Went to the UP last weekend to some relatives house. They had prior engagements so could only ride one of the 3 days. So I rode 250 miles by myself stayed on main trail and kept my speed down. (Temp was 0 to 10) I usually would not ride without anyone else but thats how it worked out. Was a nice trip got in 450 miles and trails were perfect most of the weekend. How many out there ride by yourself even though you are on your own if something happens?

I have in the past but only quick short trips no longer than 25 miles so I would be in range of my house at the time. Probably not the wisest thing to do alone, but if you're as safe as you can be and don't have sled troubles, I guess it's not to big of an issue.

I have done it. When I do, I have kept my speeds down, and traveled down trials with more traffic. This way if I do have trouble, I'm sure someone would eventually help me out. Hell I have helped out enough others on the trails in the past, I figure I"m owed anyways..

I would never do that because if I fall off I need help to get back on and I cant start my sled if it stops.

For sure stick to the diamond trails. At least you stand a chance of another sledder helpin' you out if a problem occurs.

I remember last year you had to travel quite a ways by yourself to find me because some douche bag blonde didn't follow protocol and make sure the person behind her was ok.

I appreciated it and was glad you didn't get hurt. : :beer_cheers:beer_cheers:

Nothing wrong with that. I do it all the time. That's the best thing to do is stay on the main trial and slow down some. I like to get out and ride once or twice during the week if I got time. Even if it is 20 to 40 mile run's, it's still better than siting at home like a puss and wishing I was riding. I usually meet up with riding buddies on the weekends. But one down side, riding alone can also mean WALKING ALONE, been there did that.

majority of my miles are by myself out in the woods off trail. keep the essentials in the saddle bag. most important thing is a fully charged cell phone

I do 95% of my riding by myself. I just time it so I am riding when the most traffic is out and try to be off the trail early. Any off trail riding I do by myself is on the island where I live. I just hitch hike my way home when stuff breaks island riding. Its a long shitty walk home when your crank gose or your drive shaft breaks. Let me tell ya.

Fact is, if you are during normal hours, you are never riding alone on the trails, there are always people out there. You are OK if you ride like a normal person, have a decent sled, and a cell phone. Snowmobilers are generally nice folks and if you have a problem, someone will lend you a hand, wrench or a ride to town!

If you know you are going to ride alone in a certain area, get on a forum and let people know. Our website forum as been buzzing quite a bit over teh last few weeks with people from all over Michigan and Ohio getting together and going on group rides. I think it is real neat when people do that sort of thing!

Done it more the last few years, Usually take a backpack with essentials and Cell phone, GPS, Water, leatherman etc. Tend to take in more scenery when riding solo.

thats cause your a 100yrs old you better stay your your old ass where its safe !!

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Do all of my riding alone. I just carry enough gear to make sure that I have options if somethings happens. Same gear allows me to help out someone else if I come across them in trouble.

OK,or maybe I'll get a seat belt and electric start.

Do it all the time. I stay close also - just in case you have to walk!! Usually slow it down a bit also.

Do you have to have someone along when you take a drive in our car?


Just be smart and have fun.

i don't ride a lot alone, but have a hanful of times.

I do the same as mentioned above. Bring a fully charged cell-phone (Off to keep battery) and stick to traveled areas.

I actually like riding alone at times. I can put on alot more miles that way.

Plus it makes me work on the sled more and keep up on all the maintenance =)

Different scenerio, Saturday I rode with a friend for a while. We stopped at Lost Pine Lodge for a 1/2 way point, he was going back to Boon and I was headed to Caddy. I got back to my place, tried to call him on cell no answer. Several of us tried to call him on his cell over and over

Two hours later, his friend called me looking for him. Now I'm worried because I thought he was hurt. I headed out on the trail @ 10pm by myself to look for him. An hour into my trip I received a phone call that he made it back, he was "just riding around" that I don't believe, I think he was lost and wouldn't call anyone to admit it. I see it that he put my life in jeaporday by going back out at night by myself to look for him when he didn't have the courtousy to call

I guess my point is, try to keep people informed of where you are at, I was worried sick about this person

That's because I love ya! It was no biggie......I'd do it all over again!

