Michigan ATV and Snowmobile Trail Report

2011-02-26T12:07:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update just talked to some riders they said trails are very thin and getting dirty. Corners are icey the sides of the rodes getting to the trails is very poor. The lake on the other hand is in good shape alot of ice and still snow to ride. If your in the area stop in and check out our great deals on everything. Be safe out there Jon and Jeremy

2011-02-24T07:28:00.001-08:00

Hello riders!!!! Well I rode Monday we got about 5-6 inchs Sunday night and the base about 3 inchs. The main trails were little bumpy and icey in spots the corners be carful out there if your riding. The two tracks where desent but with that ice under it they where bumpy and after our group of 4 went through it was down to ice the snow we got was pretty fluffy. It is ridable they are calling for some more snow this weekend but not sure how much so keep your fingers crossed its not over yet. Had a couple guys on the lake this morning and they said it was smooth and nice to ride on. If your coming up this way stop in and check out great deals on boats,snowmobiles,atvs, we put boats on the showroom floor come check out some of the models. Discounted prices across the board on all snowmobile gear if you need that new gear now is the time. Helmets at prices that you cant pass up starting at 69.95. If you need a part check us out on line we have it get it shipped to your door. Ride within your limit hope to see you this weekend Jon and Jeremy.

2011-02-17T08:15:00.001-08:00

Hi Riders, Well I hate to post this but the trails are not ridable. Water slush and dirt from what I saw from my truck. They say that it is going to get cold next week so keep your fingers crossed. It is not over yet we will get more snow!! We have great deals on all snowmobile gear right now so if your looking for that new gear now is the time. Same with that new sled you have been putting off come in trade yours in and get a new one for the next snow fall this year. Does your sled need some repaires get it done now and have it ready for the next ride. Hope to have better news soon hang in there we will be riding soon. Jon and Jeremy

2011-02-08T11:09:00.001-08:00

Good day riders, Went out last night rode to trail 6 and the conditions are good it was a little rough in some corners so be careful coming into corners. Trail 655 was in really good shape it was a great night to ride snow was coming down picture perfect. I put a call into the groomers today waiting to here back to see what there plan is for the rest of the week. So come on up this weekend and ride while its here. Have great deals on new and used sleds buy today ride today. It was -4 this morning so if you need some warm gear come see us we have great deals on boots,gloves,helmets etc..... Hope to see you this weekend ride within your limits Jon and Jeremy.

2011-02-03T08:33:00.001-08:00

Good morning riders, We asked for it we got it must I say more come and ride its the best I have seen this year. Just talked to the groomers they are out there getting it nice and smooth. Im going out tonight to have some fun cant wait I was on the lake yestarday fishing and there is alot of snow out there with it drifting the way it is some spots it comes over the hood of the sled thats awsome. Need a new sled come in and buy today ride today we have great deals on all make and models. The wether is very cold if your looking for new gear we have it in stock to stay warm. We have parts in stock ready to ship to your door or if your passing through stop in a pick it up. Ride within your limits and have some fun Jon and Jeremy.

2011-01-29T12:53:00.001-08:00

Hi Riders! Well woke up to 4-5 inchs of fresh snow groomers out today they are looking good. Tip Up Town in full effect so the trails are getting some traffic so the groomers are going to be out there tonight to touch them up from the traffic. Ride while it is here need a sled come in and see us we will fix you up TODAY. Need to stay warm come see us for your new gear. Ride safe out there Jon and Jeremy.

