Is It a waste of 125 dollars? do you need to buy a trail pass to skidoo in the cape breton highlands, a few people told me that the wardens dont even do anything about them, is it true? are they mandatory to have while skidooing in the highlands?

A trail pass is not a waste, it pays for grooming and trail maintenance.


How do you consider it a waste?

why should i pay 125 when the next guy down the road would laugh at me for paying for the groomed trails while he keeps 125 in his pocket and drives on the groomed trail all day. far as im concerned i dont care about a groomed trail, thers no bumps on a groomed trail wheres the fun in that, its only good when u wanna hit top speed.

If i dont need one, im not buying one, i could put the money towards my repair to get my sled back.

So if the guy down the road leeches off of other people, it's OK for you to do it too?

OK.

I had my say, I'll let someone else chime in, I'm sure someone will be along....

Probably the same kid who disrespects thestay on trail signs. YES THEY ARE MANDATORY! It's that kind of attitude that gets ALL of us the privelege to sled on these trails, and any other trails, revoked.
Fuckin asshat!

MAYBE ITS TIME TO GIVE IT UP....

i disagree with the not having a pass to access the trails,but i do believe there should be day passes alvailable(not only a 3 day)my wife and i go to highlands maybe 4 times in a yr...there's no way im dishining out 250 for 4 rides.I's bad enough that u have to have insurance,and that the plates went up 40 dollars...for my wife and i to go 4 times a yr costs around 600 not including gas....crazy.

i go NL every yr for 3 weeks and ski-doo my brains out...and i do buy my pases there cause i am on trails everyday.I paid 100 for my 2 passes in the early birs purchase...60 for first sled 40 for second.

i hope they clubs will address this in the furture,as i would pay daily for trail use

my 2 cents...

GreenGobby

have fun getting to spots to play without going on a groomed trail were a trail pass is mandatory and yes, they do check for them in the highlands and if you dont wanna pay the 125$ then go buy a tricycle

I call shanagians! I think you heard wrong about wardens not enforcing trail passes. Maybe if you want you can go out the highlands and see if your lucky enough to run into one and see what they do to you. You won't have money to repair your sled because it will be going towards your fine.

GreenGobby, for the cost of a trail pass, you can ride on all SANS trails.
Not that i have a second sled as of yet but i think a discount on it would be appropriate. More of a family rate if you will.

just wondering if i needed one, if i didnt need one i wouldnt be puttin 125 dollars out for as many time as i will go if i didnt have to, but i do so its different, and what does respecting trail signs have to do with saving myself 125 if i dont need one, yous might think im crazy but far as im concerned the 125 is better in my pocket if i didnt need to buy a trail pass and i know right now it wouldnt take long b4 every1 else thought this the first time they got out on the trails and theyre not groomed, say wtf am i payin 125 for groomed trails when there not even gettin groomed.
All i was thinkgin was, u need 125 for a trail pass, 150 for insurance and 50 for a plate to skidoo in there, thats 330 dollars,then its a 100 dollar day evertime u go in, far as i know, if i could save myself 125 and still go in there, i know every1 in there right mind would do the same. why pay 125 for something every1 else is going to leech off of

Of course the $125 is better in your pocket, it'd be better in mine too, but if you wanna play on the trail system, you gotta pay. It's tough love but that's the way it is.

no problem doing it if i have to, ill put out my 125 just like every1 else, all i wanted to know was did i need one cuz im getting my sled back tmrw from the shop, and wanted to go in saturday and wanted to know if i had to buy one right away or not, every1 jumped down my throat about it.

i know the pass will access me to all sans trails...but i have not the time or money to drive around to different trails in NS.Last year i was in the highlands 3 times the year before that 1...i am limited to the time i can go because of work..kids activites.... so its usually 1 day on a weeked in jan feb and mybe march....so for that reason i daily passes should be available..... hey...if i was near a place where the trails were close and i could access them often..then i'd pay for the year..

reguards
GG

What is the fine for driving on a designated trail without a SANS permit?
The fine begins at $250.00 for a first offense.

