices are usually lower on the UP compared to the Tip?

What are some things I may not think of ahead of time in regards to this trip?

 

This should get ya' started...........
Snowmobiling

 

You wont find much open area.

only MI registration if you take your own machine, and you'd need to have your machine reg. and insured.

dont work very well! rent a helmet also!

Take cash and credit card, 2 forms of ID.
know what time the gas stations close.

we stayed near Munising and road toward Marquette a lot because of snow conditions. Try checking out the conditions at dealers or locals. Hotels will always tell you conditions are good. Make sure you know in advance what it costs to cancel last minute....if conditions change...

 

I'd go to Maine...northern maine if youre looking for high miles per day

 

I misunderstood “sledding”....

Sledding here is taking a piece of corrugated tin bending one end up at 90 degrees. Attach a rope to drag back. Walk to the top of Palbearer’s Peak and take off. Doctors visit and hospital bills usually ensue. Trees and fence used for brakes.

 

Looks like $195-215 per day.
Sounds expensive, but if you only ride a few days per year, thats definitely the way to go!

 

Reason?

Not looking to book a flight. UP is a good bit more 'local' to me than is Maine. I must add that I do want to get over to the North East at some point...never been.

Snowmobilespeak is a little foreign to me as well, but I'm trying to blend in.

I am prepared to pay up to $250/day for a nice machine. Should be well worth it.

 

snowmobile helmets have a breath deflector to keep them from fogging up. which it will do instantly in subfreezing temps

 

Also dual pane shields. A motocross helmet, with snow goggles ( dual pane) and a balaclava works great. Single panes will fog/ freeze up, asap

 

Bell ClickRelease Dual Lens Face Shield - RevZilla ?

Edit: Breath box also available.

 

That should keep him busy for a bit, eh Dennis?

 

Also, Munising is a great place to go snowmobiling.

 

Fwiw, I don't like breath boxes.

 

Southern UP has the least snow. North of 28 is always better. North and West of 123 is best. Particularly this year, the tip and southern yoop are going to have marginal snow for awhile yet. February will be better. Marquette and West will have 3 times the snow as the Soo.

 

Have been zeroing in on Munising. Trying to find a one stop shop...place with lodging and rentals to try and simplify things. There's quite a bit of info to wade through on the Gougal.

 

Weather may be a factor. How cold is too cold for sledding? It's 3* in the area I'm looking at now. lol

Christmas, MI. White Pines Lodge. Ski rental on site, restaurant across street, casino beside. Their website says local trail access. Christmas is just Northwest of Munising right off the lake.

 

Its not really that it gets "too cold". But you gotta be careful once it gets down around zero.
You can get frost bite if any air is leaking through your helmet or between your helmet and collar. And the cold will soak through the front of your pants, upper arms and back.
I've been out in minus teens. Its really not as much fun below zero.

 

This is my experience with ATVs back in the day. Snow riding is great, but at some point becomes more about keeping warm than riding. I have started to look at some appropriate attire. I have plenty of cold weather gear, but it is more oriented towards riding on a tractor rather than a snowmobile. 15 degrees + 40 mph is quite different from 15 degrees + 3 mph.