2011-01-27T14:02:00.001-08:00

Hi Riders, Just got off the phone with the groomers. They groomed yesterday. He said they pulled snow in from the sides and they are in good shape. We did not get any accumulation since last weekend so let's hope we get some in the next few days. He said they will be grooming through the whole weekend to make them the best they can with the traffic we will see this weekend. If you're coming up for Tip Up Town this weekend there is a poker run! Sign up is at noon at the TUT site. You do not have to ride a snowmobile they said four wheeler, car, or truck will do. Just sign up at TUT. If you need a new sled but are not looking for new, we have some great deals on our used sleds. Check them out! Buy today, ride today! We still have some great deals on new sleds too! Call us, let's make a deal! Want to trade in your sled and get into another one? We can make that happen too. We have a full line of parts and accesories and can ship them anywhere you need them, just make that call. Be safe if your riding this weekend. There is going to be alot of sleds out there. Ride within your limits expect the unexpected-- Jon and Jeremy.

2011-01-20T11:09:00.001-08:00

Hi Riders! Get up here and ride and have some fun at Tip Up Town! A group of us went for a ride yesterday and the trails were great. Rode to Meredith and Elbow lake and there is alot of snow and they have been grooming everyday to make them better and better. Some of the corners are a little icy but not too bad. They are calling for more snow all weekend but not telling us how much. So do the snow dance. It will only help our trail conditions. We are planning on having a big weekend for riding. I will get with trail groomers to see what their schedule is for grooming this weekend. We have great deals across the board on all new and used sleds so if you're in the market--buy today, ride today. We have a full line of parts online and can ship to your door step. Our service department is open all weekend for your needs. I will report Friday to give an update on trail conditions after tonight. Hoping to get some of that fresh snow they are talking about. Also heard they are doing radar runs at Tip Up Town 1\8 mile. Hoping to have more info on time and place for you. If you want to see what that sled you're running is all about! Speaking of grooming, just got my call back from the groomers. They are going to be grooming every night through the weekend to keep them in the best shape they can from all the traffic throughout the day. Just got some word also on the poker run for Tip Up Town. They did not tell us where they are going. You will find out after you sign up. You can register at Tip Up Town site. Remember to ride within your limits and expect the unexpected-- Jon and Jeremy

1-18-2011

2011-01-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

The snow has come! We just received 6-8+ inches. The groomers are out and they are telling us that the trails are in good shape. A group of us are going for a ride tonight, and we plan on riding on Wednesday. The forecast has more snow coming each day for the next several days. Tip-up-Town starts this weekend. We have great deals on brand new 2010 Polaris Rush for only 7488 +frt/prep and tax Saving you $2800. Brand new 2010 Arctic Cat F6 $8499 + frt/prp and tax Saving you over $1400. Also check out the Ski-Doo Modular 2 Helmet for only $199 Saving you over $150. Let the festivities BEGIN!! Ride within you limits Jon & Jeremy

2011-01-15T07:54:00.001-08:00

Well this is the time we all have been waiting for!! We got snow last night we got a solid 4-6 inchs. People are riding as we speak so get up here and ride. I have not heard from the trail groomers yet to see when they are going out. I will let you know when I here from them. We are going out tonight hit Elbow lake and Meredith so I will let you know how it was. Remeber we offer sameday service just make the call we will get you fixed up. We have some great deals on non-current Arctic Cats buy today ride today. We have full line of parts look the part up on our web-site call and get it shipped to your door. Remeber ride with in your limits suspect the unsuspected Jon and Jeremy.

2011-01-13T09:47:00.001-08:00

Good day riders!! Well its snowing as we speak just big fluffy flakes not really amounting to much as of yet but snow coming for this weekend. They are saying 4-6 inchs but I have heard a few diffrent reports so lets hope for the best. There are people riding they said it is thin but ridable?? I drove past the trail head yestarday and it was a little snirty looking but there was tracks on them. The lake is good riding people are all over it I have seen trucks and cars out there but please be very very careful if your planning on using the lakes. Remeber to make your sameday service if your heading this way and need some service work performed from our factory trained techs. We still have some great deals on all new product what ever your taste is call or stop in today. Parts we have them and ship to you your door step veiw our parts diagrams on line to make sure you get what you need. I will report ASAP when we get that big snow this weekend suspect the unsuspected ride within your limits Jon and Jeremy.

