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Frederic, MI Trail Conditions
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Sunday June 28, 2009 7:30 a.m.
Coming to you from the holiday inn express in rainy st. st. marie
mich this morning. Cathy, Haley and I got in here late last night
after leaving st ignace and going to visit friends Jim and Chris
who are camped at the state park in Brimley. We had a nice cook out
there and that campground there is very nice. I also went to check
out Brimley Bobs place. He is a regular customer in Sledheads and owns
a storage business in Brimley and a Bar in the Soo called the Bomb
Shelter that I print his t shirts for.....It was late and I stopped
in the bar for just a second to check it out as we still had not found
a room and that was a tough thing to do last night. I was beginning to
think we were going to have to drive back to st ignace. I left frederic
along with my brother on friday afternoon. My brother does body work
and brought me my new hood for my corvette which we put on and I drove
that up to st ignace and he brought the bicycles with his truck..It was
a nice drive up across the bridge and we cruised town and watched the
down memory lane parade friday night. We stayed with my buddy Bob on his
boat in the marina and then hit the car show saturday morning. Lots of people
and cars and a great day. Linda Vaughn and John Schnieder who was Bo Duke on
the dukes of hazard were the guests of honor at the show. I also ran into my
friend the sticker King who also happens to be Bob and ened up helping him
out some decals from his booth. Ran into a few Sledheads regulars too while
being around town. They said they had about 1200 cars there. I left my car
at a friends church and have to get it on the way back home today. Cathy and
Haley drove up yesterday. So I am off to the pool and waiting for the girls
to get up and then we are off for a little u.p. tour....Thanks for checking
in. Pete
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Wednesday Night June 24, 2009 11:50 p.m.
Still hot outside and we had a great pontoon ride on the lake tonight
along with a nice long swim and float out in the middle of the lake.
I forgot to write earlier today that Linda from the Swamp Bar stopped
by a couple days ago and was all excited. She wanted to tell me that
her husband Bob was in Anchorage Alaska and had rode his Harley all
the way there.......Darn that just makes me jealous......GO BOB>>>>>.

Saturday May 30, 2009 3:30 p.m.
Sitting here at the car show in Midland and fending off the on again off again
rain, which is nothing unusual for this show. It always rains here. Last night
Haley and I went to the movie and saw Night at the Musuem 2.....i was pretty good
and was pretty action packed, and we topped that off with a nice late night bicycle
ride around the grounds here. All this rain should be great for the Sledheads Corn
Garden and it shouldnt be to long till little sprouts start popping thru the ground
Thats about it for today. Thanks for checking in. Pete
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Thursday May 28, 2009 10:00 a.m.
After a couple of days seeing that last week on saturday I had 2 guys here with
tractors and we plowed and tilled the back parking lot all up. From there Cathy,
Haley, Melissa and I worked hard to stake it all off and then we planted it all
with sweet corn. The girls wanted to plant corn this summer so this should be
interesting at our first attempt at farming. I might move one of my cameras out
over the back of the building so you can watch the corn grow on the webcam.
We even thru in a few pumpkins and sunflowers. Seeing that this place used to be
a junk yard years ago we also pulled out a couple tons of car parts out of the dirt.
One of the frederic old timers stopped by and told me when he was a kid that the
lot had cattle on it which is probably why when I had the soil tested that they
said it was some of the best dirt in crawford county.......I put the pontoon in on
saturday and we had a nice ride on sunday, memorial day was nice with me starting out
at the service at the cematary and then Melissa and I did a canoe ride. Now
on the orv issue, well I thought it was perfectly legal to ride this past weekend here
this weeks paper says different. I did see 4 wheelers in town here this weekend and
some over at the swamp and some at the gas station, not probably more than 10 but
its a start and nobody was stopped that I know of. I will put a link to this weeks
article on the orv ordinance below this. Also this morning I saw on the front page
of the Gaylord Herald Times that Otsego county has opened up to the orvs too so if you
search for Gaylord Herald Times you can probalby read that article. When you go to
the grayling paper watch the pictures at the start of the page and you will see my
daughter Melissa along with the other 2 girls from the Miss Marathon Pageant from a
couple weeks ago, then the orv article is right below that.........
To read this weeks
ORV story CLICK HERE
Wednesday night May 20 11:00 p.m.
About 6:30 I left Sledheads and went up to the highway and drove north to waters.
The fire was not as bad as first believed but it did burn about 5 acres all in
the middle of the highway. It went thru alot of trees and grass and it was very
lucky for as hard as the wind was blowing that it didnt jump the highway and head
northest. When I drove thru they had just one lane north and south open with still
alot of firetrucks there. So that sums up the excitement from Frederic this past
afternoon. I still have not recieved anymore info on the orv dilema......

Wednesday May 20 4:00 p.m.
FIRE,,,,,and traffic jam in frederic, check out the webcam, About an hour ago I got
a call that there was a fire burning both sides of the highway at mile marker 265 which
is 1 mile north of the frederic exit. The wind is blowing hard from the southwest which
puts everything northeast in its path. Highway traffic is being rerouted thru
town right now....will post again when I know more....

Thursday 11:50 a.m.
Well that didnt take them to long, here is the story that was in last
weeks grayling paper..........

County board gives green light for ORV ordinance to shift gears in May
by Dan Sanderson-Staff Writer

The Crawford County Board of Commissioners voted to approve an ordinance that
would allow local and visiting ORV operators to travel on the shoulders of
county roads with intentions of tweaking regulations and the network of roads
next month.
The Crawford County Board of Commissioners, by a 5-0 vote, approved an
ordinance which will be known as “ORV 5-20-09.” That means the county board
plans to approve a final draft of the ordinance as well as roads that will be
opened and closed for ORV travel at its Wednesday, May 20, regular meeting.
Dave Stephenson, chairman of the Crawford County Board of Commissioners, said
county officials have received over 60 letters from area residents and business
owners supporting the ORV ordinance. He added that a few letters were received
objecting the adoption of the ordinance, asking county officials to take more
time to address potential safety issues.
Last year, a state law was passed allowing ORVs to travel along county roads in
northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula in an attempt to boost the tourism
economy.
County Commissioner Rick Anderson was in favor of adopting the ordinance last
week rather than delaying the process another month. That will give township
officials and the Crawford County Road Commission one month to provide a list of
roads they would like to see closed to ORV travel. Road Commission officials
have said that they don’t want ORVs traveling on the county’s primary roads,
which handle most of the traffic. There are 179 miles of primary roads in
Crawford County. Under the state’s ORV legislation, townships in July will
have the option of creating their own ORV ordinances and choosing what roads
they want open and closed in their jurisdiction.
Anderson said residents can take the debate to their township officials, adding
he did not want to “beat the issue to death” at the county level.
“From a judgement call, we can create the position where the people question
if the county commissioners are doing their jobs or we can wait until July and
we can put the onus on the individual townships,” Anderson said.
County Commissioner Scott Hanson, who spearheaded the effort to get the ORV
ordinance passed, was in favor of having another public hearing on the ordinance
in May where detailed maps would be finalized and available.
Under a map developed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Road
Commission officials, Hanson said that quite a few roads would be open to ORVs
in Beaver Creek Township. Just a few roads would be open to ORV travel in South
Branch Township, where the township board has taken a tough stance against the
ordinance. Some roads in Lovells Township would allow ORV operators to come
into the county from an Oscoda County trail system.
Hanson said the large amount of Camp Grayling military training ground, the
Manistee and AuSable River systems and the Kirtland’s Warbler habitat made it
difficult to find trail connections in Grayling Charter Township and Frederic
Township. Trail connections in those townships would involve travel on some
primary roads.
Ilene Geiss-Wilson, executive director of the Grayling Visitors Bureau, said
she worked on a map utilizing some existing snowmobile trails with Susan Thiel,
management director for the DNR’s Grayling Forest Unit. Thiel has previously
said that some of the snowmobile trails have been achieved through easements
with private property owners who don’t mind snowmobiles in the winter, but do
object to ORVs on their property in other seasons.
About 35 people attended the county board’s public hearing for the ORV
ordinance. Most comments made were regarding tough enforcement of the ordinance,
roads that would be opened and riding ORVs near their homes to connect with
existing state trails and the future county road network.
Officials hope that the ORV ordinance gives local hotels, gas stations and
restaurants a boost in the current economy.
“The season is here and we want to get going as quick as you do and get the
local economy going,” Frederic Township resident Todd Gabriel said.
It was unclear if the ordinance would go into effect on May 20 or when it is
published in the May 28 edition of the Crawford County Avalanche. County
Administrator Paul Compo said he would have an answer to that question by the
board’s Thursday, May 7, committee meetings.
Violation of the ordinance would carry up to a $500 fine plus the cost of
environmental damage done to local roads. Half of the fines go to the road
commission for maintenance and the other half goes to the sheriff’s office for
enforcement.
Frederic Township resident Jack Kurtz said Crawford County ORV operators are
not the problem.
“The local people are not the problem - people that are putting around the
neighborhood - that’s not a problem,” Kurtz said. “It’s the people that
are roaring up and down the roads that are the problem. They leave their brains
at Highway 55.”
Crawford County Sheriff Kirk Wakefield said that the sheriff’s office
recently purchased an ORV through a state grant aimed at enforcing ORV
regulations.
Wakefield, however, said that grant has time limits on when a deputy can focus
on ORV complaints and incidents. He added that there are only two road deputies
on during a shift handling other complaints.
“We’re ready to go, but you have to understand that it’s one person and
he can’t be everywhere at the same time,” Wakefield said.
Dennis Fyock, the owner of River Park Campground, agreed with the county’s
move to open up all roads and close down ones that officials don’t want ORVs
to travel on.
Fyock also said that the county could work with military officials to find
trail connections away from active training ranges.
“There are a lot of places that people can ride out there without infringing
on the rights of the military,” Fyock said.
The ORV legislation allows operators to travel on county road shoulders without
having liability insurance. The regulations come under Michigan no-fault
insurance laws, similar to snowmobile regulations, and the ORV operator is
automatically considered at fault when an accident occurs.
Frederic Township resident Jerry Dill questioned why the legislation was
allowed to move forward by state lawmakers without insurance being required.
“How can they possibly pass this when they don’t have to have insurance
just like anybody else?” Dill said. “They’re passing the buck.”
In an opposition letter to the board, Grayling Charter Township resident Kay
Cosgray said it was a bad idea to open up roads to uninsured and sometimes
unlicensed ORV operators.
“This is opening up the opportunity for accidents and misuse of a
privilege,” Cosgray said.
Hanson said it is a misconception that ORVs can be operated on county roads by
people who have lost their licenses for drunk driving convictions or have a
license that is suspended or revoked. He said ORV operators age 12-15 must have
a DNR ORV operator’s permit, while people age 16 and older must have a valid
driver’s license under state regulations.
As for liability, Hanson said ORV riders at fault would have to face their
consequences in court if a lawsuit is filed by another party.
“It doesn’t matter what we do, lawsuits are part of the American way,”
Hanson said.
Grayling Charter Township resident Tom Baker questioned if he would be able to
drive his golf cart under the ordinance.
Wakefield said there are a host of changes recently made to Michigan Vehicle
Code for golf carts, ATV mules, go carts and mini bikes. Wakefield said he would
make the information available to residents at the sheriff’s office or at its
web site: www.crawfordsheriff.org.
“There are some changes and some of them are shockers,” Wakefield said.
While state police and DNR conservation officers won’t enforce the county
ordinance, Baker hopes officers would give ORV operators a sympathetic ear.
“It’s just like the Gestapo,” Baker said of dealing with some DNR
conservation officers.
Wakefield said his deputies allow people to travel from their homes to
trailheads from distances within reason. The sheriff, however, said there will
be no leniency from people riding on roads miles away from their homes to the
trails.
“As with any law, there has to be common sense enforcement,” Hanson said.
Grayling Township resident John Stegman praised county officials for their
attempts to educate the public about the ordinance and the time put into
developing a road network to link with state trails.
“It’s a great sport, but the damage that could be made by a few in a year
could make this a moot subject,” Stegman said.
A map of the proposed roads that would be opened by the county will be
available at the county’s web site - crawfordco.org - or on a disc from Compo.
Patrick Ertel, a county resident and restoration project manager for Huron
Pines, suggested a committee be put together before the ordinance moves forward.
Ertel feared erosion issues on roads and rivers and conflicts with joggers, dog
walkers and bicyclists.
“Undoing the harm will be much more difficult than thinking it through before
making a decision,” Ertel said in an opposition letter to the board.

