Maybe some of the club volunteers can help me out with this one, but why are 3 day passes so expensive?? A 3 day pass is now $90. I hardly feel it's fair to pay $30 per day. My brother is coming up north with us this weekend, and wants to join us on a ride. My buddy just happens to have a spare machine, that's registered and insured, but he's not using it (hence no pass). My bro is only going out Fri evening, maybe for an hour, and Saturday for the day. I realize if they were too cheap everyone would just buy them as they go out, but $90 seems a little far fetched, especially when it's 1/2 the price of a full seasons pass (if buying before Dec 1st).
As far as I'm concerned, this is a great way to deter people (like my brother) from getting into the sport.

Look at Quebec. $150 for three days. Fact of the matter is keeping the system in good shape is expensive. Would you be happy if you spent the money (even if it was less) and the trails were crap. Probably not. What would you pay to go downhill skiing for three days, or golfing for even a day? I'm not saying it's cheap, but snowmobiling never has been and most likely never will be. You should tell your brother that he can actually ride for 3 and a half days on the three day pass. He can start at 4:oo pm on the day he gets the pass and ride all that night, followed by the next consecutive three days until midnight of the third day. It isn't so bad if you use the thing for all it's worth. The permit has really been created to cater to those that come up to ride for a three day weekend. Do I agree with getting rid of the $35 one day pass? Well yes and no. I think $35 wasn't enough money for the hassle of selling the permits, but $45 or $50 one day permits probably would have been a good solution. This been said there was good reason for their abolishment and I doubt you'll see them back anytime soon. Hope this helps.

i don't like the fact they got rid of the single day pass.i will go on two rides this year one 80 k round trip with my 4 year old and one 230k round trip with my wife .last year was one day...no snow at all where i live.so it makes for a very expensive ride.i do by a full permit,last year i was supposed to do a week in the muskoka area but it fell through..other than that i just don't have time.they don't do a good job selling snowmobiling to people if they call it a hassle to sell 1 day permits...

I agree talk to the MTO about it, their in charge of the passes now, how are you suposed atract new sledders and tourist dollars when you bend them over a barrel

I heard that the one day pass was being abused thus it's elimination.
I know I bought a one day pass twice last winter and neither time did the seller mark the specific date on the sticker. Sort of defeats the purpose if undated.

Ya it was an issue, but it could of been easly worked out, but the not so smart MTO passed on any ideas. I bet this will be of major concern at this years AGM, I know it'll be one of my main gripes.

I totally agree about costs of upkeep, but I guess my bigger arguement is on everyone's mind....you HAVE to buy a 3 day pass, even if you're away for just a weekend. As I said, he'll only ride 1 1/2 days at the most. I would pay $40 for a single day pass in a heartbeat, especially when you don't know if you'll go for more than 1 day. Like Nutter said, it's hard to attract more people if they have to bend over for a weekend.

Don't feel bad. There are lots of people that bought season's passes for $180 and have yet to use them and may not get to.

You are guaranteed to use your's for half the money.

I think one of the problems with the 1 day pass (other then cheating it) was the break-even point. If your faced with the decision of a season pass (after Dec 1) at $230 or a day pass for $35-40 (good for a Friday night/Saturday) then you can go sledding for 6 weekends for the same price (or less) than a seasons pass. Makes buying a seasons pass look unappealing.

Just my opinion.

Expensive, you will put more gas in that sled than 90.00. Try renting one with a pass already on it, about 275.00 plus gas and oil a day. I hardly think any tourist worth having into an area ( a poor tourist is hard to find) would be turned off, as we also have a seven day at 120.00. JMO.

Light activated disapearing ink would have solved the problem with abuse. Who knows, maybe it will be discussed again at AGM. The floor is always open.

Yes $90 is TOO much

YES they needed to get RID of the 1day pass as it was a PIA for n=both the club and sledder

say if you rode Sat and had a great time,friends with permits want to go back Sunday

Now you have to chase around for a place for another 1 day pass

the 3 day eliminates this

$75 to me seems reasonnable for a 3 day pass

90 is too much for 3 days

the 1 day is gone forever

I for one am happy for that

If you want a one day permit go to Haliburton

And the light bulb finally turns on. Can you only imagine that it is our land, public free land, the true north strong and cheap. They've paved paridise, but now they 'groom' paradise. The OFSC... I won't go there. They don't own any of the land, you do.

David Koresh speaks.........................................and I thought they killed him.

Click to view attachment

What a proud kill it was. The Country of Canada is not based on American ideals. Who's the waco?

well i ride a yamaha so i won't be buying 90.00 in gas ! turn it around count the # of times your on a federation trail this year( or average years ) and multiply it by 30.00 .are u willing to pay that for a permit? my point is,at this point in life i'm knocking down 60 hrs a week at work, so all of my time away from my work goes to my daughter, son, and wife .i get them out on the sled on private property and have a 340 and kitty cat for my kids to ride but realistically i would be far better off buying a single day permit for all i hit the trails.as my kids get old enough, i'm sure if there is organized snowmobile trails in ontario, we'll be in it with both feet,but for now one or two rides a year(and there are many in my situation). if the ofsc cannot manage one day passes there is something wrong with them,like rr said they become more cost affective for those that are actually that cheap and have alot of extra time ,i don't think that is the case very much. i wish i could get out 6 times a year, anyway i'll keep donating to the osfc

Did the single day pass look different? Does the 3 day or week pass look different??

They're all different colours and the three and seven days are a different style than the seasonal pass.

So you bought a 4 stroke yamaha for what 10,000 and cant dish out 90.00. How about calling up the insurance co. and asking for a 1 day pass. Me, 0 miles on trails and 2 passes. I will be lucky to see 1 day out for 360.00.