Do I need permission to drive on private land?
If you drive off the designated trail network, you will need written permission from each landowner to cross their property. SANS has already acquired private landowner’s permission on behalf of all snowmobile permit holders who use the designated trail network, until 31 December 2007.

Next time you cross a bridge that was built my volunteers from a snowmobile club or pass a tree that has been mysteriously cut by goblins or ghosts think about your trail pass. When you see an excavator on the trail clearing brush and rocks to make it safe for you and you family to ride think of your trail pass.When you stop at an intersection and wonder who put up those hundreds of trail signs so you don't get lost, think of you trail permit. Or your wondering who got you permission to travel on that nice woods road you love to travel on,think of the snowmobile club member that spent days and weeks talking to land owners to get permission for you to travel on thery're land.

GreenGobby I am sure you feel safe sledding knowing that if you or your wife get in trouble in the Highlands the first people there to help,will be members of the snowmible club, with there rescue sled to take you and your wife to safety. And yes they will have permits on there sleds that cost 100 to 125 dollars each, but you know what they will not even look to see if you have a permit they will save your life regardless. Just ask some of your Nova scotia friends who owe there life to snowmobilers club members.
Groomed Trails that is the last thing done to make your snowmobiling enjoyable without the rest of the work you wouldn't have a trail to groom. I try to stay calm about comments like this, but it is hard.I can only assume that you are very young or just started sledding and just don't understand what goes into preparing these trails. So hopefully you and other that feel this way will rethink your comments.

Ps do you know what an excavator charges an hour? Your pass that you didn't buy would give us 1/1/2 of work it isn't free you know.
Our groomer so far this year has used about $1500.00 in fuel not counting repairs.

If cost is a problem and you find snowmobiling expensive, maybe it's time to get out of it. It's not a cheap sport and for the most part, we all have some travelling to do to have fun

well i do know what goes in to the upkeep and maintence of trail grooming...i was a volunteer my self in Western NL before i moved here. and trust me, i do appricate being helped out as i have been on both sides of the coin as i am sure alot of people have.I am not knocking the trail pass system...i'm all for it..but i can-not justify paying out 250 for maybe 4 rides a yr...there is no real deal if u have 2 sleds...i would probably pay 150 to 170 a yr for the two sleds... just wish there was a daily pass...maybe 10/15 a day per sled..

reguards
GG

Who really cares what these two say?

One is a 17 year old kid that doesn't know any better.

The other is a man with a $12,000 dollar sled and a second one for his wife. They can afford to sled for 3 weeks in Newfoundland with NFLD passes in the winter, but can't come up with $200 for SANS passes. He claims he would pay for a Day Pass for the 4 times a year he goes. But apparently can't do math. Two early permits, 4 trips, $25/day/sled. These guys post stuff like this on the site to try and stir people up. They are likey also the types that would be the first to complain about trails if they were not groomed.

I don't know why I waste my time replying to these pathetic posts.

just wish there was a daily pass...maybe 10/15 a day per sled..

I agree with this one. Have heard this many times and know a few who have given it up because they just can't get out enough to justify a yearly pass. Early bird or not. The 3 day pass is a bit of a joke when you think about it, my weekend's are 2 days long,don't know about everyone else's. I am fortunate enough to be able to make good use of season passe's,but alot of people aren't and would gladly buy the odd DAY pass.

I'm not knocking SANS or the trails,just think this is something that should be considered. Not everyone is riding $12,000 machines either.

i agree with hi mthere should be a day pass for 10 bucks

Damnit Steve, you beat me to it.

Unfortunately for all us it's an expensive sport that just keeps getting more expensive but if you don't like it, sell out and stay on the fucking couch. I'm sick and tired of hearing whining about $$$$ from people that have lots of it. I've seen people with a tow rig/trailer/sleds combo that pushes $100,000 complaining about it, give it up.