Saturday April 18, 2009 12:30 p..m. pst
I am at the airport waiting for my flight back to T.C.....it doesnt leave
for 2 hours yet....time to get back to real life and do some work even though
I can keep on most stuff just being online and all my calls are forwarded from
frederic to my cell phone so its almost like not being gone,,,except if Cathy calls
and says to get home....I have been gone most of 2 weeks and she says I have
yard work to do....gee that sounds fun. I do have a house to show tommorow to Scott
who has been looking for a long time, he is a regular in here and I talked to him
yesterday where he wanted me to put a twenty in a machine for him, it went pretty well
at first with quite a few wins and he still had eleven dollars left,,,,,later on I
tried a different machine for him and that dissapeared prety fast....it was fun
trying anyways. After the show was over yesterday I took the bus out to the church
for the friday night service. In the greek tradition they have a candlelight procession
around the church that is supposed to represent the funeral service of jesus...the place
was packed and I would bet that the crowd and line of people all around the church made
a complete circle around it.....from there it was back down to the strip where I made
it to my room for a great nights sleep. I wish I had that mattress at home......One
thing I forgot to talk about the other day was right after I left with my rental
car I was just driving north and came upon the homeless peoples tent city. I have to
say that was a very sad thing to see. I bet there were at least 200 tents and many
lawn chairs with blankets or sleeping bags stacked on them in about a 3 square block
area and these were all along the sidewalks and centered around the salvation army,
the christian help center and the mission is right there too. People just sitting
there with not a thing to their name. Bill & Eddie that I met up at Bonnie Springs
the other day were locals and said that the homeless congretage there for the help
that they can get but the people in the city complain about the smell from all those
people around there as there are not even any port a potties. Its hard to believe that
in the U.S. let alone a city the size of vegas that could happen. Lots of panhandling
going on. When I was down on fremont street I was approached by several people but their
punch line was that they wanted to get just enough money to get a beer. There was a guy
setting on the skywalk by MGM and he must have been in his 30s just sitting on the walk with
a sign that said "Why lie, I need beer".......I know some of those people cant help themselves
but some of them could make an effort instead of waiting on someone else to help them......
I suppose I should go down to my gate and be ready to hop on. I dont get back to T.C till about 11
tonight. Thanks for checking in. Pete and for any other greeks out there Kristos Anesti
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Friday afternoon 17th 5:00 p.m. pst
After getting checked in at the Riviera I headed down to the pool as its a nice
hot day out there and from there jumped the bus back down to the sign show where
I have checked that out the past couple hours and it is just closing....well at
the pool I realized I hadnt even thought about what happened on the orv meeting
so I called one of the commisioners and here is the scoop....First before I say
it, this is not supposed to happedn till about the end of May but they voted to
open all the crawford county roads to orvs but there is a catch....now the road
commision can say what roads they want closed and each township can say what they
want done too....personally I would just as soon see the whole county open but my
main concern is the little town called Frederic. I hear that things should go well
for Frederic as far as that goes but we really wont know till its all said and done.
So all in all I would say things look like they are heading in the right direction.
Gonna go catch the monorail from mandalay bay back to the excalibur where I am going
to jump a bus again and head off for the greek church for the friday night easter
service. Talked to my sister today and it turns out her husband was roomates in school
with the priest from the church here..........till tommorow....

Tuesday Night 7:00 p.m.
Here is a link for more info on Mark Fidrych
To read more on services for Mark Fidrych CLICK HERE

Sunday March 29, 2009 9:10 a.m.
It sure cant get better than this, the Elvis Gospel hour is on and we have
a nice 3 inches of new snow on the ground here at Lake Margrethe.It started
snowing about 2 this morning and is supposed to keep up till noon. I see from
the webcam activity this morning that alot of people have been looking at it.
I will be heading for frederic in a while and just see if anybody shows up today.
I wouldnt expect to much but there might be a die hard or 2 out there.
Thanks for checking in. Pete
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Saturday March 28, 2009
Its a nice day for the up the face race at schuss mountain today. There is
still a storm coming for tommorow, I even put my plow on.....just hope I have
to use it. I had to move it anyways. It looks like we might be right on the
rain snow line but west of here should be 6 to 8 inches. Hopefully the line
is off by a bit. I was just getting ready to leave yesterday when a suburban
pulled in and the guy got out and was getting something out of the back....all
of a sudden I had a flashback to an email I had earlier in the week from Beaver
Creek Mark who said he would bring me some coneys from Andys Pizza and Coney Island
in Jackson.......I sure am glad I didnt miss him. He had put them in a zip lock
bag because his wife said she couldnt stand the smell in the car.....Nothing wrong
with a car that smells like that....Anyways A big THANK YOU to Beaver Creek Mark
for thinking of me.......Thanks for checking in. Pete
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Friday Noon ten,
Weather is talking about a winter storm for sunday noon and there could be
quite a bit of snow....thats what they are saying....maybe I shouldnt put
them sleds to far back......

Friday March 27, 2009 NOON
Not a darn thing exciting to report or talk about, I have been moving sleds
around the back room and trying to figure out how to park them for the summer.
One thing I can do or talk about is that if anybody has any spring projects
coming up I can set you up with a 10% off coupon thru Lowes for up to a thousand
bucks off your next purchase....its a program thru Lowes and Century 21...So if
you want a coupon email me your name and address and I will get one sent off to
you. I did this last fall and had a pretty good repsponse for it.....The coupon
is good for 45 days and takes about a week to get.....so if I can save you a
few dollars send me a note at property@frederic-mi.com Thanks for checking in.
Pete
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Thursday March 26, 2009 6:45 a.m.
Its a nice cool morning outside here at Lake Margrethe, heading off for
gaylord shortly for my class and a stop at the Coney Island there.....
Requests for the orv letter continued to come in yesterday and I posted a
link to the article in the paper just below this. Thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------
Wednesday night 5:45 p.m.
Here is the story on the ORV ordinance that is in todays Grayling
paper
To read the ORV story in this weeks paper CLICK HERE

Wednesday March 25, 2009 10:50 a.m.
I started my morning out up at twin lakes west of blue lake. Each
lake I looked at is still white with ice, Twin Lakes, Pickerel Lake,
Blue Lake, and Bass Lake are all white but there was an open spot
in the middle of Bass Lake. There is an uphill snow climb this weekend
at Schuss mountain and they say there is still lots of snow there. I
just talked to a guy way up north in canada and he says its snowing hard
there and they still have lots of snow......wish I could be there.
Now on to the ORV issue....I was surprised at how many emails I recieved
yesterday wanting the letter to send in. It was almost 40 people and several
of them had a list of people for me to send them to and I just checked before
I started this and I have 6 more emails on it right now. On the front page
of todays paper is an article about it and that there is a meeting coming up
April 2 that I will try to attend. I also have those letters going out to local
Frederic residents. The grayling paper wont be online till sometime tommorow and
I will then post that article. I probably cant do it till late in the afternoon
as I have a real estate continuing education class till 4 tommorow. Thanks
for checking in. Pete
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Tuesday March 24, 2009 9:30 a.m.
Just another cloudy day in frederic at 31 degrees. I talked to Ken
at the Frederic Inn yesterday and he said he rode 20 miles on sunday
around the woods.....I went to gaylord yesterday and still see some
snowy spots in the woods but you are very limited to those spots.
I wrote up a letter yesterday and took it around to the other Frederic
businesses for them to sign. It was a letter to the Crawford County Board
of commissioners in support of their upcoming vote to allow orvs on the
side of all crawford county roads. In short that means you could ride
your orv into frederic in the summer to get food or fuel which means I would
probably have some spring, summer and fall business in here.....So if you ride
or want to ride an orv around this area and would support that you could do
one of 2 things. 1, I already have a letter written that I could email to you
and then you mail it to the commissioners before April 15 or you could write
your own letter and mail it....The adress is

Crawford County Board of Commissioners
200 West Michigan Avenue
Grayling, Michigan 49738

To see Topeka our nieghborhood pet turkey click here
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Thursday March 19, 2009 11:10 a.m.
Its cold and there has been blowing snow in the wind on and off this
morning in both Grayling and Frederic, not enough snow to get excited
about but it looks good...Thanks for checking in. Pete
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Wednesday March 18, 2009 9:30 a.m.
Wow, we really lost the snow since yesterday. The trail thru hanson hills
this morning is shot, along m -93 is all water, school crossings are really
close to shot and even the amount in the woods is way down. Lake Margrethe is
still ice covered but I wouldnt even think of seeing how thick the ice is.
I had an email from a guy wanting to try to ride this coming weekend.
Even now you to ride you would have to find a nice snowy spot and unload and
ride that area. On the other hand I was up at guthrie lakes yesterday and I
measured 30 inches of snow in the yard I was at so there are still spots
with deep snow but its going fast.....It sure seems like this winter went by
fast and thank you to all of you that stopped in to say hi, alot of characters
come into here and to name a few., Ohio Mike, Bad Leg Barry, Illinois Mike, Toledo
Bob & Amy, Irish Hills Dairy Farmer, The Detroit Diesel Boys, Ohio Brian, Ohio Bob.
Lots of people from Ohio and Inidana. Again Thank you to all and we only have to wait
about 8 months for the trails to open up again.....I will keep daily updates going thru
the end of the month and then slow down to about once a week and of course I will
probably come up with some summer videos. I made one last week as I passed thru Jackson
because I cant go thru Jackson without having a couple coneys......Thanks for checking
in. Pete

Friday the 13th, March 09 9:40 a.m.
Its 6 below zero and sunny this morning in frederic and I have already
seen 3 sleds riding thru town. All trails and crossing I looked at this
morning are still ALL white but with their share of ice under the white.
Hanson Hill, along M-93, both sets of crossings up by the high school
all look inviting and judging from the amount of calls I had yesterday
I expect pretty decent sled traffic this weekend for probably the
last hurrah. Its suppose to get up to 36 tommorow and that should help
soften things up a bit. I had a group of 3 guys stop in yesterday on their
way back from the u.p. and they had been riding st ignace to the soo and to
mackinac island and they said the snow looked better in this area than any
where in the u.p............I talked to my buddy Bob this morning who is
laying in the sun down in Cudjoe Key about 25 miles north of Key West.....
I still like it here but wouldnt mind spending time with him too......so
if you are going to ride this weekend PLEASE RIDE SAFELY and watch for
icy corners. Thanks for checking in. Pete
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Thursday Noon Thirty,
Just had a couple guys ride in from indian river. They said the ride
was pretty decent down to here but thought the best part was from wolverine
to gaylord, they were heading off for jordan valley and then back up
chandler hills to indian river.......

Thursday March 12, 2009 8:35 a.m.
It 2 below zero and we have a fresh 2 inches of lake effect snow on the
ground here in frederic this morning. While all the trail crossings looked
nice and white this morning on the way here there is still ice and rutty
bad spots on the trails. The group of guys that left out of here yesterday
morning to ride were back about 6 last night and they said all in all it
was a fun day and they said the best was the jordan valley trail which had
been freshly groomed and was perfect. They too reported both good and bad spots
on the trails but they were happy them made a whole day out of it. Yesterday
was very cold and windy here so at least now its nice and calm out there. The
weather is supposed to go to 36 on saturday so that could soften the trails up
a bit and make them not as rutty to ride. People that have come here to ride from
downstate are still surprised by how much snow actually is on the ground here.
Thanks for checking in. Pete
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Wednesday 11:00 a.m.
Here is a new one, the wind is blowing so hard the webcam is moving a bit.
Just watch it and see how much its shaking....hope my roof stays on..
The Irish Dairy Farmer just rode in from lovells and he says there are
both good spots and rutty hard spots with ice and he also says remember
that this is the middle of march...

Wednesday March 11, 2009 10:30 a.m.
Its snowing and blowing outside with winds that are supposed to hit 60 mph
today. I really dont think its snowing that much, its just that its blowing
and swirling so much. It was warm and melting yesterday and since last night
it has gotten cold and frozen everthing up. If the warmth and little rain we
had yesterday smoothed out the trails that would be nice but I have not talked
to anyone who has rode yet today. There is a group of guys outback unloading
right now so I should hear a trail report sometime today. If it hardened up
with the ruts in the trail its gonna be tough riding. This cold is supposed
to stick around today and then the next few days back to the upper 30s....so its
hard to tell what the weekend is going to be yet. I will update again when I
hear how the trails actually are.
I am posting a link below here for Teresa's obituary and guest book....

To Read Teresa Pontious's Obiturary or sign guest book click here

Thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------
Tuesday March 10, 2009 10:40 p.m.

To watch Awsome March 9 ride video click here
Its 32 out and raining. It stayed about 32 all night long so alot of the snow
that we had yesteray has setteled. Brian and I had an awsome ride yesterday
morning as we were first on alot of the trails we hit. We went to grayling and
up the blue bear to the north end of starvation lake and down around that loop
to the far west 72 parking lot and then back to frederic, a nice 77 mile ride
in A plus conditions. When we got back here a bit after 1 the snow was already
starting to settle but we had the best of it behind us. Its supposed to turn cold
and windy tommorow so this still might hold out and change for the better for this
weekend.

This next part I am writing is very tough. Its with a heavy and broken heart that I
have to write that my dear friend and riding partner Rogers wife died this morning
in an industrial accident at work. I know many other riders that come in here know
Roger & Teresa as there are alot people from their area of Morenci,Mi that come up here
and are readers too. I know they were planning on coming up here this weekend and you
just never know how quick life can change. Teresa was always smiling just like when she
was in here 2 weeks ago. They had been up here for a weekend and had a great time.
My thoughts and prayers and heart go out to Roger and his son Steven and their family.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday Morning March 9, 2009 9:00 a.m
Sledheads is going to be closed this morning, just like all the schools around
northern michigan. The snow chants have worked great and we have 7 new inches
here in Frederic, I had about 6 at home in grayling and I talked to my friend
at blue lake this morning and she said they have 12 to 14 new inches there. Ohio
Brian is on his way here and he and I are heading out to be the first ones on the
trails. No sled crossings yet this morning on any of the trails that I have looked
at. I did a quick video clip outfront here to show you how it is. My truck is
in the back room and my plow is at home. The snow is a nice heavy snow and it looks
like we are going to keep snow and some more all week.....so plan on maybe a last
hurrah this coming weekend....but only time will tell......

To watch Monday am video click here
Also a couple days ago they recovered the guys sled that went in on the way back
from mackinac island a couple weeks ago. He was the guy that made it out and died
so close to help. His sled was in 105 feet of water. Be sure to read my updates from
last night too.....
I will try to make a new video today of our ride. Thanks for checking in. Pete
-------

Sunday Night 9:50 p.m.
Cathy and I just walked back in the door from going to see Grand Torino
down in Roscommon and what a wintery blustery night out. So far we are
between 4 and 6 inches depending on where you measure of nice white
heavy snow and its still coming. On the way to Roscommon on I 75 southbound
there was a truck and a enclosed 4 place sled trailer way down in the ditch
and they were both on their sides. The cops and wrecker were there and I saw
at least 1 person with an arctic cat jacket on down in by the truck, luckily it
didnt look like anyone was hurt. Tommorow will be a great day to ride as long as
this keeps up.

Sunday Night 6:00 p.m.
MO MO NAH CHEE CHEE NAH..... Thunder snow is upon us along with a winter
storm warning of 4 to 8 inches tonight.....snowing pretty steady here at
Lake margrethe right now and I just called the gaylord weather service and
have to say I love their forcast, lets see how many new inches are really
on the ground by morning.......