Last year I was riding out of my uncles in Caddy. Had a bunch of people up that weekend to ice fish but only a few of us had sleds and I was the only sledder that wasn't fishing. Spent all of Saturday riding by myself.

I didn't really want to ride by myself but wasn't going to sit around all day either. Tapped the ol' XCSP on the hood, told her to take care of me and off I went. Rode around Caddy a bit and then headed to the white pine trail. Found a few nicely drifted ditches along the way to play in and then took the White Pine south to Reed City, then headed east to Evart for lunch. Headed back to Caddy and checked back in out on the lake. My little brother was going to ride with me that night so I headed over just before dark to check the trails and make sure they were still decent. Did a quick loop on the Caddy trails and was headed back to my uncles when it happened.

"It" in this case was a seized motor thanks to a PTO crank seal going south and leaning out the PTO cylinder. I had just pulled away from a stop sign and was only doing about 40 or just cruising when the sled quit. Tried to pull her over and it was a locked up snug. Thankfully I was only about 6 miles from my uncles house but Nextel was being true to form and not getting any service, at that time I started thinking "this walk is gonna suck". Two guys stopped and offered to let me use their phone, and despite me telling them it wasn't necessary, they towed my sled up to the next road crossing. They took off and my dad and little brother showed up with the truck and trailer. Getting the dead sled up onto the trailer was a bear with the deep snow bank and my dad and his bad back and little brother offering little assistance. Another set of sledders that stopped to cross the road saw us struggling and hopped off and helped shove my dead sled on the trailer.

I was lucky that day to have 4 nice fellow sledders help me out. Earlier that day I had stopped along the white pine because there was a Rev with the hood up. He had seized up and was looking to get towed the opposite direction I was heading. I offered to tow him anyways but as we debated a group heading his way pulled up and offered to tow him to town. Karma is a good thing!!

Got to go for a short ride by myself yesterday, just around the lake and down a local trail, but it was damn nice! I rarely get a chance to do that and you know it was real quiet when I stopped for a break in the pines. Didn't go far and didn't ride hard tho.

Done it before and it is peaceful but I don't really like doing it, it's easy to explore because no one will bitch when you gotta turn around at a dead end. I slowed down a bit to when I was a lone

I do it on occasion when I have to, usually after grooming so its late. I try to take the same route, cell service is not the best in da UP eh, and I call the wife so she knows to either expect me at a certain time or come looking.

What surprises me is when I'm out grooming how many people ride alone between midnight and 6:00 am and it's not just the guys I've seen the gals riding alone too.

I have always said I would not ride alone but this weekend my 3 year old was the only one that could go. I figured who wouldn't stop to help a guy with a 3 year old.

Here's one for ya! Last Sunday I was a little late for a dinner with my sister. I had been riding all day by my self (my norm) 95% of my rides, dirt bike, four wheeler & sled are alone. Ya Im a lonely mofo! anyway I left home around 8:00 went around a mile and hit a deer at about 85 on my old storm that i have kept in mint shape for 11 years. I layed in the road for what seemed like 15 or so min. before i could get up no cars cell phone in my wifes pocket. I had to limp&crawl a mile to a house and call. I will still ride by my self but will always have a cell with me. Watch out for the #@#$ DEER THEY suck!!!! by the way im only 15 min from caddy

I do it all the time. Just always think of what might happen and prepare for it. Take enough cash with you,don't depend on credit cards ect. Pack tools,gps,cell phone,extra pluggs and enough oil. Ride your slead before big trips and inspect it carefully before and after. A well maintained machine will not leave your stranded in most cases. Have a good map, study your route before you ride.

DEER suck!! I have had a few near misses in my time sliced right though a hurd of 12 once at a 100 or so. they single filed it acrost the road I was rolling. should have learned that time! after dark slow down! this time i didnt have time to mash the gas or brake. the deer was just there & smash!