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SW Video What happens when all your riding buddies DIE?

turning 80 shortly....still in good shape and still ride mountains about anywhere.....lost my last son to riding when he took a much better job in another state....guys my age quit 10-15 years ago....ride by myself (even off-road), have satellite communication, so don't let that limit me too much, trying to be reasonable though....i may not take my snow-check (858 cat) mainly because, even though i hookup with occasional guy in parking lot, the fun factor of going with guys i'm familiar with, that i've had things in common with for half a lifetime, just isn't there anymore....not sorry for myself (maybe a little), but life moves on.....but shared memories are an important aspect of enjoyment, and that has been missing for quite a while now....proabably won't decide for sure until i half to pick up snocheck, maybe i'll change mind, but first time in a great while, i'm not quite as enthusiastic as i have been...
 
turning 80 shortly....still in good shape and still ride mountains about anywhere.....lost my last son to riding when he took a much better job in another state....guys my age quit 10-15 years ago....ride by myself (even off-road), have satellite communication, so don't let that limit me too much, trying to be reasonable though....i may not take my snow-check (858 cat) mainly because, even though i hookup with occasional guy in parking lot, the fun factor of going with guys i'm familiar with, that i've had things in common with for half a lifetime, just isn't there anymore....not sorry for myself (maybe a little), but life moves on.....but shared memories are an important aspect of enjoyment, and that has been missing for quite a while now....proabably won't decide for sure until i half to pick up snocheck, maybe i'll change mind, but first time in a great while, i'm not quite as enthusiastic as i have been...
So if I am reading you right, you are also suffering from a LACK OF RIDING PARTNERS.
We get older and seem to start riding SOLO, not because we want to be alone, but because we just don't have many our age that wan't to get out there and hit the mountains any more.
 
It's a lot more common, My group is down to 1 besides myself. Old riding buddies no-longer have the interest-excuses not to go . ( funny though, the will still buy new accessories for their sled - but never take it out.)
Some say it's the same old places- but in a positive note, we know where we are going.
@68 years young, I lost both my son's years ago, as 1 dropped out of the sport- the other go with their own group now- it's just the way it is I guess:(
I can still hang- never a problem, but that's the trend as we get older- never use to be that way.

I see it a lot in the SXS world , Hunting and Fishing also.
I'll keep going here in my backyard of 10,000'- and meet new people at the parking lot- but I will not sled alone.!
 
59 and the oldest in the group I ride with by 3 years or so. Only met up with these guys a couple seasons ago tho.
Prior to meeting up with them I was ready to sell every thing and give it up as all the guys I rode with before quit due to low snow for a few years in a row or some other reason. Went once alone winter 20/21. Decided that was a BAD idea and wouldnt do it again. Didnt ride at all winter 21/22.
12 in this group and at least a couple of them go every weekend.
 
I guess our "old dudes group" are the fortunate ones, as we have 5-6 of us here in the Reno/Sparks area and 3 other buds in Nevada City, CA that all ride together at different times. Two of the guys are under 70 and the rest of us go up to 80(guess who). We all ride late model mountain sleds(Poo and Doo) and still boondock, hill climb and enjoy as much off-trail as we can. We ride to have a good time and make it back to the trucks and not do any crazy or stupid things that could result in injury or wadding up a sled. And as others have stated, we don't go out alone. A few of us have discussed what we will do when we can no longer enjoy riding off trail. We will then back off and still go trail riding. Like I've said in previous posts, it will be better than sitting home eating Cheetos. Keep charging, folks.
 
I was in the mid west quite a few years ago and went on a trail ride on a rental with a group of folks I reached out to on HCS. It was a 150+ mile day on tight twisty groomed trails hauling ass, a burger and fuel stop at a place that knew all of them, and I had a blast! I dont quite understand the aversion to trail riding on a dedicated trail sled for some around here. I would rather go for a nice trail ride than not go out at all.
 
It's a lot more common, My group is down to 1 besides myself. Old riding buddies no-longer have the interest-excuses not to go . ( funny though, the will still buy new accessories for their sled - but never take it out.)
Thats just plain TRAGIC right there.
Some say it's the same old places- but in a positive note, we know where we are going.
In my humble oppinion, there is a HELL OF A LOT to be said for KNOWING where you are going, or as an alternative knowing that the person you are going with KNOWS where you are going!
@68 years young, I lost both my son's years ago, as 1 dropped out of the sport- the other go with their own group now- it's just the way it is I guess:(
I can still hang- never a problem, but that's the trend as we get older- never use to be that way.
Ya, but it doesn't make it suck one dang bit less.
Lost both my sons as well.
Never had more fun than I did riding with my boys.
I'll keep going here in my backyard of 10,000'- and meet new people at the parking lot- but I will not sled alone.!
I find myself going to Trail Rides by myself rather than NOT riding at all.
But lately I am finding more and more riding partners since I started speaking out more about this issue.
Lots of guys coming out of the closet that are MORE than happy to hook up for a good ride.
 