Sunday March 8, 2009 10:15 a.m. (new time)
Its sunny and 29 degrees out there this morning. As luck would have it
we have not had one drop of rain all weekend. The trail crossing up by
the high school all looked worn but still decent this morning. There
were a fair amount of sleds out and about yesterday and I expect the same,
the great thing is that it hasnt really been past the upper 30s so the
snow is slowly receding. Everyone that came in is happy to be riding and that
things are pretty decent for the situation we are in. I do have one rental sled
out this weekend and the guys were just in and are riding again today, they
said they rode trail 76 south of 72 and said it was fantastic, and that everybody
was riding north and nobody going south of 72. Just had another 2 guys in that
came up from detroit this morning and they are thrilled to death that there is
snow here, I sent them out towards trail 76. They said it was 72 in the motor
city yesterday...I sure am glad we dont have that to deal with.Now if only the storm
will come to us later this week. Thanks for checking in. Pete
-------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday March 7, 2009 9:45 am.
Kind of dark and 29 degrees here this morning. I have
seen 3 sleds thru town so far. I would rate trails fair but
have seen much worse. I had a family stop in yesterday morning
and then last night as I was leaving they were back and had been
riding all day. Except for puddles and icy spots they said things
were pretty good and the guy that was just in said everything has
firmed up overnight. The trail along m 93 was dark because its getting
thing but not because of dirt. The crossing just north of the high school
looked better yet but getting thin too......No trailers at the Days Inn
this morning and only 2 at the Ramada.....The rain is supposed to start
late this afternoon but for right now if you are lucky enough to be here
you could ride. I see Doug Shepard from down the road from here must
have headed home. Cathy and I ran into him up at Lakes of the North when
we rode the other day and he had wanted me to tell his wife Colleen thru
my site here that he wouldnt behome till spring........guess he went
early. I just gave the beagle a big old ham bone so she is quite content
with that over in her corner. I would hope there is still at least one
more blast of winter coming at us yet this month. Thanks for checking in.
Pete
-----------------------------------------------------------------

To watch Friday am video 1 click here

To watch Friday am video 2 click here

Friday 9:50 am..
Just rode here into frederic, I would say the trails from a 9.5 last night
to a 4.5 this morning, lots of ice and water puddles but still alot of
nice stretches. If you were here right now you could get a nice ride in. The
puddles were full of snow fleas, they look like floating black dirt...still lots
of snow in the woods. The closer I got to frederic the darker the sky got and
it looks like rain. Its spitting a bit now. I took 2 different video clips
on the way here and will post them above here but it will take me another 45
minutes or so. Also came across a deer that had been hit by a sled last night,
blood in the trail and a deer with a piece of ski doo hood laying on it......
I took the lakeshore again this morning but I guarantee you thats the last time
I do that this year. Way wet and slushy, the only comfort in that is that I knew
I was only in knee deep water......going to get videos on now......

Friday March 6, 2009 6:55 a.m.
Its 42 degrees here at Lake Margrethe this morning and I just checked the web
cam in frederic and it says 46 there. Its foggy out and water is dripping
everywhere. Last night they said the snow cross races in cadillac were going
to go on and this morning they say they are cancelled.....So things suddenly
dont look as good as last night. I am still going to ride my sled back to frederic
this morning and if I can make my video camera work I will post a couple clips.
It looks like its about time for me to switch modes of income so as a reminder
anyone that has a need for screenprinting or embroidery on t shirts, sweatshirts
or hats and any type of signs, thats what I do the rest of the year along with
Century 21 too.......Although I am not throwing in my carbides yet I am sure
readership will drop off sharply as the snow recedes, so a BIG THANK YOU to all
of you that stopped in to say hi or patronize Sledheads this past winter. I will
still be updating as usual thru the summer as I have before. I will also update
again this morning after I get to Frederic, probably around 10...Thanks for checking
in. Pete
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday Night 8:30 p.m.
I left frederic tonight about 6:30 and rode my sled home, hard to believe how
nice the trail still is. If I gave a rating on whitness and ridability it would
have to be a 9.5 on the 1 to ten. It was 34 degrees when I left and I think it
got up to about 40 today. The last I heard from Ohio Brian was about 5 and he said
he had 170 miles in since 9 this morning and had been as far south as higgins lake.
The weather forcast has changed again with there supposed to be a light rain tonight
and then no rain again till about 5 saturday afternoon......So depending on what happens
tonight it sounds like riding will be possible till saturday afternoon. Of course you know
anything can change but there is still alot of snow to melt off.......
I hope to ride back to frederic again in the morning. I sure did see alot of deer on the way
home and rode the lakeshore back to my house and was surprised at how many deer were in
lakefront homes yards, just laying there or eating grass around small trees. Even saw
5 or 6 out on the ice and the one was running along side me at 40 mph.......so till tommorow....

Thursday March 5, 2009 10:15 a.m.
If your gonna ride here you better do it today and tommorow. Its 32 out right
now and luckily cloudy. It might hit 40 today and tommorow both. It was below
freezing overnight which is good. The weather forcast has changed for the weekend
but not the way all of us were hoping for. Now they are calling for rain on
saturday and sunday. The trails started to get a bit soft yesterday afternoon but
not to bad. Ohio Brian just called in and was on the trail up behind the high school
and he says its great with a fresh groom on it. Only the diehards will be out on saturday
depending where the rain line is. On the bright side there is a "storm to watch" coming
this wednesday so that might give us a little hope. Still lots of snow in the woods
and 2 tracks.
Cathy and I had a nice ride yesterday where we went up to starvation lake and over
to lakes of the north and had lunch at the settings restaurant. We met Joe the owner
there and I told him about having bad reports on trail 4 this winter. He said they
have been grooming it but the 2 mile stretch along mancelona has been to hard and
slippery to get the groomer up so they have been skipping that. We rode from Lakes
of the North on the 4 trail and it was all very nice except for that stretch along
where Joe said and that was really no big deal. Back to frederic from trail 4 for
a very nice 65 mile ride. All crossings and trails I looked at this morning are still
white. Now to see how long they stay that way. Thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday March 4, 2009 9:20 a.m.
I am starting to sound like a broken record, Sunny and cold here in frederic
this morning but its already up to 2 degrees out there. Trails continue to
be nice and hard, flat and white. It looks like the forcast is changing for
this weekend and the rain has left but it is supposed to warm. If we are lucky
we will get a decent weekend in. Watch the weather, you know you can call the
gaylord weather serivce and they update it several times daily, the number is
989-732-6242. Its a handy number to have and the recording is only a minute or
so long, press 1 when they answer. Cathy and I are heading out on a ride here
shortly. This will be her first ride of the year. She has been busy taking some
classes out a Kirtland College so she is anxious about her first and probably only
sled ride of the year. Thats about it for now. Thanks for checking in. Pete
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday March 3, 2009 10:20 a.m.
Still cold out this morning and sunny at 7 degrees. Even though its been sunny
the past few days we havent lost a drop of snow. Trails are still nice and white
at everyplace I looked this morning and everybody riding is reporting good
trails....but the warm up for the weekend is still predicted,,,,still hoping its
wrong. I had a guy in here yesterday and we were talking and I told him to just
remind me when he comes in of his name as I always remember the names but dont
always remember the face and I said if you are Ohio Bob I will always remember
that and he says, I am Ohio Bob.....pretty good guess on my part.....
Here is a video of the Ice Drag Races in Gaylord from the 21st weekend.....

To watch World Series Ice Drag Racing click here
I heard of
a crash up somewhere by lakes of the north yesterday. Riders were in here that
came up on it right after it happened, they said he broke off a bunch of small
trees on a curve before he hit the one that really stopped him. He was laying on
the trail but no ambulance there yet. I havent heard anything more about that.
So Please Ride Safely and thanks for checking in. Pete
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday March 2, 2009 Noon Thirty,
Once again I was here about 9:30 this morning but between people coming in and
me just talking with people here I am on a late update. It nice and sunny and
cold still at only about 10 degrees right now. Earlier this morning about 7 it
was still 18 below here. Its supposed to stay cold till sometime thursday when
the weather said rain for thurs and friday then back to 30s for the weekend.
The last 2 times it has rained it actually helped the trails but who knows what
this week will bring. Hopefully by thursday the forcast will change. Just had
Pete from Camp Canuck in Canada was just in and bought a pretty pink hat. He
claims its for his girlfriend Nicola and today just happens to be her 25th
birthday. It might be a while till she sees the hat as Nicola is teaching english
over in South Korea, so a big shout of Happy Birthday across the pacific to Nicola.
Thanks for checking in and keep up the snow chants, I still want us to get 3 or
4 more weeks of riding in and just for a little motivation here is my video from
last year to watch.....

Friday 9:15 a.m.
Everything still looked good on the way here this morning, the trail along m 93
, the 2 high school crossings too. I talked to Kieth and he says the grayling
groomer is out right now and they are reporting plenty of snow to push. Had a
call from some riders in Indian River that are heading for St. Helen this morning
and they are going to call me later on to give me their view of the trails. Shot
a quick video in the parking lot here to show you Frederic,,,,,

To watch Friday morning video click here

I will update again later if anything good comes up...

To watch Sledheads weekend Video click here
On the death in st ignace from this weekend, the guy must have got dioriented and
got off the tree line and ended up in the coast guard channel where he mangaged
to get himself out, the really sad thing is that he died within about 200 feet
of help and shore. Alcohol was a factor in this......Thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday February 23,2009 Noon Thirty
I got here this morning at 9:30 and it was a crunchy 8 degrees out, now its
all the way up to 20 and nice and sunny. I cant believe how the morning can
fly by when I actually started to do this right after I got here. Not to many
sleds out this morning but the ones that have been in are reporting fresh
groomed trails everywhere. The news just finished and is talking of a new
storm coming in wednesday or thursday so that would be nice. Also they said
a body was found on the ice bridge between mackinac island and st ignace. They
are reporting more on it tonight but they say the guy somehow got seperated
from his sled......Sled traffic was steady but way slower on sunday in frederic,
there was a head on crash on the blue bear trail saturday where there was an
idiot flying around a corner on the wrong side of the trail and he hit a
father/daughter coming the other way. All 3 of them went to the hospital but
luckily the one hurt the worst was the guy that caused it. No life threatening
injuries but I was told the one sled was really mangled. I had emails from
several people that came across the accident. The people that ride like this
guy was riding are the ones that spoil the family fun for the rest of us. I
took off for a ride from here yesterday with 3 guys that come in here from
downstate, I see them in here but you know I never did get their names, we
rode up to starvation lake and stopped there for lunch. As soon as I walked
in the door someone asked me where the beagle was.....from there we took the
new trail to Mancelona which put us out on the north end of Mancelona right
at McDonalds......we just headed back to frederic from there and that was a
nice little ride.

Well we were in Mancelona I got the call from Roger that I knew was coming but
not looking forward to. He called to tell me that our riding partner and friend
Andy the Terroist had passed away yesterday morning. He has been very sick for
a long time and we knew the end was near as he has had hospice the past month
or so. Andy was in the marines and we called him the terroist because of the
swat type vest that he rode while riding. Only thing is in all the pockets and
holes in that vest instead of weapons and bombs he carried cheese, crackers,
meat sticks and any other type of food he could stuff in there. He looked a bit
funny with all that but he kept us supplied with snacks. Andy was also one of
the biggest contributers to the web cam fund and I know he liked watching that too.
So a goodbye to a friend is always a tough thing to do.
Thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Februrary 22,2009 9:10 a.m.
WOW,,,We had just about a foot of new snow come down on us yesterday, all
that snow chanting must be doing some good....First phone call this morning
came from down in sunny florida as my friend GM was sitting at the pool watching
my web cam on his laptop. He wanted to tell me to get my booty to work as there
were 5 sleds setting under the camera waiting for me to get here. I got here
just in time to fire up the radio for the Elvis Gospel Hour and help these guys
out. I know GMs wife is probably tight to the radio in florida indulging in Elvis
too......These guys are just leaving after getting a bolt fixed in a ski. So
things are off to a start this morning and I already saw sleds out and about
before I got to frederic. The new snow made an incredible day for everyone
yesterday, most of the day snowing so hard that it was tough to see. I took
alot of video. When I finally got out of here last night I had to go plow more
snow. Last night I plowed out front here and then went down to the Frederic Inn
for a nice big burrito and when I came back here an hour later to get the beagle
there was at least another 2 inches of new stuff.....I sure would love to see that
more often. Going out to plow again right now. THanks for checking in. Pete
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday Noon,
Its snowing good out there and its supposed to keep coming over the whole
state. I have a guy here that is from Terre Haute Indiana that bought a
new sled and now has 2 sleds here with no trailer. He is looking for someone
that can take his extra sled back to Indiana, He said anywhere between Fort
Wayne and Indy would be good for him, If you have a empty spot on a trailer
going south call me and I will get you set up with him. It will get you some
extra gas money to haul it back for him...Thanks, Pete

to watch sunday video click here
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday February 15, 2009 10:15 a.m.
Its sunny and 20 out. I walked in the door just in time to catch the last song
on the Elvis Gospel Hour plus I had people waiting to buy carbides. Yesterday
there were very few riders out but every one that came in said the same thing,
that the trails were way better than they expected and they were all happy that
the trails werent as busy as usual. So that turned out to be a nice bonus for
the riders that were here. There were 2 fund raising rides going on yet, the one
being the pink ribbon riders out of Gaylord raising and riding for breast
cancer awareness, their site is
pink ribbon riders click here and the other ride was the fun run that started
out in frederic at the swamp and then ended up at the Ole Barn last night. That
was to raise money for the Grayling Animal Shelter and put on by Mary Becker. I
went to the Ole Barn last night to catch the end of the ride and met some of
the riders there including Bob and Bridget Swift from TEAM GNS (got no shame).....they
said they are friend with one of my readers that I havent heard from in a long time,
little mikey schiedel aka squintz from down in the Grand Rapids neighborhood......and
speaking of readers and visitors I havent heard from Ohio Brian has not showed or called
yet this season. Dont know what the deal is with him. So to get back on track here, the
trails are in surprisng shape for the little snow we recieved this week, I had several
reports of groomer sightings and many happy riders that say the trails were best to the
west of frederic. Now I keep hearing rumors about an upcoming storm in the next few days
which should really put us back on the groomed trail. Thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 11:00 a.m.
When you think youve seen it all in snowmobiles something new comes along,
actually this is from 1926. I sure would not want to fall off this thing
into the track. Go to this page and look to the bottom of the page to watch
the video. Entertaining and a great look at the past, watch how deep the
snow is, I only wish we could get snow that deep today. Its a silent movie
but keep watching and you will see the captions.