FYI, I'm not sure about this year, but last time I was in NB (about 3 years ago?), a day pass there was almost $40.00. I had it worked out that if I was to go to NB 3 different days on day passes, I'd be just as far ahead buying a season pass. If we did have day passes here, I'm sure it would work out about the same. Day passes might be something that would come in the future, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be $10.

You guys should put one dollar in a jam jar each day and at the end of the year you will have enough to pay for a pass and some gas money Its only 100 bucks ya prob spend that on coffee at Tims(OR LIKE ME ON BEER NSLC)

thanks crowdad ..... wouldnt money generated by daily passes be better than none generated at all...i heard all kinds of talk how the money is for trails both the clubs and government...well i havent seen a leaf fall yet here in the sydney area for anykind of trail...don't think the highlands need anymore trails...so where are the new trails...Just because i can afford it donsnt mean it's justified..there are alot..i mean alot who are in the same boat...and i would'nt pay 25 per sled for a day pass.......... i said 10/15 is reasonable per day per sled,or 150/160 a yr for 2 ...anyway enough of beating this to death...and no i dont complain about the trails...Cause I rarely on them...and when get the time to get out i am i to bloody happy.........

reguards
GG

This is not NL. Come join a club, I don't think you have a clear picture here. If you did, you would not be quibbling so much over $15 per year per sled:



That's 75-85 per sled. Early permits are $100. Usually people who would argue over something like $15 in trail permit revenue, are arguing from a position of imagined entitlement.


On the day pass, there might be some merit to having that persued, but it wouldn't be $10.

The way I see it,if you want to snowmobile on groomed trails and you expect the treefalls to be cleared for you,dont like to meet the landowners to ask permission and you like to see nice signs to tell you where the roads go...then you should buy a Trail pass.
If you dont like groomed trails,never use any of the infrastucture provided by the clubs,thrive on adventure snowmobiling,never see another track all day...well

You forgot the most important part - and have permission to be there.

...sorry "and have permission to be there" yes for sure

although the law says that if it is an established trail, permission is not required. Since most groomed snowmobile trails are really roads not trails there is lots of great trails ungroomed in this province miles away from any groomed trail.

They should take the $40 trail fee off the permit if they are going to make us pay a trail pass from clubs. where i am from it is hours from any trail its all private land.$40 trail fee is so unfair to us. $40 was for crown land,and now if once in blue moon we truck them for 2 hours to crown land we'll have to buy another pass from a club.we should only have to pay 1 fee club or permit.

Just to get my 2 cents in here, most of the designated trail locations in Cape Breton are on or near enterance points to the highlands, like North River, Margaree, Cheticamp, Glencoe, Creignish. So here is the deal, these spots are very easy for DNR to set up because like I said they are at or near trail start points and key passage ways in Cape Breton, they setup, you unload and head in the trail with no pass, they catch you and you pay a $250 for each sled, then you pack up and go home pissed off

Oh and the best part, if you have good timing and miss them on the way in, watch yourself on the way back out, they don't really care which direction you come from

They may not appear to be looking for passes, but trust me, they are looking for them. Has anyone ever met any type of officer that didn't like giving out fines??????

And not buying a pass for your $12,000 sled because you don't get out enough to justify it, give me a break, or did you ever think of trying harder to get out more (or is the 111.9 gas too much for your big truck towing 2 machines)

Its not just for crown land, SANS builds and maintains trails on private land, without the private land we would have nothing really. The $40 really is for developing a Nova Scotia trail system, which we all need. I do feel for you folks in Northern CB, you are getting shafted by the park but its not that long of a tow to the Highlands dropping point.
I know what you mean about the 1 fee, but it will always add up to be the same or more. Look at Ontario, their Trail Passes are really expensive, they don't have some of the other fees we have, but compared to them we are cheaper still by quite a bit.

you must live close to trail so it's easy to say things like that ,how many times a year do you travel 5 hours return to pay more fees.

