[QUOTE=FST;1663]Being from the Plymouth area I look at the website often. A big Thank you to everyone that puts all the hard work into keeping the snowmobile information websites up and running and the trails groomed.
Has anyone looked at the Fon du lac county site?
[url]
http://www.geocities.com/fdlsnowassn/[/url]
They have some comments on trail abuse and I think all sites should have something similar. I guess it could go even a little farther and get into some of the other total lack of respect some people have for the trails, landowners and others on the trails. The cross country racing that goes on is totaly uncalled for. My biggest complaint is being out for a ride on what were good trails only to meet or have a group of idiots pass me. After nearly being hit by one or 2 of them they are spinning and fish tailing the entire time and throw all the snow up and off the trail.
Amazing how a few out of control sleds can ruin a trail in one pass.
I copied this from the Fon Du Lac site. I don't think Walt will mind.
[B]There are 2 major methods of riding a snowmobile that ruin trails to the point that it is near impossible for a groomer to adequately fix or provide a long term fix.
1. BLOWING OUT THE CORNERS This is the result of high acceleration by some "clowns" while entering a corner to throw themselves around the corner. This blows all of the snow out of the inside of the corner creating an icy or bare condition.
2. RIDING IN THE CENTER OF THE TRAIL Riding in the center of a trail (especially abandoned railroad grades & multi-use trails) wears this area of a trail out to the point that a groomer will not be able to adequately restore the trail. Sure, the groomer will place new snow in this area but it will not be compacted to a degree that will make it hold because the pressure of the groomer will be greatest near the edges of the groomer on the high areas outside of the center of the trail.
For the sake of others using the trails and yourself; please do not blow out the corners or ride extensively in the center of the trails.[/B][/QUOTE]
FST - We had a thread running pertaining to riding slow, riding fast, and basic trail etiquette. I wouldn't want to be passed either, however, if I'm in a group (seems I am usually the leader) and I have sleds come up on my butt, when I get to a safe place I pull everyone over and let them pass! It makes perfect sense to me, why doesn't that make sense to others? It's just like driving on the hwyway, if your going slow in the fast lane, you get over for someone coming up faster don't you? Anyway's it's not always about going fast! It's about wanting to go "faster" then you...faster may only be 5 or 10 miles faster, but it's still faster. It might be 40 miles faster, but thats not your decision to make. Nothing is more annoying then being out riding alone or with a couple of sleds and coming up on a group going sloooooooooooooooow! they have mirrors, they know your there, you would think they would at some point let you by, but a lot of the time they won't! Perhaps the next time your out riding you can pull over and let them pass, then you won't have a complaint. I do it, I know others that do it, I don't get why soooooooooooo many don't! Just a thought...don't take it personal!