TO WATCH Fordson Snow Motor click here

Saturday February 14, 2009 9:45 am..
Its 22 degrees out with a fine snow in the air. We had about a half inch
of new snow since yesterday. There was a group of 4 sleds that rode into
here yesterday and the one guy said he was glad that he came, he was rating
the trails at 5 or 6 and that the worse parts were the road crossing or
any gravel shoulders you had to go by. I did see other sleds out and about
yesterday including a bunch at Larrys in Elmira at both 4 oclock and 10 oclock
when I went by there last night. I took my daughter Haley up to Avalanche
Bay at Boyne Mountain for a fun night in the water park. The other fun part
of that trip was that I met 3 regular readers in the park that recognized me
and came up to say hi. There was Brad Lavoy from Temperance, Phil Mcgrill from
St.Charles and Jim and his son Josh from Flint....It was nice to meet those
guys and they all pretty much said they did that instead of riding this weekend.
So thats where the riders are......I had a call from Brad downstate this morning
and he said they had 4 inches last night. I have been hearing rumors about some
big storm heading this way from out west so lets hope that happens. Thanks for
checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noon Friday
2 drownings on Crystal Lake this morning in Frankfort where sled fell
thru ice....STAY OFF ALL LAKES.......
I have seen one sled ride thru frederic this morning so far.....

Friday the 13th February 2009
This is the kind of day that is great for carbide and slide sales....we
had about a half inch of new snow overnight. Overall I would say conditions
are poor. 2 guys were in this morning that came in to by some sledheads
thongs but I am out. They said they are going to ride over by lovells
today. Its supposed to stay below 30 over the weekend so thats good but
we need a nice blast of snow. I talked to Don up in Seney at the Fox River
Motel yesterday and he said trails are still decent and if it got down to 16
last night like it was supposed to they were going to run the groomers. It
will be a while till the groomers run around frederic. So the wait is on for
more snow. I am sure there will be some die hards out there, for those of you
staying home, check out the web cam saturday afternoon and you will see what
exactly is happening here. Thanks for checking in. Pete
---------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday February 12, 2009 11:50
There is a light snow in the air and its about 35 out. We were supposed
to get 3 or 4 inches but only just a a skiff fell. I have been working on
a 5 minute video that I shot on tuesday and this morning to show you trail
crossings and what its like out there. Its still loading up and I will have
it posted here in the next half hour.....Check back in a while and thanks
for checking in. Pete

TO WATCH Thursday 2/12 trail crossings & conditions CLICK HERE

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday February 11, 2009 10:30 a.m.
Just me the beagle and the all elvis radio station here in Sledheads this
morning.......39 degrees out and looking worse each morning. This morning
I was still in bed and I heard Haley say that she could see grass outside
which was a great thing to hear first thing. I have been getting calls from
people wondering about riding. About the only thing you could ride now is
2 tracks and off trail things and expect it to be wet and mushy, there is
still snow on the trails but there is also dirt so I would vote against that.
So I am doing things here that I have been putting off for a while and doing
the snow chant....Thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------
Tuesday February 10, 2009 11:00 a.m.
It rained most of the night in grayling and was 41 degrees when I left home
this morning, things are very icy and lots of dirt showing in the parking lot.
What did surprise me was that I went to gaylord this morning and the trail along
27 looked flat as could be like it was groomed last night, thats not to say that
its pretty soft but it did look pretty good with only a few dark spots. It seems
like with the warm temps today it can only get worse. I will stop at that, I finally
have the hot links thing figured out and have 3 videos done that you can watch while
you wish you could ride, when you click the links it takes you right to my youtube
page which then has a spot down below where you can email that video to a friend if
you would like to so thats a nice feature. Check them out and do some snow chanting
too..........

TO WATCH GROOMING THE GRAYLING TRAILS PART 1 CLICK HERE

TO WATCH GROOMING THE GRAYLING TRAILS PART 2 CLICK HERE

TO WATCH Wertz Warriors at the Swamp Bar 2009
Thanks for checking in. Pete
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday February 9, 2009 11:00 a.m.
I already had this typed up once and the computer shut down on me, I hope
I dont have the same thing wrong on this as my laptop. Talked to JC the weather
man this morning and the only good news he had for me was that he got married,
he says 50s tommorow, rain on wed and snow on wed night with next chance for
snow on tues the 17th.....sure hope hes wrong. I have been meaning to write about
this for a while but with all the talk lately of flight 1549 in the hudson river
it brings back memories of a story about me and my buddy bob....after a full
day of cruising up the atlantic ocean from baltimore with a stop in front of
the statue of liberty we dropped anchor just south of the George Washington
Bridge for the night. Thats right about where that plane landed. It was really
quiet there that night considering we were right next to NYC.......to read my
whole story on that trip seeing that there is no snow to play in, go to the tabs
above and click the one that says adventures of pete the greek and read the one
called the Big Adventure.........it sure was a fun trip......Now
a email I recieved from someone who had a good ride here this weekend.

Hello Pete, Just wanted to thank you for the s'mores. My little guy has been
wanting to get do there to have some. I was watching the video with the one
lady out there last week or so. My son seen that part(of course). So the
last two weeks when we've been up he's says dad can we go get them s'mores
this time. So warm weather and a rough running 91 Indy 400(bad plugs).
We made it. When we had gotten there the stuff was put away. When we went
inside to the young lady working about it. She did not hastate to get it
right out for us. My son and my buddies son just thought that was the
coolest thing. So thank you very much for doing the little things that
will make a kids memory. Then I had to go back in and get my reflective
Sledheads.com helmet stickers(5). Thanks again, Chris from Romeo

I am glad they had a good time and now we need to keep up the snow chants.
I have 3 videos just about ready to go, The groomer ride from last week is a
2 part one and the Wertz Warriors one is ready to. Probably post them later today.
Thanks for checking in. Pete
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday February 8, 2009 10:00 a.m.
MO MO NAH CHEE CHEE NAH........Its time to start up the snow chants and
break out the spam. We never did get any drizzle yesterday but 48 degrees
certainly did us any favors. Trails looks very soft yesterday afternoon but
it was 27 this morning which should have stiffened everything up but unless
it was groomed it will be rutty and hard to hold the skis straight. I have
seen a few sleds out so far this morning. The parking lot is down to ice
and dirt in spots and on the bright side a guy I was with outside spotted
a 5 dollar bill frozen down in the ice.....thursday is the next prediction
for any snow and who knows where will conditions will be by then if the warmth
continues......thats it for now so I guess I will just set back and enjoy the
rest of the Elvis Gospel Hour.....Thanks for checking in. Pete
-----------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday Februrary 4, 2009 9:00 a.m.
Wertz Warriors pulling into the swamp any minute, watch the action on the
web cam for the next hour and a half......
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday February 3, 2009 Noon
Just finally got to old Tennesee boys on their way on rental sleds....it
seems I have been with them for an hour....anyways its sunny and 15 degrees
out. We had a skiff of new snow overnight and the riders in so far this
morning are reporting great trails. Not to much else exciting, got the
Mackinac Island video up and will post it down below....Just a remider too,
my cottage is still available this weekend at Lake Margrethe, just had
a group of Ohio guys from down by Columbus leave this morning and they have
been there a few days. I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all the ohio
people that have been thru the shop this year as it seems like there sure are
alot of them, but then again there are alot of Indiana riders too plus the
regular Michigan one, so Thank you to all of you.....also still some rental
sleds availble for this weekend too.......Thanks for checking in. Pete

------------------------------------------------------------
Monday February 2, 2009 11:00 a.m.
On the way here this morning passed the grayling groomer heading out. Sled
traffic was slow yesterday around town but I talked to plenty of people that
said the trails were great. I was up late last night getting both segments of
the Boise Blanc & Mackinac ride together. I cheated a bit and didnt put in
transistions but they didnt turn out to bad, I bet I had 5 hours in in getting
those together......so I am posting part 1 today and will do part 2 tommorow, then
later in the week will get the groomer episode on.....Thanks for checking in. Pete

----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday February 1, 2009 9:45 a.m.
Another sunday morning starting off here in frederic with the Elvis Gospel Hour.
Its sunny and 28 degrees out and I dont like that temp and what it will do
to our snow. Also a Happy 9th Birthday to my youngest one Haley today..........
Bill and Terri from Fort Worth, Texas were in here yesterday, Bill says he is a
daily reader from where he works at Sikorsky Helicopter.....he needs to bring
a demo up here next time. Also been getting a couple emails this week from John
who is working in India and missing Michigan......I told him he needs to get one
of the red dots on his head and he would feel more at home......Also got a call
from Ohio Mike yesterday and he is waiting for the next phase which he says will
be like the movie face off......they have to pretty much cut him behind the ear
and peel his face to get to the bone to repair it and then put him back together.
I certainly would not look forward to that. My buddy Bob called me yesterday and
he asked if I had a sled to borrow as he had to go rescue one of his sleds, so I
went with him and rode mine back here......Had some big crowds out at the campfire
yesterday and alot of smores were eaten, also many people getting the reflective
sledheads helmet decals....NOW on to the serious stuff, I heard the train coming
yesterday so I walked out with my video camera and saw it was a single engine
going slow and right away you can hear me say on the video, watch the cops
are going to jump off that train and sure as heck thats what they were doing.
4 sleds had just been down by the tracks near the swamp. 2 of them had come down
the tracks and 2 of them had not. People need to learn the right and wrong of
the railroads. ONLY CROSS AT APPROVED CROSSING AND THE REST OF THE TIME STAY
AWAY FROM THE TRACKS, RIDING UP EVEN CLOSE TO THEM IS WORTH A TICKET. Please
pass this info and video on to every sledder you know. I talked to the guy from
the railroad that was on the engine and he says they are not out to get the sledders
but their most important concern is their engines and loads and that it does not take
much ice build up to derail a train......they are working with the state and MSA to
educate people on the rights and wrongs. I am pasting the video below this that I
took.

This was also the lead story on the news last night, here is the url to their story,
you will have to copy and paste it http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=148394
Also just had a guy in telling me the sheriff was up cameron bridge road with radar yesterday.
There also was a sled crash behind camp grayling yesterday where the rider had to be airlifted
out.......Thats about all the news for today, thanks for checking in. Pete
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday January 31, 2009 10:00 a.m.
Still great conditions everywhere. In grayling we had about another 2 inches
of snow yesterday but no new snow in frederic in the same time frame. I forgot
to mention that on thursday Illinois Mike stopped in and dropped me off 7 cans
of spam in 4 different flavors....I never knew they had the flavors......On
the other hand Ohio Mike is at home for a little bit until I think later this
week where he has to go in for reconstructive surgery on his cheek,,,,I think
thats right, from the way they have to do it according to Flatline Jack its
not an easy fix.....Mike if you are reading send me the details...........
I rode in the groomer yesterday and have a whole new respect for what those
guys do. I only rode for an hour or so and they had a 7 and a half hour tour.
2 groomers together and they are volunteers. Kieth said he got a raise, from
his old scale of 0 to the new scale of 00....I never knew how much work the front
blade does on the groomer, in the corners where its all pushed up from sleds
cranking around the corners that blade was cutting in 12 to 15 inches and pushing
it to the center and then the drag would smooth and level it out with. We were in
the big green john deere and the blue tractor with Bill at the controls was knocking
down the excess left by us. Watching sleds coming at you from in the groomer is
also interesting, the banks are getting high and its hard for the sleds to get up
and out of the way, one guy fell off the bank twice right in front of us with his
sled. All you can do is set and wait for everybody to get out of the way. The power
of that big green machine is incredible as it only runs about 1800 to 2200 rpms and
it just pushes thru that hard snow like nothing is there. All in all an educational
ride for me. The Ausable Valley Snowmobile Association is resposible for all the
great trails around here and they work darn hard at it. Check out their website
to join....... www.gosledgrayling.org Thanks for checking in. Pete
----------------------------------------------------------
Friday January 30, 2009 9:45 a.m.
A beautiful morning here in frederic, about 20 degrees out with about 5 new
inches of fluffy snow overnight. It certainly whitens things up and makes
things look more perfect than they already are. I would say in the 12 seasons
I have been in this place this is by far the best snow and conditions we have
ever had. A group of sleds has already been in and it consisted of Chubby Rogers
sister and niece. They were heading north from grayling. I picked up another load
of wood for the weekend campfire this morning and hopefully a few more people will
be in for smores this weekend. We got the broken drive shaft fixed on my sled yesterday
that broke on the island the other day so its ready for a new adventure. I think
thats the second time I have had a shaft break like that. That is an awfully big
chunk of steel to break like that. I still havent started on the videos from the
other day yet but will get to it in the next few days. Heading out in the Grayling
Groomer at 4 this afternoon. Next is another letter I recieved regarding the railroad.