MAYBE IT COULD BE RUN LIKE A GOLF COURSE. IF YOU LIVED IN A AREA AND GOLFED EVERY DAY YOU WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITH A MEMBERSHIP. BUT IF YOU WERE ONLY IN THE AREA FOR THE DAY OR TWO, BUYING A DAILY GREEN FEE IS PROBERLY A SMARTER CHOICE.... AND MOST GOLF COURSES WOULD AGREE THAT GREEN FEES CAN BRING IN GOOD MONEY.

man, i just scrounged up enough to buy my first sled this year, and i never even got a drive and i had to send the crank away that will cost me 700 tomorrow, it was in the shop for the whole month of january, theres nothing i can do now, all i was worried about was going in tomorrow without having a trail pass, like my luck i would go buy everything, and my sled will break and put me outa commision for the season after buying everything, i just wanted to know so i could go in tomorrow. Far as payin 125 for trail pass if i didnt need one it seemed good to me, thats all i thought about. People must love to come on here and rant and rave about other people , telling them to get out of sledding if you find it exspenive, far as im concerned all you old people telling me that, you should be encouraging young people to get into skidooing, not telling them to get out of it. All i asked was if you had to buy one or not, didnt want a bunch of lessons on what i should do with my life,makes people not even want to come onto this forum and ask questions when you shoot people down like that. Far as the 125 payin for everything the groomers do, i had no idea where that 125 went, but some people jump all over you and make you look like a bad person when you dont even understand everything.

If someone just had of explained to me like a normal human being in the first place i would of known, instead of saying look man that 125 doesnt just get you groomed trails, it pays for the workers and machines and all the work they do to the trails to keep them maintained, i had no idea where the 125 went, all i knew is u had to buy a pass to skidoo, that was it.

You are 100% WRONG my friend. I live in Fall River, outside Halifax, last winter I truck/trailered my 2 sleds to the Highlands and stayed in Margaree 6 weekends in a row, 8 weekend in total, one trip I stayed down for 8 days at Cranton Cottages. Its a 5 hour tow from Halifax to Margaree if everything goes well and we dont' stop to eat too much. Tomorrow morning I'm heading out at 5 am to go to Pictou County, hook up with friends, then travel back to Folly where we will travel to Sutherlands Lake and those trails. Then back to New Glasgow for a weekend there where I'll take in 2 rallys to support the clubs.
So to answer you, I travel 10 hours return trip, must be nice to only travel 5 hour return. Am I foolish, maybe, stupid even, maybe, but I love snowmobiling, its fun. And no I'm not rich, but I budget for it.

^^^^^^^^ In a nutshell.

Polaris, most of these comments aren't directed at you, but its a touchy subject because there are a lot of free loaders out there, and its even worse when folks with expensive new machines complain and poor mouth.
Hope you get the sled back together without too much cost out of pocket. I just had an idea that may help, if your sled is older than a 1998, the trail pass is a lot cheaper too. Good luck.

Try searching around a little before you start new topics. Theres a good chance the answer will be here somewheres.

thanks..

PolarisXCSP I feel for guys like you young and trying to get into this expensive sport. The problem is your first post was worded way to strong for all us club members that work our guts out for this sport. All you had to do was ask a couple of questions about trail passes rather than say i am not buying one unless i have to. We all know it is costly to get in this sport and your problems with repairs are unfortunate but thats the game. Fix your sled buy a pass and have a great winter of fun, and tell your buddys that the sport is great,But you have to contribute to make it better for all. I speak for all when I say it isn't you young guys that are trying to learn the ins and out that are causing most of the problems. But the Guys with the $15,000 sleds and the $60,000 trucks that can't run a power saw or a pair of shears or even know how to put on a pair of gloves. And can't afford a trail pass that are driving us nuts. And two days after a snow they are wondering why there is a bump in the trail.PolarisXCSP you seem like a responsible young guy why not contact one of the club members in your area and offer to help out. And keep us informed on how your doing.
PS SMILE And guys we all have to pull our horns in once in a while ,When it is needed education is alot better then criticism.

sounds like you have a little money to waste if you can travel like ,or have no wife and kids.and i wasn't saying that you shouldn't buy a pass i saying the $40 pass on the permits are crazy when you fix the only little trails yourself.it a trail improvment pass they say we have no trails that they will ever improve.