2011-01-07T08:07:00.001-08:00

Good morning riders! It looks white out there and more in the forcast for tonight. They are saying 2-4 more inchs. I heard a couple sleds out last night but the snow is really light and it digs right down to the dirt. Lets hope that we get that 2-4 tonight and it is a little heavier. I heard Mancelona and Kalkaska got hit 12-14 inchs so if your looking for somewhere to go thats the best report that I got around the area. On your way through stop and look at the one only 2011 Ski Doo Renegade 800 X one only. Also 2010 Ski Doo Renegade 550 fan 5,688.00 plus freight prep and tax. Helemets as low 69.95 along with full apparel of your choice. Full line of OEM parts biggest in the state have it shipped to your house today. I will update you ASAP when I see some change remeber suspect the unsuspected ride within your limits Jon and Jeremy. P.S Be save on all lakes!!!

2011-01-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

Good day riders, Well its snowing as we speak the trails are ice I looked at the forcast and they are saying snow through the weekend. Not telling us how much but lets keep our fingers crossed. My thumb is itching bad im ready to ride and im sure you are to. People are fishing on Houghton Lake like crazey out there reports of 6-8 inchs of ice, please be careful if your going out on the lakes the conditions very. If your still in the market for a new sled remeber we take trades and purchase out right also. We have a great deals on Arctic Cat 2010 Crossfire 600 was 9,199.00 now only 8,488.00 plus freight prep and tax. Looking for a big block of a sled we have the 2010 Crossfire 800 was 10,488.00 now only 8,488.00 plus freight prep and tax. Sameday Finace sameday delivery get them while we have them. Our accesories dept has some great deals on all clothing and gear. Parts has what you need to make that sled stand out from the rest look on our website for your application, parts catalogs on the site also we can ship it to your door. If you have any service that needs to be done call us today for that sameday appointment. Will update ASAP remeber ride within your limits Jon and Jeremy.

2011-01-02T08:49:00.001-08:00

Good morning riders!! Well they are calling for snow all week they are not telling us how much so keep your fingers crossed. We lost our snow in the last few days with the warm temps. Hope everyone had a safe new years, I will keep you updated all this week on what we get for snow. Stop in and see us if your in the area have great deals on your new sled and accesories. The 2010 Polaris Rush 600 are 7,488.00 plus freight prep and tax what a great deal. Helemts starting at 79.95 full line of apparel. Now is the time to get that sled studded call and set your appointment up today. Rember suspect the unsuspected ride within your limits Jon and Jeremy.

12-23-2010

2010-12-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

Great riding on the trails right now! We put in over 60 miles, stopping at Leota, with sunshine and smooth, flat conditions. Thanks, as always, to our Houghton Lake groomers! We saw miles and miles of clear trail conditions. If you do decide to stray from the trail to a forest road you will find lots of fresh snow. Be on the lookout, however, for low-hanging limbs still weighted down with snow. I've been very impressed with the Ski Doo 800 Etec I'm riding. After sixty miles I still had well over 1/2 a tank of fuel left! This sled uses very little oil and you don't smell like exhaust at the end of the day. There's great riding out there!***Spicer's has great holiday deals on the hottest sleds! Come in and pick up a 2010 Polaris Rush 600, only $7488! That's a savings of $2800! Get a great deal on the Arctic Cat F6 Sno Pro, priced at only $8588, saving you over $1311! Help your community this winter season. Receive 10% off an item of clothing by donating 5 cans of food to Project Hope. Need a last-minute gift idea for the kids? Pick up the Ski Doo radio control sled, regularly priced at $109.95, now only $69! Be safe trail riders and expect the unexpected.--Jon and Jeremy