Hey Pete, First thanks for all the updates. Very informative. On the last story about
the State Trooper. We had witnessed that same thing last year. It was just up the road
from you by Otsego Lake Old 27 and C-38. There was a DNR writing tickets for the same
thing. They had just the engine running up and down the tracks. Seen sleds coming off
the south end of the lake. The DNR had about 5-6 sleds pulled over with the book out
writing. So yeah they've been doing that for a little Well thanks again, Chris from Romeo
Thanks for checking in. Pete
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday Janauary 29, 2009 11:00 a.m.
Greeted by a new inch of snow this morning with a mild temp out there to make
for superior riding conditions. Things couldnt get any better than what they
have been this week and that includes yesterday. Riders were just in that rode
both yesterday and today and they say the same thing. My brother and I left
from here in Frederic yesterday at 10:30 and headed up to Cheboygan with
perfect trail all the way, 5 miles north of cheboygan at piers landing we
took a turn east and headed across 5 miles of ice to bois blanc island, and
no its not a straight line but it is marked with trees, they make the path thru
the broken up ice and its tight and curvie. Sections looked like broken glass
pushed up thru the ice or giant diamonds. I had never been to that island but
have wanted to bow hunt there for many years and as soon as we go onto the island
we were greeted by 2 deer. I figured that it must be about 25 miles around so we
headed out around the perimeter road which is plowed, nothing is open there and
there are many very old homes that are really cool looking and several unique
designs. Deer are everywhere there, I bet we saw over a hundred,,things were going
fine when I noticed Alex wasnt behind me, so I sat and waited a couple minutes and
still nothing so I turned around and rode about 5 miles hoping he hadnt hit anything
and thinking the worst, well I finally came up to him and he had the sled up on its
side and the drive shaft had snapped and locked up the track, right away I felt like
Gilligan, stranded on an island 10 miles from where we came on shore and then 5 miles
of ice like mine fields to get back to shore. I called my buddy Bob Terry and luckily
he was bored, so he came to Sledheads and picked up another sled and headed for cheboygan.
We started towing the sled and the track was locked up and then luckily found an old
4 inch whitewall tire and we put that under the track and pulled it a bit easier that
way. When we hit the ice we lost the tire but kept going and we werent looking
back, just wanted to make it back to the other side, when we were almost to shore I let
off the gas and them WHAMO, little did I know the drive shaft had come out and the track
was spinning so it hit the back of my sled and broke out my taillight with the bumper
of Alex's sled......So anyways we were back to land and waited only about 15 minutes
before Bob showed up with the other sled and trailer. We switched sleds and about 4:15 we
were off again. We were about 10 miles out of Mackinaw City so we headed that way and I
called the bridge for the trailer, at 4:45 the trailer picked us up and dropped us on the
St Ignace side where we took off and by 5:20 we had crossed 3 more miles of ice and were
sitting on Mackinac Island. We headed up around west bluff drive which takes you by some
of the prettiest views and homes on the island and then right past the front of the Grand
Hotel where we stopped and took pictures and video. From there it was up and down several
other island roads and then we took the perimeter road around the 8 miles of the island.
You know I cant go to long without some good food and on a cruise down the main street of
the island I had spotted the dinner special at Sinclairs which was spaghetti. It was 5:55
and I really didnt want to cross the ice in the dark but she said the food would be up
quickly which it was, trouble was that at 6:20 it was pretty dark. We headed back to the
tree line and there were 2 sleds getting ready to go back to st ignace and I figured that
was good we could follow them, well the first sled took off and I started to follow him
when he took off way to the right. I had just come that route an hour and a half before
and there was no way I was following him into that dark abyss......I could see my tracks and
the tree line, so I was leading Alex and the third sled was following us too, and pretty soon
the lost guy was following me to a trouble free follow the right line back to st ignace, at 7 we
were loaded and going back across to Mackinaw City. What we did was kind of island hopping but
instead of Oahu and Kaui, it was Bois Blanc and Mackinac.....a full day of riding. From Mackinaw
City to the south end of Otsego Lake we were the first ones on the fresh groomed trail and
it was absolutely perfect, it was good in the morning and didnt even need that fresh groom but
even from otsego lake to frederic was great without the fresh groomer tracks....we were at the
gas station in frederic at 9:45 making it almost a 12 hour day with 231 miles. Got back here
into the shop where either the roof leaked really bad or the beagle peed on the floor so I
had to take care of that. Cant figure that beagle out she was only in here from 5 to 10 and she
never does that at home but it was a great way to finish off the night. A BIG thank you to my
Buddy Bob Terry for helping us out and getting us to finish a great ride. Of course I shot alot
of video of this whole excursion but its gonna take me a few days and segments to get that
put together. And then Friday afternoon I have a date in the grayling groomer to do a video
on that.
Talked to Flatline Jack and Video Jim this morning and they were on their way to Cleaveland to
visit Ohio Mike, when I talked to them they said the gps said they should be pulling in there
at 11:45 and its now 11:36,,,I wish I was with them........Thanks for checking in. Pete
--------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday January 28, 2009 9:35 a.m.
Its a nice 7 degrees out this morning and we had about a half inch of snow
over night which will make the trails great this morning. Yesterday everybody
that came in that was riding yesterday said the trails were immaculate, which
makes today an even better day to ride. My brother is here from kzoo and he
and I are heading out on a ride somewhere shortly. Last night we went up
to gaylord and saw the harlem globetrotters...I had bought tickets for my girls
and me to go and they didnt want to go, it was fun and entertaining.
I talked to both Barry and Dave yesterday, two of Ohio Mikes best friends and they
filled me in on his condition. They both said he is hurt very bad and that when the chain
hit him it got him in the face and across one eye where it pulled his eyelid almost off.
And it also detached a part in his eye so they are hoping to be able repair his eye so he
can see thru it. I am not to good on these particulars but it is serious stuff. If anyone
would like to send him a note or card here is the adress, it goes to
Metro Health Systems
Patient Mike Bagi
2500 Metro Health Dr.
Cleaveland, Ohio 44109
My buddy Bob Terry just came in and he is friends with Mike too and I told him, and like
most of us he said I just talked to him last weekend....Life can change in an instant.....
Next I am
pasting a letter below here that I got from a reader in ohio about what they
experienced last weekend,,,here it is.
I'm glad to here people remember you when it's time for a home or property. After all you do
for snowmobilers, that is why I picked you to buy my cottage from in Gaylord. Anyway, I just
got a call from my brother who is on his way home from snowmobiling in the Mancelona area.
Wednesday, they were sitting along side of the tracks across from the Mobil / carryout in
Alba along 131 waiting for everyone in their group to get fueled up etc. He said from the North,
a train was coming down the tracks with a very large snow blade on the front. As the train neared
he saw it was only 2 engines not an entire train. It began to slow down almost to a stop as it
approached them. Just then a guy jumps off the train, while still moving, falls down in the snow,
rolls down the hill, gets up and brushes off the snow, only to see it is was fully armed Michigan
State Police officer on patrol from a train!! The train even had a Michigan Police Seal on the
side. Of course he wanted license and registration from everyone in the group. The officer accused
them of riding on the tracks north of Alba and was going to write everyone a ticket unless they
admitted which 1 or two guys were on the tracks. When they explained that it was impossible because
the gas station was the furthest north any of them had been, he was going to write everyone a ticket
for being "within 25 feet of a train track" and in some places up to 50 feet is illegal. He stated
that is the railroad right-of-way and they were all getting tickets. Lucky for them, the first
three guys in their group handed the officer their military i.d.'s and he instantly changed his
attitude. They were all given warnings not to even sit near railroad tracks let alone ride on them.
Pretty interesting huh? Have you ever heard of them patrolling from a train? Just thought you
would find this interesting. I would prefer if you did not post this e-mail, but please summarize
and pass along. Talk to you soon, Brian LaVoy
Next is my video of the Jordan Valley Trip I took on Sunday.......

Thanks for checking in. Pete
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday January 27, 2009 7:30 a.m.
Its a cold -20 below zero here at lake margrethe this morning, no new snow
but I can say that the trails are nice and hard this morning. I finished up
the new video last night and will post it below here. In this video I have
a clip of Ohio Mike and Bad Leg Barry, and last night I got a call that
Ohio Mike was severely injured yesterday when a chain snapped on a loader
he was using to get a semi truck unstuck, the chain came thru the window
of the loader and caught him across the face, he was airlifted to a hospital
in Cleaveland so, please keep Ohio Mike in your thoughts and prayers, I will
post more about him as I find out his situation. For next weeks video
I will be riding in the big John Deere Groomer to show you what its like from
the inside view. Here is the new video.....

Thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------
Monday January 19, 2009 Noon
I almost forgot to say Happy Birthday today to my daughter Melissa who
is 16 today, and then to boot its my birthday too and now my waist is
the same as my age at 52.......

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday January 14, 2009 10:40 a.m.
Its still zero degrees out there this morning, havent seen any sleds yet and
there were really quite a few riders out and about yesterday with everybody
reporting excellent trails. This cold will make them hold up real nicely. Even
for as cold as it was people were having fun riding but I did sell the only 3
sets of gauntlets that I had yesterday. The 3 guys from ohio that parked out back
a few days ago made it back from their u.p. trip where they went from here to
st.saint marie and newberry clocking a little over 500 miles in their trip. The
senior member of their trip was a spry 80 years old and he had a great time too.....
I put the second part of our u.p. trip up on youtube last night and will paste it
here. I do have part 3 ready to go but was having trouble with one clip that I
am going to fix today and get part 3 up later tonight. So here is part 2 and also
if anybody wants a nice place to stay this coming weekend our rental cottage at
Lake Margrethe is still available........Thanks for checking in. Pete

--------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday January 13, 2009 Noon thirty,
Boy this morning has gotten away from me, I was in town for a while this morning
on a listing appointment for a duplex......what I need is a few buyers, there are
way to many sellers........been snowing, blowing and cold here all day with about
3 inches of new snow on the ground. I saw fresh groomer marks on the trail crossing
up by the high school around 11:00 a.m. and only a few sleds around so far. Dress
warm if you are going to ride in this.....I have been working on the video from our
u.p. trip and it looks like its going to be 3 parts, I have the first part up and posted
and hopefully its not to boring, I tried to cover a bit at each city we went thru,
both the first and second parts are going to be about ten minutes long and the last
segment is probably under 5. I hope to get part 2 done tonight. Thanks for checking
in. Pete

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday 1:30 p.m.
T.V. 9 and 10 was just here and they are doing a story on the sledding accident
at Mount Frederic and they are using my video in it and did an interview with me
too......it should be on tonight......

Monday January 12, 2009 11:00 a.m.
I would say you call this the calm before the storm. Pretty quiet weather wise
out there and there is supposed to be winter cold and snow coming which we could
use a good shot of. I was here late last night and just leaving about 7:30 and saw
the John Deer groomer going thru over at the swamp,,,,BUT I thought it looked a little
funny as Graylings groomer has tracks and this one had tires....The nice part
about it was that it was the gaylord groomer, so that is the first time I actually
got to see it. I talked to the driver who was deaf so we had to write notes but he
works for a company that is paid to groom the trails and not for the DNR. I havent
seen many sleds so far this morning. Yesterday I took my daughter Haley over to Mt.
Frederic to see the kids sledding down the hill and I took a video clip of all the
people there. We were there only a couple minutes and I dont think I had ever seen
that many people there before, I will post the clip below this, but as I was leaving
I saw a guy running towards a group of people and was wondering why he was running.
We left and took about an hour to get back to Sledheads and saw 3 ambulances coming
by here and it had to be what the guy was running about as 5 people sliding down
the hill on a car hood were injured. 4 went to the hospital and one was airlifted
out. Even the little sledders can get in trouble. Regarding the fatality saturday
night, it was a 36 year old man from Warren, and the accident happened on the blue
bear up near starvation lake. I have been putting together the video which looks like
its going to have to be a 2 parter from our sled trip to the u.p. last week. Should have
some of it on by tommorow.
Just had Toledo Tony in here who stopped to say hi and he greeted me in greek as he is
married to a nice greek girl........Thanks for checking in and Please Ride Safely. Pete

It turns out that if you watch this closely towards the left side of the hill you will
see people running down the hill, this is video of right after that sledding accident
happened.......

Friday January 9, 2009 9:25 a.m.
It looks like we were all pretty tired last night as we all slept in and
are just getting to moving around, no new snow here in Newberry overnight
but we are going to hit the trails towards Frederic shortly. Thanks
for checking in. Pete
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday Night January 8, 2008 10:50 p.m.
Coming at you tonight from the comfort inn at the corner of m-28 and 123
in Newberry. We got here about 9:00 o'clock after about 250 miles today.
Another day of super riding with smooth trails covered with a fresh fluffy
5 to 6 inches and very other little sled traffic. From most of the business
people that we have talked to while up here they all say business has been
slow. We headed out of Munising this morning and went to Grand Marias stopping
at a couple scenic outlooks along the way. Gassing up there we headed off towards
Paradise and stopped at Rainbow Lodge located at the 2 hearted river for more
gas. Roger was the one who needed gas all the time as his 2 stroke sucked it up.
From Rainbow Lodge we were off to Whitefish Point but right at the intersection of
trails 8 and 452 we came across a little stand on that corner owned by a girl named
Chic. She and her husband a daughter live there on 40 acres about 7 miles off the nearest
road from Paradise. Chic has hot chocolate and soup at her stand and on the weekends
has a bonfire and will give you a hot dog to cook if you want. They live on their
40 there and have all the luxuries of home but depend on solar, generator and battery
power. Her daughter rides her snowmobile into town everyday for school and has for years.
From Chics we headed up to Whitefish Point and checked that out and then rode back
down into Paradise for a dinner at the Yukon Inn.....This is the first time I have been
to Paradise in a few years and they have built a new roof over the Yukon...rumors have it
that years ago the snow was so deep that people would ride their sleds over the roof of
the bar. There is a picture in there that shows the snow deep enough for that to happen.
The Yukon was our first real stop of the day and it was almost 6 when we got there. At 7
we headed out for Newberry and it was snowing very hard all the way and the trail was
great and it took us almost 2 hours to make it to the motel here. So far we have gone about
553 miles since we left Frederic yesterday morning. Tommorows plan is to head back towards
Frederic, I only wish we could stay longer up here. I heard a while ago that the one person
that I wanted to read the update from yesterday didnt get to because his computer blew up......
It figures because it was Andy the Terrorists computer..........hopefully he gets back online
soon, but also just so nobody gets the wrong idea about him, Andy has been known as that to us
for I would say 10 years because of the vest he wore while riding....I dont know why he liked
that vest but it did look strangely suspicious.....but one thing about Andy is that he is a
100% American Made in the USA MARINE so dont judge a book by his nickname as he is a welcome
riding companion anytime with any of us............Thanks for checking in and hope to do the
next update either in the morning before heading out or tommorow after getting back to
Frederic. Pete
---------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday January 8, 8:45 a.m.
A couple things I forgot, was to say Hi to Shelly who is Graylings better
half and also to my other faithful reader Andy the Terrorist, we wish you
could be here with us Andy,,,,a couple weeks ago I was looking thru some
paperwork and I found a note from Andy that I saved from when he made a
donation for the webcam...thanks Andy and you even signed it Andy the terrorist.