59 and the oldest in the group I ride with by 3 years or so. Only met up with these guys a couple seasons ago tho.
Prior to meeting up with them I was ready to sell every thing and give it up as all the guys I rode with before quit due to low snow for a few years in a row or some other reason. Went once alone winter 20/21. Decided that was a BAD idea and wouldnt do it again. Didnt ride at all winter 21/22.
12 in this group and at least a couple of them go every weekend.
Glad that you didn't bail out and "Gladder" you found a new crew to hang with!.
Its nice to make new friends at our age.
 
I guess our "old dudes group" are the fortunate ones, as we have 5-6 of us here in the Reno/Sparks area and 3 other buds in Nevada City, CA that all ride together at different times. Two of the guys are under 70 and the rest of us go up to 80(guess who). We all ride late model mountain sleds(Poo and Doo) and still boondock, hill climb and enjoy as much off-trail as we can. We ride to have a good time and make it back to the trucks and not do any crazy or stupid things that could result in injury or wadding up a sled. And as others have stated, we don't go out alone. A few of us have discussed what we will do when we can no longer enjoy riding off trail. We will then back off and still go trail riding. Like I've said in previous posts, it will be better than sitting home eating Cheetos. Keep charging, folks.
While all of us here on SnoWest are pretty much IN LOVE with off-trail mountain riding, hopfully we are also wise enough to know that as time passes and we can't do what we used to do, we WON'T BAIL ON THE SPORT and give up the love of the Mountains and the Snow, rather just PIVOT and start enjoying a new aspect of the sport.

Hell, before last year I had NEVER RIDDEN a modern high performance trail sled.
And I am here to say, that Turbo Sled was FREAKING KICK IN THE PANTS to ride!
 
I was in the mid west quite a few years ago and went on a trail ride on a rental with a group of folks I reached out to on HCS. It was a 150+ mile day on tight twisty groomed trails hauling ass, a burger and fuel stop at a place that knew all of them, and I had a blast! I dont quite understand the aversion to trail riding on a dedicated trail sled for some around here. I would rather go for a nice trail ride than not go out at all.
Could not agree with you more.
There is room in my snowmobiling life for BOTH!.
Mountain Riding someday and Trail Riding other days.

Just so long as I am not chained to this desk behind these computers all day every day all winter long!:):)
 
When the time comes that you have to pull back and give up on off-trail riding and switch to trail riding, it can still result in a positive experience. You get to enjoy the benefit of eating your lunch out on the snow, hopefully on a bluebird day. I always say, one of the best parts of snowmobiling is lunch on the snow. ;)
 
When the time comes that you have to pull back and give up on off-trail riding and switch to trail riding, it can still result in a positive experience. You get to enjoy the benefit of eating your lunch out on the snow, hopefully on a bluebird day. I always say, one of the best parts of snowmobiling is lunch on the snow. ;)
Gotta give those crazy Canadians their due on Sled Lunch.
Nothing down here even begins to compete with some of the amazing food I have seen them whip up for the mid-day meal!!
 
Man this post hits home. I had been riding with a life long since 1980. We would plan 3-4 trips to Grand Lake every year, He passed away in 2014 and it changed my entire perspective on riding. He and I would try to introduce new people to the sport as often as we could to try to add members to our riding group. This did work well as we picked up a few that would stick with the sport. I also have been very lucky to meet great people while riding and have struck up friendships with quite a few and do yearly rides with them. I threw my kids into the ring in 2005 and it's safe to say they loved the sport and ride with me every chance they get. And as of 2022 we have formed a couples group to take an annual February trip with that is working out nicely. So I guess what I'm saying is, this is a sport that can be shared by many age groups and varieties of people. Don't be scared to meet new people and adapt to various riding abilities and styles as ANY TIME YOU GET TO SPEND ON THE TRAIL is better than being at work. Enjoy the Journey !!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Man this post hits home. I had been riding with a life long since 1980. We would plan 3-4 trips to Grand Lake every year, He passed away in 2014 and it changed my entire perspective on riding. He and I would try to introduce new people to the sport as often as we could to try to add members to our riding group. This did work well as we picked up a few that would stick with the sport. I also have been very lucky to meet great people while riding and have struck up friendships with quite a few and do yearly rides with them. I threw my kids into the ring in 2005 and it's safe to say they loved the sport and ride with me every chance they get. And as of 2022 we have formed a couples group to take an annual February trip with that is working out nicely. So I guess what I'm saying is, this is a sport that can be shared by many age groups and varieties of people. Don't be scared to meet new people and adapt to various riding abilities and styles as ANY TIME YOU GET TO SPEND ON THE TRAIL is better than being at work. Enjoy the Journey !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Couldn't agree more!!
 
I’m in the same situation as you, either all my old riding friends are too old, too crippled, too drunk, or dead. Some of the older riding groups have way too many old strong annoying as hell personalities and spending an entire day around them is a personal challenge. I like to invite myself along with groups of total strangers, many of them much younger, keeping up usually isn’t a problem and speaking your mind around strangers is actually a lot of fun and usually very humorous. I like when the first thing some young full of himself millennial says, “You can ride with us provided you can keep up”. I know then that it’s going to be one fun ride!!!
 
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