12-20-2010

2010-12-20T09:37:00.000-08:00

Hello trail riders! Well, conditions are holding at fair right now. Our previous accumulation is packed down and we’re eager to get more snow. The trails are currently being groomed 24 hours a day. The groomers appreciate your patience, as one of their tractors is currently out of commission. You will find, however, that all downed limbs and trees have been cleaned up. The forecast is calling for snow beginning tonight, with a total accumulation on Tuesday of about 2 inches. Groomers are looking for volunteers. If you’re interested, please contact Mike Jacobs @ 989-329-2242.***Spicer’s wants your trade-in! Upgrade to a new Ski Doo 800 Etec or 600 ACE four stroke. Remember, Spicer’s Boat City is your one-stop shopping destination for snowmobiles, parts, and accessories. Stop in and see our huge selection of Polaris snowmobiles, including the Shift, IQ LXT, Switchback, Assault, Rush, and Rush Pro R. We’re just off the highway, between US127 and I-75. Be safe out there riders. Expect the unexpected.—Jon and Jeremy

12-18-2010

2010-12-18T10:23:00.000-08:00

Hello riders! Well, we're continuing to see snow flurries on and off today, setting us up for nice trail conditions. This should continue for the next couple of days. There has been lots of activity on the trails, creating a bit of snirt in some areas such as the Meredith trailhead and trail 655 south of Waco. Overall, conditions are good. Be cautious, be safe, and expect the unexpected.***Take a break from the trails. Come in to Spicer's for some great deals. Pick up a Raider full-face helmet for only $79. Ask about our great selection of pre-owned Arctic Cat sleds. Remember, Spicer's is your one-stop shopping destination and Northern Michigan's largest selection of snowmobiles, clothing, parts, and accessories. Located just off the highway, between US127 and I-75. See you on the trails!--Jon and Jeremy

Trails are fair

2010-02-25T06:18:00.000-08:00

This is kind of a tricky report. We did groom last night, some of the trails were in good condition and some of the trails were spotty. We had very cold temps the last couple of nights so that good news. We received about 2 inches of snow since Sunday. We are supposed to get a couple of more inches by tomorrow from a snow storm off the east coast, the lake effect areas have been getting some pretty good snows since yesterday and should continue through the weekend. This storm coming from the east could bring a lot of snow north and east of I-75 they are talking in access of 6 inches possible. like always, we will wait and see. I think this weekend will be decent riding everywhere. The snow belt areas will be the best. I will update tomorrow, if we get a couple of inches we will groom tomorrow. Stay tuned as I will update first thing in the morning. Please ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE...... Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Back on Track

2010-02-13T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hello to all, just got back from the U.P the trails were spotty at best. I should have stayed here and saved my money. I have not had a chance to ride our trails YET! however, I am getting a lot of reports from some of the riders out today. They are saying that the trails are in decent shape but, BE CAREFUL in the corners, a lot of icy turns. We may get an inch or two of Snow by Sunday night which would continue to help our trail system. Next week looks like a possible couple of inches by the weekend. The groomers are on full alert, they have permission to groom all weekend. I was able to ride the Polaris Rush in the U.P and I must admit that it was definitely a Rush to ride. WOW! I fell in love with that sled. It handles like no other and had a ton of power. I will write about it in our next e-news letter. I also have some cool footage of that sled as well, I hope to have it on You Tube within a couple of days. Make sure you sign up for our E-news letter, its a monthly email that has some pretty cool stuff on it. Please be careful and remember to ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE...... Bob, Jon and Jeremy

We are under a winter advisory

2010-02-09T06:18:00.001-08:00

Greetings my fellow snow warriors. We are currently under a winter weather advisory, 3-5 inches is expected. This is out of Gaylord, so the farther south you go the more snow you will get. I live in Clair County on the border of Gladwin County so they are calling for more snow in that area. If we get 3 inches or better we will be grooming and our trails will go from poor to good just that quick. We have a great base right now. This would be perfect for the weekend! I am leaving for the U.P in the morning and will not be back until late Friday. I will be counting on you especially the Lake James Gang who can e-mail me a snow and trail report for our area. I will post it from the U.P on Thursday or early Friday. I appreciate you guys and gals who can pick up the slack for a couple of days. If we get the snow they are calling for, most of the southern trail systems should be in good shape by the weekend. (Stay Tuned)I will be taking my helmet cam and shooting some video of the new Rush while riding on the trail, this will give you some perspective of how this machine handles and looks on the trail.If you are riding please remember to ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE....... Bob, Jon and Jeremy.