Thursday January 8, 2009 8:35 am
The snow is still falling and blowing here in Munising this morning, funny
thins is though for as hard as it was snowing last night and still is
this morning there is no snow setting on our sleds. We are high up along
the pictured rocks shoreline here looking out onto Lake Superior and I
would guess that there is no snow on our sleds because of the winds. You
can see the big island north of munising out there along with ice but also
alot of open water. We are heading out of here shortly and heading of
towards Grand Marais. I dont know what is happening in frederic as this
computer wont let me see my webcam because you have to download the software.
So until later on Thanks for checking in. Pete
---------------------------------------------------
Wednesday Night January 7, 2008 9:00 p.m.
Coming at you from the Holiday Inn Express in snowy,blowing cold, Munising in
Dah U.P. Eh! After almost 12 hours of riding and 303 miles we made it here about
an hour ago. I just came back from the hot tub and we are waiting on the pizza
guy to show up. This place is very nice and new but darn hard to get to on M 28
about 4 miles west of downtown. After a few wrong turns and circles we finally
got here. We left at 7:45 from Bradford Lake Hills and were at the Mackinaw Bridge
at 10:30 and unloaded on the St Ignace side by 11:00....from there we headed over
to Brevort, Cut River, and then lunch in Naubinway. Funny thing was in the restaruant
we were in we were the only ones in there, our group consists of Chubby Roger, Husky
Mel, Xtry Steve, Just plain old Grayling (yes thats his real name) and myself.....anyways
we were having lunch and a guy came in and I never did look up but he was throwing a
couple jokes around, well I walked outside shortly after and recognized this truck
outside and it belonged to the guy inside telling jokes, it was a friend of mine
Bob Blevin who lives in Engadine.....funny how you run into someone like that.....from
lunch we headed off to Gould City, Blaney Park, Stueben, Shingleton and then a couple loops
out of the way before we made it to the motel. We alreday gassed up for in the morning
and the 4 stroke used about 30 dollars worth of gas to get here. I have been taking video
clips all day to make a movie for when we get back. I bet we didnt pass 20 sleds all day
long and the trails were great all the way. We only passed one groomer all day but we
really didnt even need him. So anyways after an awsome day of riding its time for some
rest and I will probably put another update on before we head out in the morning. Thanks
for checking in. Pete
-----------------------------------------------------
Wednesday January 7, 2009 5:30 a.m.
Its about 27 degrees out this morning here in frederic and we have had about a half
inch of fine new snow so far overnight. Just perfect to start out a big ride. A
nice temp and a nice new set of bibs I have on and shortly I will be on my way up
to Husky Mels house. I am supposed to be there at 6:30 for breakfast and we plan
on heading out on our trip at 7:30. I have my pocket video camera with me so hopefully
I can make a video of the trip. Also I hope that wherever we end up tonight there is
a computer so I can put an update on here, otherwise there might be no update until
late friday on here. I am usually pretty good at finding a computer. I am riding my
4 stroke touring that I got at the end of the season last year. Its big and cushy kind
of like a cadillac....with a big luggage rack on the back. First off we are heading
for the bridge and then across into the u.p. So stay tuned for more..I am putting
a video down below here that I recieved from a reader on what to do if you fall
thru the ice, I just watched it and you never know if it could do you some good, I feel
it was well spent time watching it. Thanks for checking in. Pete

--------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday January 6, 2009 10:30 am
Nothing has happened weather wise since yesterday, its pretty icy and slick in
most parking lots and walking areas, I would say the trails are o.k. as long as
a groomer has gone down them and churned things up. We are supposed to get some snow
tonight and I sure hope so as I am getting ready for our ride tommorow. There were
only a few sleds out and about yesterday but they were reporting decent conditions.
I recived a note last night from Buckeye Dave down in ohio. He told me that I had a
mention in the march 2009 issue of snowgoer magazine, he typed what it said and I
am pasting it next,,,,,,
Well the whole article is about how they did one of their last rides as the Sunrise
Side Ride. They started out in West Branch and made their way up to Cheboygan stayed
there for the night. The next day was freezing rain, they came back west to Indian
River and took trail 7 down till they got to Frederic because this was going to
be the quickest way back to their trucks. That is the quick and dirty of it.

NOW ON TO WHERE YOU COME INTO PLAY. I am going to type verbatim what it says.

"We stopped at Sledheads in Frederic and talked to the legendary "Pete the Greek."
We were hoping to get advice from Pete for an alternate route to the truck. We
could stay on the trail system to get there, but the rain wasn't letting up, so
we wanted the shortest path back to Alley Park."

Pete directed us to an unplowed road that took us right into the town of Roscommon."

END OF YOUR PLUG

Well thanks Buckeye Dave for that info.....Did you catch that part "Legendary" Gee
I have never thought of that....maybe the Legendary Elvis or something but certainly
not me.....anyways I better get some work done.....Thanks for checking in. Pete
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday January 5, 2009, 10:30 a.m.
No new snow since yesterdays rain but it has turned cold enough to get the grayling
groomers moving again, I saw where the groomer crossed just north of the high school
heading towards frederic and then talked to Keith in the John Deere and he was heading
to lovells. The trail along m 93 looked pretty decent to me this morning too. I had a
guy write me the other day about why I have not been reporting about the gaylord
groomer. That is because they do not bring it into frederic and I have not seen it all
year. They turn around at the north end grocery. I have had both bad and good reports on
most all of the trails around here but when there is heavy sled traffic there is no way
around it they are just going to get bumpy. BUT just to show one Waters person opionion
I am going to put the letter below here that he sent me.........then after that I will
start up again.......
Hi Pete,

I enjoy your page and visit your store. I noticed however that "trail conditions"
are rarely reported on you trail condition page. You mention weather and sled traffic,
but little about the trails anymore. The first subject that should be tackled is the
POOR job the DNR is doing with the Gaylord trails. They remind me of the days before
grooming was ever done up here. The crossings on trail 4 showed no signs of a groomer
the last few days, with single file crossings where the plows pushed the road snow
on the trail. The lack of groom is producing a major amount of snirt, and people are
riding all over the place off the trails to avoid the poor conditions. Trail 7 is
a back breaker!! I realized that everyone under the sun is up here, but when you
combine that with the lack of grooming the trails are destroyed. I emailed
the DNR office, with no response as usual.
Appreciate your efforts.
Thanks, Bill (Waters, MI)
O.K with that being said back to Pete again, I see that I missed 2 other sled fatalites
during december which brought the count to 3, but this weekend there were to fatals in
northern michigan that I know of, One was an 11 year old boy who died near cheboygan and
the other was a 42 year old lady down by gladwin...I recieved a letter from a reader
on the 11 year old and here it is......
Pete, my name is Chris we met a few years back when you sold me your own personal cat
face sheild because you didn't have any in stock. I always read your postings. I write
because we just received the sad news that a boy in my daughters 5th grade class was
killed in a snowmobiling accident in Cheboygan during the holliday break. my daughter
just showed me his yearbook picture that made it hit home just how real and final death
is. I know you have children as do I. in fact we rode sleds to Frederic on Wed and ate
at the inn. I don't know what caused the accident but I do know that know matter how
careful you ride there are people who ride like they are the only ones on the trail.
please let people know that no life is worth losing over snowmobiling much less that
of a child. ride safe, never ride under the influence of anything and if you ride
with kids just be as safe as possible so this kind of tragedy will never happen
again. thanks for listening. Chris.
Back to Pete again, next is a letter I recieved from Linda who was in here saturday and
is from canada, their club has a page in canada under www.sledhead.ca just in case anyone
wants to see it. I did see the boyfriend of the girl who was in the accident out front here
on saturday and he said she had a minor concussion and is just sore and nothing broken. Boy
am I glad for her because she looked and sounded alot worse than that laying out there in
the snow. Next letter......
Hi Pete It was nice to meet you yesterday. I have to say I couldn't believe how 'sled friendly'
your community there is. We stayed at the Ramada and had a great time discovering the trails in
Michigan for the first time.I would like that helmet foolishness (Mohawk or the pony tail) when
I next visit! I have to say I heard more about you on the trails than anyone else. Good job! I
keep my eye on your site in hopes that I hear some good news about the head on collision on the
trails yesterday. I saw the guys/girls laying in the snow. It made me think about just how easily
our days can change. I hope you will be the source of good news as we are all asking each other
what happened to these sledders? I was also there when the two dogs were dropped off. I was wondering
if they had something to do with the head on crash. Just seemed odd that the dogs were loose at
the same time. I have some pictures of the Polaris. The man that was driving this sled in Indian
River went down the bank towards the cottages and hit a big rock. He was fine. I spoke to him
as he had his wreck right beside my trailer. It was kind of neat because I had walked over that
morning to see them unload this sled off their trailer. I had a question about the trailer
they had. When I came back and saw the sled, I was worried. But they were ok. Good thing!
Nice to meet you and your wife and little beagle! Sincerely,Linda
Pete again, Linda sent me a few pictures that she had taken and that reminds me that I have
been wanting to say for a while that I would like you to email me your favorite frederic riding
pictures, I have a new digital picture frame that I am going to put up in here so I can add
the pictures to it and have something more for people to look at when they come in here.
Also it looks like I am going to head out on a big ride with Chubby Roger and Husky Mel
and the Nascar boys on wednesday as long as everything comes together right. More on that
later. Thanks for checking in. Pete
--------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday January 4, 2009 9:40 a.m.
This morning at 6 a.m. all was well even though we didnt get any new snow over night but
at 7 the rain and drizzle started and has been nice enough to give us a slippery, ugly
coating of ice, NOT what we would like to see. At 8 a.m. I did see the grayling john deere
groomer going thru town so I assume he had been out on the trail but I have not talked to
anyone about it. Sled traffic was heavy yesterday and I had many reports of both good and
bad trails but with traffic that heavy thats just what you get. I took a ride thru the motel
parking lots this morning and there were still alot of sleds and trailers with some people
loading up and I took a picture of a wrecked polaris dragon that was setting on the edge of
a snowbank in the Ramada Parking lot. I heard of a head on crash up near deward and another
crash down off lewiston grade yesterday, and we also had one right across the street from the
shop here where a piece of fence sticking out onto the trail grabbed the ski and dead stopped
the sled where it put the sled on its side. They were riding double and the driver who had
just been in here with his girlfriend and bought oil and then they went to get gas. He was
o.k. but she was in serious pain and the ambulance came and took her to the hospital, I
havent heard yet how she came out but to see her laying there in so much pain was hard on me
and thinking back to just 15 minutes before that she was standing in here with her nice
smile and all happy to be out riding. Things sure do and can change in a split second. The
other incident for yesterday here was some guys pulled up on sleds with 2 big dogs they found
running down the trail. These dogs, one with a chain wrapped around him and they had bleeding
paws, actually got on the sleds with these guys and rode here to the shop with them. I had a
hard time a couple weeks ago with just the 35 pound beagle in my lap and these had to be 80
to a hundred pounds...anyways we brought them in the back room and I gave them some water and
food and called for the animal control lady, she was here within about 45 minutes and took
them to the shelter......and I was glad for that too as they had lifted there legs on 2 different
arctic cats in the back room but left the polaris's alone......this has been the weekend for
unique incidents around Sledheads......Thats about it for now. Thanks for checking in and lets
hope the rain turns to snow......Pete
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday January 3, 2009 9:15 a.m.
I rolled into frederic at 7:40 this morning and was greeted by 3 sleds already riding into
the gas station. I went over to the swamp and set up my lighted message board to try to
drive some more business over here, you can see my sign on the web cam today. We had about
4 new inches of snow yesterday and I finally got to put my plow back on. On the way here
this morning I did the motel survey and I didnt even think about counting the trailers and
sleds at the Days Inn and the Ramada, they were definetly full........Had dinner last night
and Canadian Steak and Fish next to the Days Inn in grayling. I sat at the bar with the owners
Steve & Greg and they were good enough to buy my dinner....Thanks guys, it was great.....
The first customers in this morning were a couple guys staying at the Ramada and they were at
the Keg in waters last night and the one guy had his extra belt stolen along with his spark
plug cap ends.....he said 3 different cats out in the lot got hit up for parts. Luckily things
dont happen to much like that but there has to be a few bad apples out there just to ruin it
for some, like the guy said the extra belt wasnt to bad but no plug ends left him dead in
the snow.....so they had to drive back to grayling to get their trailer........There was a lady in
here last night that had been in here a bit while her husband changed carbides on her sled. I saw
her walking away from the post where I have the pictures of the fatal sled accident sleds and I
saw she was crying and I thought I had never seen anyone cry because of those pictures, well it
turns out she was crying because she had just realized she lost her wedding ring. She said she
hadnt been anywhere but here since they left the cabin. We searched all over in here thru the
shirts and behind everything and then out into the parking lot with the bright lights looking and
we didnt find a thing.....I got her name and number in case it turned up........well about an hour
or so later she called me and she had found her ring.......she left it at the cabin......she was
pretty relieved........well I have to go now, I have shirts to straighten up......Also here is a
video I clipped together of the many sleds that were in town yesterday. Thanks for checking in. Pete