Need some cheese in here

I aint whining and I will buy 2 more passes next Nov. I really don't care if I use them 1 day or 100 still the cheapest part of sledding.

no i did not buy a four stroke and i still don't use 90.00 in gas a day.your missing my point,i buy a full permit,i doesn't really make sense for me to do this knowing i will only get out once or twice,many others are sucked in to buy 3 day permits, only needing them for 1 day on a couple occassions .the ofsc is bending people over,why is a 3 day easier to manage than a 1 day?my insurance costs less per year than a permit on a 700 cc sled(with full cov.)

A 3 day pass IS easier to manage because there is money in it.... not much room for admin and everything else when the pass only costs $35..... a 3 day pass is $90 and that is to cover the costs, admin... and everything else!!

not to be a smart ass but, could you break that down?

I don't have the exact $$ amounts sitting infront of me right now. But an example that will paint a picture for you is as follows: (The are not exact values, as stated I don't have the exact #'s infront of me)

A club sells a 1 day permit for $35 = The club does the exact same work as a full season pass (paperwork) and recieves $5 as the 1 days costs the club $30.

A club sells a 3 day permit for $90 = The club does the exact same work as a full season pass (paperwork) and recieves $45 as the 3 day permit costs the club $45

again i do and have bought a season pass since the 80's,i live about a 1000' from the trail.so if we get snow, i will go and play a bit in the evening with the kids(on my sled)and do my one or two trips a year. but there are alot of people out there that can only do a run or two a year and it does not serve them well getting rid of the one day pass.so if it just about dollars for the osfc and/clubs thats a little weak .i realize the bottom line is it's gone and talking to any club reps, they will defend it. it doesn't really affect me but i know it affects others......

a 3 day pass would usualy be sold for a weekend

it is for the people that run around trying to find a place that sells a day pass when they want to ride the next day

Clubs are not there to sit around waiting for a person to decide at 10pm or 7am to get a 1 day pass

And yes I do agree there are some that make the effort to get the day pass in advance

BUT not all,many places that sell permits have employees that are new or do not know the cost and such

Our club about 3 yrs ago had one place sell season permits for the price of a day permit,honest mistake but cost our club $$$$

there is no $$$$ in one day permits

And for the argument I have friends that will borrow my second sled,buy the permit and charge you friends $20 a day

Huh, interesting subject!! (the thread starter "Puddy905" and his brother were at my cottage the weekend in question ).

I have mixed views on the 3-day vs. 1-day permit issue. At first I was thinking it's pretty stupid that my friend had to spend $90 for 3 days, when chances are we were only really going to do a good ride on the Saturday. BUT as it turned out, the trails were good, and we did a nice ride on the Sunday as well (sounds like the story many of you are saying ..... go one day, like it, want to go again next day ... oops, need another 1-day permit?!)

I just did some quick "math" though, that may put things into perspective. It still leaves me with mixed feelings about the cost of the 3-day permit.

This year I rode around ~700 miles +/-. For argument's sake, say I rode 720. And I paid $180 for the season permit.
$180 / 720 = $0.25/mile of riding.

Let's say during your 3-day pass weekend, you manage to ride ~180 miles (that's probably about what I rode, considering I was at the cottage 4 weekends, and 4 x 180 = 720!!) SO...
$90 / 180 = $0.50/mile of riding.

Looks like those who want to only go out and ride once, or just one weekend will be paying double the cost/mile than those who commit to riding for the season. But say you don't get out much on your season's pass, then you may be paying ~$0.50/mile too? OR, if you make the MOST out of your weekend pass, you could get the same miles/$$ as a season pass holder. It actually seems sorta fair, broken down that way.

Just some food for thought ................................

well said

I don't like how they abolished the day pass and went directly to 3 days. most people ride on saturdays and sundays, why wouldn't they have a weekend pass for those 2 days? and a week pass is only $120, which is fair and great for those coming up here from the US.

I like the idea of a day pass, and 90 bucks to ride for a few hours on a saturday is a cash grab & a rip off!

I understand there was fraud, but that should be handled as such!!! it would be really easy to get rid of it if you charged sellers big fines. what's in it for them? better client service? not worth it to them...

if the clubs only make 5 bucks on a day pass.. a $70 weekend pass would be reasonable and the clubs could still make money. $90 is only $20 more so you are getting a deal on the 3 days compared to buying the old day pass, but most people wont use it.

they want to put more trail patrol on the trails to fight tresspassing, but I rarely see them any year and its usually passing them on the trail so they aren't able to do anything anyways...

I'd like to see what the sales numbers were for the different pass types, before dec 1, after and total sales. anyone have it?

90 bucks for 3 days? sounds good to me

golf = $50-$180 for 4-5 hour round in Toronto area
rock climbing was 24 bucks for 1/2 hour
go-carts $22 bucks for 7 laps under 18 minutes
skiing = 50 a day

30 a day for unlimited use is a deal

everybody would like cheaper but comparing you gotta admit its a deal

But your clubs don't cost $10,000.

well either did my sled

clubs do range in price
not to unusual to pay 700 for a new driver
2200 for Irons
of course canadian tire has spalding sets for $299
kinda your choice what you pay

Oh because your sled cost lots the permit should be cheap

I get it

Private jet, 1.5 million, so I guess by your reasoning airport fees and fuel should be free.

Nice!

Maybe a little far-fetched, but it's a fair argument .

It's great value 180 for a season come on
cheap thrills for the winter months.I am sure people
have spent more for less.

Lots of reasons for cheaper permit prices... but we don't want another 34 page thread of nothing but bitch'n

season is over... I'll start it up again in Sept.