Starting to look a little better

2010-01-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hello my fellow snow warriors, as you may already know Tip-Up-Town is going on this weekend, we have received maybe a couple of inches of snow since Sunday, its been blowing so its hard to tell exactly how much. I was told by a source this morning that Higgins Lake area may have gotton 3-4 inches. I drove by trail 6 this morning at Old 27 and the trail was covered in white, however, the snow we did get was thin and it has been cold so it will probably blow away after a few sleds. The ground is frozen so we now have a base again. I think we should have good ridable snow by next weekend. If you want good snow you may have to trailer up towards Grayling or a little further north. They have been getting snow from lake enhancement all week. I have heard that the groomers have been out up that way. If you need any supplies, parts and service please stop by and see us. Please also note that if you plan on riding on the lake you will need a trail permit. We thank you in advance for visiting all of our local establishments and spending your hard earned money. Have a great weekend and please remember to ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE....... Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Winter is on its way

2010-01-25T06:40:00.000-08:00

Greetings my fellow snow warriors, man-o-man we took a hit yesterday. The weather was a little balmy and it rained on and off most of the day. Surprisingly! we still have snow and it was snowing this morning. (Only flurries) its amazing that we still have the snow we have considering the lack of it and the warm weather. We are probably in better shape than you may think. Usually when the January thaw hits we lose everything but not this year and the temps are dropping. Snow is forecasted almost everyday, this should help the second and last weekend of Tip-Up-Town. It looks like we may end up with a couple of inches by midweek. The lake effect areas should get some good snow, so it looks like we may be back in bussiness for lower Michigan. Speaking of Tip-Up-Town, we had a good turn out and I expect an even better one this weekend. Thanks to all of you who visited our area. We still have a lot of winter left! Keep doing the snow dance! Please remember to ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE...... Bob, Jon and Jeremy.

Changes are coming

2010-01-22T07:10:00.000-08:00

Good morning my fellow sled warriors, changes are coming. We are supposed to get some precip by late Saturday into Sunday at this point it appears to be freezing Drizzle. We may receive some rain Sunday during the day and then later turn to snow. Snow is predicted almost everyday next week. Cold weather looks to return and maybe winter will decide to come back for another visit. All is not lost, I have heard crazy rumors that Tip-Up-Town was cancelled, please note that this is a false rumor. I saw a Truck pulling a covered trailer out on the ice this morning. If you come to town please pick up a local newspaper (Houghton Lake Resorter) it has an itinerary for Tip-Up-Town festivities. Please note that a very large pressure crack goes from North Point accross to the west Shore. SO PLEASE USE CAUTION. I do expect a good turn out this weekend, the woods still have a lot of snow. The trail base is still hoding on. Please dont let the lack of snow spoil your fun this weekend. Be careful this weekend and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE....... Bob, Jon and Jeremy

A glimmer of Hope

2010-01-17T08:07:00.001-08:00

I have a glimmer of hope after watching the weather last night and reading some of the extended forecasts on the internet. Next Thursday was predicted to be in the low 40's, that has been revised to lower 30's. The weekend looks to cool down a bit as well. Some indications are showing a little precip in the air to arrive Thursday. So far with the warm up we have had little snow loss. The trails are holding up the base very well under the circumstances. We can thank our groomers for staying ahead of the game and having the foresight to groom in the early part of December after the first snow. If they would have waited for more snow we probably would not have the base we have. So a BIG THANK YOU GUYS! I will post everyday this week as to conditions, as most of you probably know this weekend is the start of TIP-UP-TOWN. If you own a snowmoibile you probably should own an ATV as a back up. This way you will not miss out on anything. Keep doing the snow dance it might just work.