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 2, 2009 9:30 a.m.
3 to 4 inches of new fluffy snow is what we have on the ground this morning, already
sleds rolling thru town....yesterday was by far the busiest day of the week so far,
it just took a while for everybody to get moving. Its about 23 degrees out right now
and snow is still falling. Jake was already in this morning and he wanted to tell the
boys in Windsor Canada boys that they are missing out on the riding.....we keep getting
a little new snow each night but we could use a nice blast, my picnic table in the yard
has about 5 inches on it since the rain last week.......a little snow chant wouldnt hurt.
Thanks for checking in. Pete
-----------------------------------------------------
HAPPY NEW YEAR January 1, 2009 10:30 a.m.
I hope everybody made it thru last night o.k. Its been very quiet here in frederic
so far this morning. There have been a few people in so far but no sleds yet.
Sled traffic was slow yesterday thru frederic. Cathy and I went out for dinner
last night at Canadian Steak and Fish in grayling and then I did a trailer count
at the Ramada of 15 trailers and then we went on to a party at the Eagles club and
home by midnight to watch the ball come down in NYC........I would bet most people
are sleeping in this morning so things should kick in later today. Today is
the last day of bow season so I will try my luck again this afternoon. I made
a video out front here just to show the snow as its pretty quiet out there....sorry
if its a bit boring but its the best I have for today......Thanks for checking in. Pete

----------------------------------------------
Wednesday December 31, 2008 9:00 a.m.
It looks more like it should in frederic this morning, 0 degrees and 3 inches
of new snow....pretty quiet out there so far. Yesterday was the busiest day
so far since Christmas and I would expect today and tommorow to gain on that.
I will do another post later on today as things change....Thanks for checking
in. Pete
---------------------------------------------------
Tuesday December 30, 2008 10:10 a.m.
Not to much in the way of new snow to report in fact we didnt get a new flake
overnight. I have been getting alot of phone calls from people wondering how
riding is. The people I have talked to that have been riding into here report
that it is surprisingly good out there. Icy in the corners but at least the
soft stuff has firmed up. There is snow in the forcast so it can only get
better thru the week. The grayling groomer was thru here yesterday afternoon.
I went thru the Ramada Inn parking lot and there were about 12 trailers there
and the best one I saw was the one with the Sledheads decal on the side, if you
come in here I have free trailer decals for your trailer....also in the next day
or so I will have new SledheadsUSA.com reflective helmet decals in here for $2...
they will show up great on the back of your helmet........I had the port a potty
delivered yesterday for everyones convienince and also no have the web cam zoomed
in on it so once again I have the only port a potty cam in the north.......Next I
am going to paste a story I read on yahoo this morning about sledders in an
avalanche in British Columbia......

Police: 7 bodies recovered in Canada avalanches
Mon Dec 29, 11:22 pm ET

FERNIE, British Columbia – Search teams recovered the bodies of seven snowmobilers
Monday, a day after they were swept away by avalanches in western Canada's backcountry,
police said. An eighth man was missing and believed dead.

The bodies were found late Monday afternoon as searchers plowed through avalanche debris
near Fernie in British Columbia's Elk Valley, about 550 miles east of Vancouver, said
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Chris Faulkner.

Eleven snowmobilers, mainly in their 20's from the nearby coal-mining town of Sparwood,
were hit by back-to-back avalanches on Sunday. Eight were buried but three from the
group clawed through the snow and reached safety.

Search efforts — which involved several dozen rescue officials and volunteers as well
as search dogs — had been delayed until later Monday by the threat of more avalanches.

"The snowmobilers were well-outfitted, dressed warmly and many had the proper safety
equipment," said Faulkner.

The victims, some of who wore special rescue transmitters, were found under several
feet of hard-packed snow, said Chris Thomas, president of Fernie Search and Rescue.

"It's pretty dramatic. In a town of this size, everybody knows everybody. It's gonna
cause everybody to think twice about conditions they thought were safe," said Elkford
Snowmobile Associate spokesman Peter Cunningham.

The first avalanche buried a group of seven snowmobilers, while they were resting at
the foot of a hill, said David Wilks, mayor of Sparwood.

"It appears a cornice let loose — an overhang on the top of the mountain — and
buried them," he said.

Another group of four snowmobilers heard their shouts, hurried over and started
digging when they were hit by a second avalanche.

Two men dug themselves out and then pulled a third man free.

Wilks, who spoke to one of the survivors, said he was told they were buried twice
and were fortunate enough to be able to dig themselves out after about 20 minutes
after the second avalanche hit.

"They're very distraught that they weren't able to stay and try and find or help
their buddies, but ... one of them was injured and they felt there was an imminent
risk of another avalanche coming down," said Wilks. "They had lost their gloves,
they had lost everything so they were starting to dig by hand."

The three men sustained minor injuries.

Wilks said all 11 were skilled outdoorsmen who knew each other in the town of 4,000.
He said they well-liked in the community and said many had families, including
two whose wives gave birth to their first children just a few months ago.

"It's pretty devastating," said Chuck Meadows, a coal mine trucker who worked
with most of the men. "It's pretty sad to see, with newly started families."

The Canadian Avalanche Centre had issued an advisory that day warning of
dangerous conditions and the strong possibility of avalanches.

"The conditions that we've got in the last few days are so severe that it's
a shame they decided to go into the backcountry," Fernie Mayor Cindy
Corrigan said.
Thanks for checking in. Pete
--------------------------------------------------------------

Monday December 29, 2008 9:30 a.m.
Pretty quiet in frederic so far this morning. There was a guy in this morning
that rode yesterday and he said trails are o.k. but icy in spots and corners and
watch for ruts......I would say we have had about 2 inches of snow since the rain.
Its about 25 out right now. There did end up being alot of sleds out yesterday
afternoon so things are coming back around. Thats about all the news from
around here.....BUT next I am printing a story that a reader from Indiana
sent me, I only do this just to remind people of the dangers and what can
happen out there and the consequences.........the story is regarding a
sled death in Indiana last week........

Published: December 27, 2008 3:00 a.m.

Crash injuries prove fatal
Holly AbramsThe Journal GazetteAn Angola father of two died Tuesday from injuries he
suffered in a snowmobile crash.

Trenton Dove, 31, was operating a snowmobile just after midnight Sunday near Nevada
Mills Road and County Road 300 West in Angola when he struck a tree, Indiana
conservation officers said.

He was taken to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne with head injuries. He died there
two days later.

A U.S. Army veteran, Dove served in the 101st Airborne Division and was stationed
at Fort Campbell, Ky. He was employed at Tenneco Automotive in Angola and was a
member of the National Guard and Orland American Legion Post 423.

He is survived by his wife, Shanna, and their two daughters, Taylor, 7,
and Brianna, 3.

“He was a good character, and he kept everyone’s spirits up and alive,”
his wife said, adding that her husband was strong-willed and strong-hearted.

In his spare time, Dove enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and watching
NASCAR events.

“He loved his family and he loved his friends, and they all loved him,” his
wife said. “He cared about everybody.”

Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Beams Funeral Home in Fremont.
Burial will follow in Jordan Cemetery in Fremont.

Military committal services will also be conducted at the cemetery by
members of the Orland American Legion.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RIDE SAFELY & thanks for checking in. Pete
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------
Wednesday December 24, 2008 noon thirty,
I sure dont know where the morning went, I was here at 9 and between calls and
doing things and this computer locking up the day is half shot already. Only been
a couple sleds in and the one couple that just left rode down from indian river
and they said it was pretty nice. At 9 this morning when I was plowing it was 20
degrees out there but there was a mist hitting my windshield,,,,,as long as we keep
it to a mist it wont hurt our snow any......So today is Christmas eve day and I hope
to be leaving the shop here in a while and figure Santa will be coming by our house
tonight.....I was in the hardware store this morning and I saw a guy I knew and I
knew he was a Jehovas witness so I asked him if Jehovas do christmas and he said
they didnt so I told him Merry Christmas anyways and after that told him to have a nice
day with a laugh....I just couldnt resist asking him about that...he knew I was joking too..
So anyways from town to frederic I would like to wish Merry Christmas to everyone out
there from our Sledhead family to yours and for a bit of entertainment watch this video,
it takes a bit to load. Hoping Santa brings everyone a memorable time with their families.
Pete, Cathy, Melissa, Haley and the Ellie the Beagle

----------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday afternoon 2:00 p.m.
I just got back from gaylord and drove up along 27 all the way up there and
I have to say the trail looks pretty darn good. Its sunny and 20 out
right now and forgot to say this morning that there are winter storm
warnings for us for 5 or 6 inches, that sounds good to me.....sled traffic
has been light today and I just had a call from a guy on his snowmobiling
honeymoon and they are leaving boyne and want to come and ride around here....

Thursday December 18, 2008 9:00 a.m.
Its about 15 degrees out and we had a fluffy couple new inches of snow over
night even though the picnic table still reads 15 inches.....trails looked
nice along m 93 and at the crossings up by the high school. Not to many sleds
around yesterday and my guess is that it should be a great weekend to ride as
I think most people will be staying home and saving it up for after christmas.
I wont know if that is right till after sunday. I really havent heard any other
news of interest so thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednedsday December 17, 2008 11:15 a.m.
We had about 2 inches of new fluffy snow overnight. I had a call yesterday
that the grayling groomers were out on all of their trails and that
things are shaping up pretty well on those trails. The yardstick on
the picnic table is down to 15 inches. Sled traffic today so far
and yesterday was very light if not almost non existent........So thats
about all there is to report but I have copied and pasted this news
story from todays Gaylord Herald Times on the accident from this weekend.

BAGLEY TWP -- Investigators from the Gaylord Michigan State Police (MSP) post
believe speed and alcohol may have been contributing factors in a fatal
snowmobile crash which killed a 31-year-old Gaylord man early Sunday morning.

Troopers from the Gaylord post were dispatched around 1:46 a.m. to the Old 27
South groomed snowmobile trail near North Otsego Lake Road in Bagley Township
for a crash involving a single snowmobile. Reports indicate the snowmobile
struck a utility pole head on.

According to MSP investigators, the driver, Eric Inman, was pronounced dead
at the scene. Inman’s passenger and wife, 28-year-old Stephanie Inman, was
seriously injured and transported to Otsego Memorial Hospital by the Otsego
County EMS/Rescue for treatment of injuries. She was later transferred to
another medical facility.
Reports from troopers indicate Inman was riding southbound on the trail when
his 2009 Skidoo collided with a utility pole. According to investigators,
Inman had been bringing up the rear end of a group of friends with whom
he and his wife had been out riding.

Thanks for checking in. Pete
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday December 16, 208 10:30 a.m.
Its a cold, hard, crunchy morning out there. I have been out plowing
trying to get the rest cleaned up that I didnt finish before the rain
and its rock hard and hard to move. All our nice trails with the perfect
base underneath have turned to not so nice trails to ride on till we get
some more snow. I did see 2 sleds going by a little while ago. I dont know
what is up with the webcam, it is working fine in the shop but it is not
broadcasting online, the power flashed yesterday during the high winds but
I am not sure why the computer is not finding its way online.....Thats about it
for today, thanks for checking in and I will try to get the cam back online.Pete
--------------------------------------------------------------
Monday December 15, 2008 7:40 a.m.
Coming at you this morning from the Holiday Inn in Midland after a
very slick drive here from grayling this morning. It rained pretty
much all night and now there are high winds and dropping temps which is
making it very slick out there and schools thruout northern michigan
are closed this morning. All that nice snow we had has now been compacted
by the rain, now we need to add to it again.
On the accident from saturday night the male rider that died was 31 years
old and from gaylord, as in most accidents speed and alcohol was a factor.
From what I have read in the past its mostly speed in all fatals and of
course the alcohol is no help either. They hit a telephone pole on the trail.
Well I need to be in my class in 10 minutes so thanks for checking in. Pete

Wednesday December 10, 2008 10:30
The snow must be fueled by the energizer bunny as it just keeps
snowing and snowing and snowing....the yardstick is up to 22 inches
and basically I had to plow outside the shop here 3 times for
yesterday. No snow in the air right now but conditions are just
absoutely perfect. I have had several tell me that this is the best
riding they have ever seen. Not even the middle of december yet and
my snowpiles outside are getting big enough that its really going to
make the parking lot smaller. Brought a trailer load of wood in yesterday
for the weekend campfires.....Still surprising light on sled traffic
and I am still hoping to get out there........There will probably be
no update tommorow morning so you will have to check out the camera.
I am planning on being gone and will hopefully later in the day be able
to get on for an update. So thanks for checking in. Pete
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday Afternoon. Dec 9
Here is a press release about Lovells
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 9, 2008

Contacts: Susan Thiel 989-34... or Mary Dettloff 51...

Snowmobile Riders Can Continue to Access Village of Lovells

A section of designated snowmobile trail 452 that runs through the
Village of Lovells in Crawford County remains open as an unsigned and
ungroomed portion of trail, according to the Department of Natural
Resources.

In the past, this one-half mile section of trail has not been groomed.
Recently, signage was installed along the south side of F-97 leading
into Lovells, which encouraged two- way traffic along the south side of
the county road. The DNR recently removed the signs in response to
safety and liability concerns.

"Proper permission to allow snowmobiles to operate against the flow
of traffic in this stretch was not obtained, and as a result we removed
the signs," said Susan Thiel, DNR unit manager for the Grayling Forest
Management Unit.

The Crawford County Road Commission also requested this stretch not be
groomed due to damage being incurred on the county road, along with
safety issues. As a result, snowmobile riders can continue to access
Lovells along this one-half mile stretch of trail by riding with the
flow of traffic along the county road right-of-way.

The DNR will continue to work toward finding an alternative route into
Lovells, which will require the purchase of easements across private
lands. Meanwhile, snowmobile riders can continue to access services
offered by the Village of Lovells by riding with the flow of traffic
along F-97 and County Road 612.

Questions may be directed to Susan Thiel, at the Grayling DNR Field
Office at 989-348-6371 , ext 7440.

The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use
and enjoyment of the state's natural resources for current and future
generations.