Just wondering who they are?

All trail work in this province is done completely by a dwindling group of volunteers. People who just buy passes and are not involved in any way with clubs or the work they do always talk about the magical 'they', like there's some kind of mysterious body out there doing all this work. It is ordinary people doing all this, and with all the pressures (weather, government, environuts) of the last few seasons, they are fast runnning out of steam. Anybody who is complaining in anyway about the trails in this province needs to join a club, see how things work, and please, help the rest of us. We need it. Otherwise, you have absolutely NOTHING to complain about. I know that if I only had to pay the fees, and not do any work, I would be hysterically happy for the rest of my living days on this earth.

There are lots of guys who do Day trips to the highlands. I went 6 times last year. I stayed overnight once.
Leave at 5:00am and get home late.


This is the worst post I have ever read. What a waste.

ANdrew

I've been reading, Andrew B. I can't even bother to wade in.

Those who don't understand should join a club, go to meetings and see how much work goes on to promote and protect our sport.
The past few years many of us have spent more time buiding trails and going to meetings than actually riding our sleds.

Opps got to go... heading to the SANS Board of Directors meeting near Scottsburn tonight (Friday) and Saturday, rather than enjoying the AVLRR Races I worked so hard to promote. Hmmm lets see, this is my 6th meeting this month.

This Sport just does not happen because you buy a snowmobile.

Have a great weekend riding to all you permit holders.

PS there will be $ 1,300,000 dollars spent on trails in NS this year!!!! geeeeesss my $40 seems to be working just FINE.
Oh yeah that does not include all the money on grooming, bridges, signing etc the local clubs spend.

i have to admit i'm one of the guys who wasn't going to buy a year pass as i only make it to the valley once a year, maybe 2. so yesterday i was making my way to bordens to get a pass and was amazed at the quality of the trail system this year. great job to those responsible ....i ended up buying a year pass.

Mr. Johnson (North Star)

dreamer

Give it up, if you can afford a sled, the insurance the plates, and the 100$ is coasts to go ot for the day, well then dish out another 100$ eary bird before december 15 intead of 125$ and get a trail pass.

man oh man this has been beat to death..i just wanted to purchase a daily pass...it should be available...dont't give me what kind of machine i have or truck i drive or what i'm pulling it with to decide on passes...its about generating renvenue for the sport..and yes it is different when some can leave there yard and access trails in minutes for those who have to drive...alot of dooers and quaders come from sydney area...and we have seen squat...so when we want to ride we have to plan a trip....our money goes where...not to develop here in our area....but yet when i want to have a daily pass available...its all or nothing...well thats y there are so many people not paying...so we can gas the trails in the valley or elsewhere...people keep comparing the trail passes here with ont and NB...BIG difference...anything over the cosway u have trails that are nice..in cb highlands only and most of them are either on the trail finding powder or racing......where is the trail rides....u can only go to chedicamp...fishing lodge....wreck cove...or margaree so many times..

and i have cleared many of windfall on the oragon in early spring and fall hunting season..ive been up once so far this yr because thats all i could go with work and kids i might get in maybe 2 more trips i hope....and yes i go to nl for 3 weeks to skidoo....because its my home and jmy kids ski with there grandfather and i ski-doo my brains out....i could be bill f'n gates and still think that the system here is in need of fixin..cause its all or nothing things are not going to cut it...and for those who say u know how much a escavator costs to fix trails....not in my area ...its the highlands...its all roads...how about everyone driving to sydney area and lets put our efforts into getting our trails here up to par....its bs...and yes your right i will stay off the trails here cause it's PATHETIC....i've noticed in this tread that all the people with the say ...are close to the trails....

reguards
GG