Conditions are declining

2010-01-15T07:03:00.001-08:00

Well it looks like the proverbial January thaw is upon us. This weekend is going to be a little mild, mid 30s which is not too bad. The good new is that we have no rain forecasted and a shot of cold air is due back Late Sunday into Monday. The temps are getting below freezing at night so that helps to keep what we have. I did not go on the Starvation Lake trip Wednesday like I had planned. I was told that the trails were not that great. Hy-fax and Wear bars are not exactly cheap if you no what I mean. Some changes may be coming by Tip-Up-Town weekend, lets hope its cold air and snow. From what I am reading we are walking a fine line of mild temps with a chance of rain, we are talking about a 2-4 degree difference and we could get significant snow. I will be watching this very closely. All Grooming has halted in our area. I wish I had better news, but this is only a minor set back. Stay positive we still have a lot of winter left.

Still hanging in their!!!!!!!!!

2010-01-11T06:46:00.001-08:00

Houghton Lake is still hanging in their. It is snowing right now and we should get about an inch or so. Every little bit helps. We have a warm up coming this week, very little snow loss is predicted. No significant snow is predicted either. At this point it is a waiting game. I have Wednesday and Thursday off, I am planning a trip from Houghton Lake to Starvation Lake Thursday so I will report conditions when I return. For the lack of snow this year our trails have been better than expected, the groomers have been working hard to maintain what we have. Remember Tip up town is the last two weekends this January 23-24 and January 30-31. Artic Cat will be giving demo rides the first weekend only. Make sure your sleds are ready! Please dont be that guy and you know what I mean, he does not start his machine until the day he gets here and it wont start. So now you have to wait to get the sled fixed BLAH BLAH BLAH. So stop by our shop and let us perform a maintenance on your sled for $89.95 (Call for details) 989-366-8384. Watch for my report coming soon about the Poaris Rush, I am waiting for the right conditions before I take this machine out and see what it can do.

Just when you think things are getting bad

2010-01-09T07:46:00.000-08:00

Just when I think things are starting to turn for the worst, our groomers pull a David Copperfield on me and the trails are magically back to good condition. The wife and I rode last night with another couple and to my amazement the trails were very good. Flat as a pancake with a few thin spots. I am sure today the corners will be icy after a few sleds have been through. The base is very hard and is in great condition, however we could use more snow. The groomers have been pulling snow to make up the difference. If you did not come up this weekend you may have missed out on some great riding, we only passed 3 sleds last night. (No one was out) We are supposed to get a little warm up next week, it should have little effect on our trails. No major snow is predicted. Hopefully its gearing up for a major storm on Tip-UP-Town weekend.

Not bad around here

2010-01-07T08:06:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay in reporting, I had a couple of days off and took full advantage of it. The wife and I rode over 100 miles yesterday with one of the groomers and his wife. I rode from my house which is near Old 27 and Long Lake area to Houghton lake, trail 654 was very nice with a few icy corners. The Groomers did a great job considering the lack of snow we have had. On the way back we hit trail 6 going towards Leota, from their we got on trail 6/7 up the west trail to meads landing. Those trails were in good shape with icy corners. (USE CAUTION IN THE CORNERS) Mr and Mrs Spicer rode to Meredith and they said that trail 655 was very good. If we could get a couple more inches of snow our trails would go from fair to very good. We are supposed to get a little today but most of the heavy stuff will stay south. Its kind of funny riding with a groomer, we stopped more frequently while he critiqued his work from the previous groom. Well its almost Tip-up-town time and Arctic Cat will be here the first weekend of January 22nd thru January 24th, they will be offering demo rides so mark this on your calendar.