Tuesday December 9, 2008 10:15 a.m.
Just came in from plowing the lot, I would say we had another 5 inches last night, the yardstick
on the picnic table is up to 21 inches. This is great and winter isnt even here yet. I forgot
to write yesterday that the accident stories started coming in on Sunday. I heard of 3 different
accidents in the area and a couple sounded pretty serious and then on the news last night there was
a story on a sled that went thru the ice on Otsego Lake, I would NOT go on any lakes yet. The amount
of snow we have had pushes down what little ice there is and makes things extremely dangerous......
I talked to Pam from the Gaylord Chamber yesterday and she says that the DNR has taken over their
trails and things are getting groomed. That is why I have not seen the gaylord groomer here in frederic
as they only groom the trail down to the north end grocery......There was a posting somewhere I think on
one of the lewiston sites about riding into lovells....the lewiston club was asked by the DNR several times
to remove signs they had along F 97 and they didnt do it so the DNR removed the signs themselves....it is
still perfectly legal to ride into lovells as state law says you can ride the unplowed portion of county
roads.......Lovells is a great place to ride to......Stop by and see Keith and Maggie at the Lovells
Restraunt and Motel...if you want to stay right in the heart of great sledding call them at 989 348 9589.
They have 6 motel units there and they are nice and clean and priced right....Tell Maggie I told you
to call....Thanks for checking in. Pete
-----------------------------------------------------------
Monday December 8, 2008 10:45 a.m.
Only about a half inch of new snow overnight. Sled traffic was really light
on sunday in frederic. I got an email from a guy this morning about the gaylord
trails and first I am going to paste a news story about the gaylord trails from
the paper from Nov 3 and then I will post the note he sent me under that.....

GAYLORD -- Grooming of Otsego County snowmobile trails will be taken over by the Michigan Dept.
of Natural Resources (DNR) this season.

Don Klingler, Fire and Recreation supervisor for the DNR's Gaylord Management Unit,
assured the Herald Times Thursday trails will still open to snowmobile traffic Dec. 1.

No section of trail will be closed and "users should see no difference in the condition
of the trails" compared to last year, said Klingler. He added the current bid out for
grooming covers 75 miles of the 101 miles originally covered by the trails council. The remaining
26 miles is expected to be picked up by other area trails councils or DNR units.

The Gaylord Area Snowmobile Trails Council had been, for the past four years, contracting local
excavation companies to maintain the trails and drive the groomers. The council paid contracted
workers with DNR grants. Klingler said the trails council did not submit a grant application this year.

According to Paul Beachnau, director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau and secretary
for the snowmobile council, the change came after the council requested reducing the number of miles
groomed by the Gaylord organization from 101 to 65 in order to reduce groomer maintenance cost, and
hand off the remaining miles to neighboring groomer groups. He said he was informed the DNR would be
resuming grooming responsibilities.

"Last year we spent over $31,000 in maintenance," Beachnau said of the one remaining groomer, a blue
2005 Shur-Trac, adding that expense was not covered by the DNR's grant but rather paid by community
donations, tourism bureau funds and other locally raised funds.

Beachnau also said selling the Shur-Trac and purchasing a new piece of equipment with a new maintenance
contract "would have greatly reduced costs."

Klingler said the Shur-Trac, originally purchased with 75 percent DNR funds and 25 percent trails council
funds, is now under full ownership of the DNR since the department reimbursed the council its share.
He indicated it would be put back into service this season.

The other groomer, a 2002 John Deere, was sold last year.

Jerry Ryckman, grooming coordinator for the past two years, said he will not take the position this year,
citing profit loss last year from paying his own company's money for grooming. He said the DNR has not
yet awarded a contract for grooming and is worried the project is behind schedule.

"They haven't even started signing and brushing the trail, and that takes two weeks," Ryckman said of the
duties also often handled by the same contractor awarded the grooming bid.

Klingler said grooming and brushing will be bid out separately this year, adding brushing and signing
of the trail was to begin Thursday by employees of J&N Construction, which was awarded the contract.

Klingler added one bid for grooming had been received, but the DNR decided to rebid "once word got around"
of the project.

"The bid we received wasn't a good representation of the bid pool," Klingler said. "From what we're hearing,
there's going to be some real good, competitive bids. Ultimately, we want snowmobilers to get the biggest
bang for their buck."

Bids are due Nov. 17.

Beachnau said he is confident the DNR will maintain the area's trails to the same level they've been in years past.

"We've been assured by the DNR the trails will be groomed, and they'll be able to maintain a really good
quality trail," Beachnau said. "Our prime concern is the trails are groomed because it's such a big part of
our marketing of this area."

"Our division knows how vital it is here," Klingler added. "One way or another the trails will be groomed."

-END OF THE NEWS STORY AND HERE IS THE NOTE I RECIEVED-

Last thursday was the first attempt on 7, 774, 4, 404 and whom ever is grooming got off trail with the
tractor and got it stuck while heading out to the 4/404 loop east of 27. Also on thursday the DNR asked
the Antrim club if they could do from the Blue Bear connector, through lakes of the north and all the way
to 27 and the Antrim Club did that section on Friday with 2 groomers. Mr. Klinger at the DNR is claiming
the trail will be groomed 6 days a week if you call the gaylord DNR office. However, it is not. May want
to post about the crossing the Rail Road tracks as well. Seems trail 7 along otsego lake will be an
enforcement zone, Fine for crossing is between $100 and $500. Area with the sting in effect:
North end, across the street is the Stampede Saloon and Bennetheum's.
Sount End between the House's and State Park. Best place to get on/off the lake:
On the south end is at the Marina.
On the north end have to use the public access points between the houses.
Thats it for today. Thanks for checking in. Pete
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Sunday December 7, 2008 9:45 a.m.
Nice and sunny with 10 degrees in frederic this morning along with about a new
3 inches overnight. Trail crossings up by the high school looked good as along
m 93 by hanson hills except the corner where the trail turns south that was
worn hard but no bid deal. Saw both Grayling Groomers going thru frederic last night
around 6......I have not seen a gaylord groomer here yet this season and dont know what
the deal is with them, if anybody knows the story on that please let me know. A good amount
of sleds around all day but the wind picked up heavy saturday afternoon which made it
cold and blustery with white out conditions, but this morning it was back to nice
and calm. Several people that have been new readers for this season stopped in to say hi and
a few old ones like Friend John from Brighton who finally came in and bought something.
Boy we sure havent needed the MO MO NAH CHEE CHEE NAH snow chant to much this year or maybe
its because everybody has been chanting all along......Thanks for checking in. Pete
--------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday Afternoon December 6, 2008
Here is a little video clip I took outside around 3.....

Saturday December 6, 2008 10:00 a.m.
Its off to a quiet start in frederic this morning, only a few sleds thru
so far, got here right at 9 and got things opened then thought I would
clean up a little with the plow out back,,,then I saw something that I
have never seen in frederic, I looked down the road from my back parking lot
and was surprised to see 15 turkeys playing in the road, I drove down there
just to make sure I wasnt seeing things.....I did the motel survey on the
way up here and counted 3 trailers at the days inn and 12 at the Ramada in
Grayling and then Fayes motel had a pile of them at their place a usual...
I see the picnic table yardstick is down to 16 and a half inches on it..
its supposed to stay cold all week, I need to get out and ride myself yet.
Being in here all the time sure cuts into the riding and has cut my
bowhunting season darn short too.....Thanks for checking in. Pete
-------------------------------------------------
Friday December 5, 2008 10:00 a.m.
Its a sunny chilly 10 degrees in frederic and we are a bit shy on the
1 to 2 feet of snow we are supposed to get by tonight. I would say since
that came out we have had about 3 or 4 inches although the stick on the
picnic table is still reading 17 inches. I think it just keeps setteling
on there. I know schools in gaylord and north of there were closed today
so I think they got a good pile of snow overnight. I have only seen a few
sleds here in town so far this morning but also saw trailers at a couple
of the motels this morning....Also as a reminder if you want to come north
and stay at a nice place we have our cottage next to our house at Lake Margrethe
that we rent out.....just click on the tab above here that says wayside inn
cottage and you can see pictures or call me at the shop to book yourself in. The
place is spotless clean and fully furnished, cable t.v. and a gas log fireplace
and is non smoking only.....Thanks for checking in. Pete
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday December 4, 2008 11:10 a.m
We only had a couple inches of new snow overnight. Things have been
quiet in frederic this morning and only a few sleds out and about.
I figure it should start kicking in for the weekend. I dont expect
a huge weekend because just like last year it seems like people are
to busy with christmas and other things to really get heavy into riding
till after christmas BUT there will be the diehard Sledheads ready
to be out there.....I guess I will tell you for sure after the weekend
and see......Still waiting for the 1 to 2 feet to hit us......Thanks
for checking in. Pete
-------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday night 7:45
I heard this on the radio earlier today and find it hard to believe
weather its true or not it sure sounded good, then just a bit ago
I got this off one of the weather sites,,,will it come true??

... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 4 am EST Friday...

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 4 am EST Friday.

Widespread snow will continue across northwest lower Michigan
through this evening... then transition to lake effect snow
showers within developing west to northwest winds overnight. Snow
showers will continue into Friday morning.

Total snowfall amounts from this morning through Friday morning
will range from one to two feet in some areas within the warning
area... primarily north of M-72.

A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather
conditions are expected. Significant amounts of snow will make
travel dangerous. If you must travel... use extreme caution.

Yes that said 1 to 2 feet......WOW I sure hope so. Thanks for checking in.
---
Wednesday December 3, 2008 7:11 a.m
Its about 32 out this morning here at home and I see we had just a
skiff of snow overnight, but rest assured we are expecting a pile more
by this weekend. I shoveled my roof off at home for the second time
in a week which I dont think I have ever had to do before, even the
Sledheads building has snow on the roof and that never happens either.
Usually the wind is blowing so good thru there that the snow does not
stay on the roof.......Sled traffic was once again surprising slow but
the few that did stop by reported great riding. One group rode in
from Mancelona and then I heard that a group of my friends from town
were out riding and that sure makes me with I had a chance to get out
there. I even had a call from Ohio Mike who really wants to come
north......Thanks for checking in. Pete
-------------------------------------------------------------
December 2, 2008 10:35 a.m.
Been outside plowing for quite a while and if you watching the camera
you saw that I was stuck too for a while, still have alot of snow
to move. Heard the trails to lovells was awsome yesterday but was
very surprised of the lack of sleds out there considering it was the
first day and we have great snow......no new snow overnight but sounds
like snow coming for the weekend. I need to give my favorite tv 7 &4
weatherman JC aka Joe Charlevoix a call and see what he thinks, but I
think its gonna be a good weekend coming up. Thanks for checking in. Pete
-------------------------------------------------------
December 1, 2008 12:30 p.m.
Here is a video of the grayling groomer when he stopped in a while
ago....

December 1, 2008 9:25 a.m.
I got into frederic about 8:30 and just finished plowing outside, I would
say overall between here and grayling we had 5 to 6 inches of new snow
overnight. Its very quiet here in town this morning and just to kick things
off I only saw 2 sleds on the way up here, they were along old 27 and the
arctic cat was sitting on the side of the road and there was a rev down in
the ditch in the trees......other than that no signs of any sleds. Both
Grayling Groomers are out on the trails by now so that is a good sign.
I also was told that the groomer that was along I 75 yesterday between
4 mile and the Ramada was the Roscommon groomer and also have heard that
the St. Helen groomer was out. On one of the views of the webcam I have the
camera aimed at the picnic table out by the fence, I put a orange yardstick
in there this morning and it reads 15 inches right now......Thanks for checking
in. Pete

-----------------------------------------------------
Monday November 10, 2008 10:00 a..m.
Its a nice white morning here in frederic with about 6 inches on the ground around
the building here. As I pulled into town I was wondering if I would see any sleds
today and sure enough there were 2 pulling into the gas station. Steve Swift and his
son Brent (maybe Brett) said they were here to cut wood but they had at least 10 inches
up in bradford lake hills and said they had to ride. Got a report from up by sherman road
of a foot and last night there were 4 counties with a snow warning. We were one of them
along with Otsego,Kalkaska and Antrim.......so a nice little bonus......To bad I am not
ready for this yet but it sure looks good.....posting a video of those guys I just took
as they left here a couple minutes ago.....Thanks for checking in. Pete

-------------------------------------------------------
Sunday night November 9, 2008 8:25 p.m.
Just got home a few hours ago from Wellston where I have been spending the past several
weekends, it sure is nice an peaceful down there except for last weekend when Cathy and
Haley went with me and Haley cried for 2 hours solid because she was afraid the bugs in
the cabin were going to get her.....(they were only flies).....when we left there I hit
the place with 3 bug bombs and got the shock of my life yesterday when I got there and it
looked like the floor was covered with dirt......needless to say I spent alot of time
sweeping and vacumming.......I guess they must of built up over the summer because
we had open eves........glad we are past that. I was just outside and the ground and cars
are covered with a skiff of snow.....I doubt if it will last but it looks nice. I did
see a truck and trailer full of trail markers and posts going thru the parking lot at
Dingmans tonight so that must mean the trails out that way were getting worked on......just
under 3 weeks till the trails open, I find that hard to believe as I am not ready for it yet
but would be happy to see it too.......Thanks for checking in. Pete
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Happy Halloween 6:40 a.m.
Looks like its going to be a nice day for the ghosts and goblins out there. I have to be
dowtown at 1 for the Halloween parade.....Melissa is past that stage but Haley is going
to be a punk rocker in the parade and a spider tonight......Not much else exciting in
frederic the past couple days, I did have a guy come in yesterday with a sled on a trailer
and at first I thought he was a little early in the season but he was looking to sell the
sled. Novi is off and running today and I had an email from Denny down in Indiana and he said
he and his crew from their club, I believe the Potawamini snowmobilers were going to Novi
by Limo, they have done it for quite a few years and make a big fun trip out of it. I have
been out bowhunting a few times this week and took a shot last night and got a pine tree.....
So thats about it for now. Below I am pasting a video I took last week of Ausable Valley
Snowmobile Associations very new and very cool John Deere groomer and drag. Thanks
for checking in. Pete

---------------------------------------------
Wednesday October 9, 2008 6:30 a.m.
FIRST SNOW!!! My van is covered with snow and the ground is white on and off in places. Its
pretty wet out there but its a great morning to be heading out to the woods for a little
bow hunting action (I hope).......so at least winter is thinking about it. Check out the web
cam this morning and see if its white in frederic too......Thanks for checking in. Pete
---------------------------------------------------

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