It's Raining.

[SNO4ME]

Looks like the next storm is heading to Southern WI, Northern IL.

Too many 30's for highs in the 15 day forecast. Is this winter over?

Now don't that start that Bull $#*t already Up Late! 

Myself and others always looked at "real" - "rideable" Winter starting about Christmas, give or take a few days.  I always looked at pre Christmas riding as a gift. Our club has been contracting since 93. Only once have we ever started the first week of December and kept going.

That being said.................. Don't get the idea that I'm not 

[racerdave]

Sno4me, I agree on the anything before xmas as a bonus. This is the first year since I think 03 that I haven't been upnorth pre xmas. Not sure on that though. It looks like it will be the first xmas since 03 that son and I have not rode up north between xmas and new years.

[GroomerDriver]

Sno4me, I agree on the anything before xmas as a bonus. This is the first year since I think 03 that I haven't been upnorth pre xmas. Not sure on that though. It looks like it will be the first xmas since 03 that son and I have not rode up north between xmas and new years.

Don't give up on that trip yet Dave.  Storms predicted to hit 12/20 & 12/27 that would impact the area you like to ride in.

[AdrenalineJunky]

I will feel much better when my lodge and new sleds are sold.   These boney winters are worthy only of an occasional ride when it does snow........on the classics.   Unfortunately for me, northern snomo type furnished lodge not near ski area dont sell in weak economies.  I been trying to sell for 2 years, couple nibble at best and zero offers.  I dont see it selling in this pitiful RE market any year soon. 
 Meanwhile I pay taxes, insurance, and expensive heating oil bills......with poor winters.

[2qik]

AJ, last winter all I had was a vintage and it was all good.  The season was short so it didn't matter.  Now I have roughly $1,350 tied up in the other 2 for my kids.  It won't hurt like it did with $5k sitting idle in the garage. Many here have $10k+ machines sitting idle waiting for 2 months of riding...  It would SUCK having property tied up in this economy and weak weather patterns!!!

-2qik

[Up Late]

These boney winters are worthy only of an occasional ride when it does snow........on the classics.   

That's the conclusion I've come too - except I'm not going to get into another vintage until we start seeing a better and longer lasting winter patterns.

This years problem is 2 fold. It hasn't been as cold as normal and we haven't had anywhere close to normal precip.

And like 2Qik, I hate having thousands of dollars in depreciating snowmachines sitting around if they are seldom used.

[SNO4ME]

You fair weather sledders!!!!!!!!!

Then who am I to point fingers. 
As much as I like to ride, I haven't bought a current model new sled since............ 02.
And I've bought 4 sleds since then.
And I've sometimes thought about buying another 07. Not that it's been used much, but it's not "new".

That would be my first used sled since the 97 Super Sport.

I tell causal riders "Buy a sled with 5000 miles on it. At a thousand miles a year it should last you five years with a little tinkering".

[GroomerDriver]

As somebody recently told me, at our age, we can't afford the cries of "wait till next year".....year after year.   

[greekboy]

I'm a little bummed out with the lack of conditions. Supposed to take an entire week off to ride between Christmas and New Years and there is ZERO snow on the ground at my cabin thus far. There was 4-6" on the ground last week, but it all ran away  Hoping for a Christmas miracle now....    Dear Santa, I wish for snow. 

[2qik]

As somebody recently told me, at our age, we can't afford the cries of "wait till next year".....year after year.   

Agreed GD.  My kids are not getting any younger so I'll have 2 sleds for them to ride.  We'll have some laughs and good memories looking back someday, even if we only get out a handful of times.

-2qik

[racerdave]

As somebody recently told me, at our age, we can't afford the cries of "wait till next year".....year after year.   

Cub fans have been saying that and doing it for over 100 years, but as a STL Cardinal fan and a sledder I can't and don't want to relate to that phrase.

[GroomerDriver]

I'm a little bummed out with the lack of conditions. Supposed to take an entire week off to ride between Christmas and New Years and there is ZERO snow on the ground at my cabin thus far. There was 4-6" on the ground last week, but it all ran away  Hoping for a Christmas miracle now....    Dear Santa, I wish for snow. 

I'm with you Charlie.  I'm on vacation starting tomorrow and not going back to work till Jan. 2nd.  My oldest son is going into the Air Force at the end of January and we planned a saddlebag trip to the UP for Dec. 20-25 but unless the coming storm does something special, our trip is off.    Depending on where the snow goes and how much they get, we still may go on an overnighter or something.....we haven't decided and won't until the last minute.   

[greekboy]

I'm a little bummed out with the lack of conditions. Supposed to take an entire week off to ride between Christmas and New Years and there is ZERO snow on the ground at my cabin thus far. There was 4-6" on the ground last week, but it all ran away  Hoping for a Christmas miracle now....    Dear Santa, I wish for snow. 

I'm with you Charlie.  I'm on vacation starting tomorrow and not going back to work till Jan. 2nd.  My oldest son is going into the Air Force at the end of January and we planned a saddlebag trip to the UP for Dec. 20-25 but unless the coming storm does something special, our trip is off.    Depending on where the snow goes and how much they get, we still may go on an overnighter or something.....we haven't decided and won't until the last minute.   

Looks like there is some snow on the ground up in the Keweenaw, but not enough. I guess you never know up there, might get something going ?

Congratulations on your son entering the AF ! That's gotta make a dad proud ! 

[CNC]

GB if John Dee's forecast is accurate you may not be able to get to your cabin.

[greekboy]

GB if John Dee's forecast is accurate you may not be able to get to your cabin.

I would giggle like a little school girl.