WOW!!! what a great Holiday Week

2010-01-03T07:18:00.000-08:00

Well Houghton Lake brought in the New Year with a bang. Our trail system was in good shape considering all the traffic. "Watch for Icy corners" Our Groomers did a fantastic job keeping up with all the traffic. I rode with a few customers which now have become friends Friday Night. I took them on an off trail ride which we had a blast. I did not tell them that I got turned around and we went in a circle a couple of times, you have to love night riding. So if you guys are reading this we really did not go that far. Grooming will continue as needed. We could use a little more snow. We have a chance for snow every day this coming week. 30 minutes west of us is getting hammered with Lake Effect. The wife and I are planning on going out today so I will let you know tomorrow how the conditions are. It has been extrememly cold the last two days. We would like thank all of you who visited Houghton Lake during this Holiday season and look forward to you returning for Tip-Up-Town, remember its the last two weekends in January. Our Chamber of commerce does a great job ensuring that this tradition continues year after year. You can stop by the Chamber or most merchants in Houghton Lake to purchase your Tip-Up-Town badge. Bob

Trails are Very good right now!

2009-12-30T06:03:00.001-08:00

I love it when the trails have snow and the groomers are out. I rode Trail 6, 655 and A little bit of 654. Trail 654 was a little thin but flat, no bumps. I saw a lot of sleds out last night. I rode by Elbow Lake bar and Meredith Inn. Both had plenty of sleds out front. I came up to Houghton lake and saw a lot of sleds out on the lake. If you are not up here already I suggest loading up the family and get up here while the riding is good. I spoke to the trail groomer coordinator and he said that they will be grooming everyday. Snow is predicted all weekend with a couple of inches here and there. I have to share this story with you because it could happen to anyone of us. We had a customer tow his wifes sled from St. Helen because it stalled while riding, he said he towed it about 40 miles, As I wrote him up I went out to inspect the sled, guess what happened, he had the kill switch turned off. I cannot repeat his words but we both laughed it off. So if you break down on the trail, check your kill button first. I dont want to come off as a salesman but I do want to tell you this. If you are thinking of a new sled, this is the year to buy. Most manufacturers have wised up and they are not manufacturing as many sleds. What this means is that the demand will increase and the prices will reflect on the demand. We Still have a very limited supply of New 2008 and 2009 models left and we have them priced to move.

Still Improving

2009-12-28T06:25:00.000-08:00

As I write this report I am gazing out of my office window watching it snow, and it is coming down at a nice pace. We are currently under a winter advisory, how much snow? we will have to wait and see. They are calling for 1-3 today and 2-4 tonight. I will let you know tomorrow as to how much we ended up with. It is suppose to snow all week. I think this may be a good weekend to come up and ride. Worst case scenerio, you may have to trailer a half north. I am seeing sleds out on the lake along with ice shanty's. If we get the snow they are calling for we will be able to groom. We have a lot of snow in the woods and two tracks. My son and I rode a little last night, some of the trails were snow covered and some were snirty. I still rate them Poor but improving. I only rode a short distance. I went back to that place I wrote about last week where I got lost, well after riding in circles and almost hitting 4 deer I figured it out. Its a cool off trail ride. I have now listed this as one of my favorites. Do not forget TIP-UP-Town is coming. last two weekends in January. Stop in and pick up a badge. This coming Thursday will be the last day for our Outlet Mall, so if you need something and cannot make it to Houghton Lake please stop by our Great Lakes Mall location.

Getting a little better

2009-12-27T07:34:00.000-08:00

The wife and I drove(The truck)to Meredith last night for a pizza and we saw sleds coming off trail 655. I spoke to a couple of riders and they said that the trails were thin and icy but the two tracks were great. We did get some snow last night which was a great site. We got about 2 inches at best. (Every little bit helps)Snow is predicted everyday. If we could get an inch or two every day we will be back in business. I plan on riding later today so I should have a better idea of what is going on. Jon was up town last night and saw sleds out on Houghton Lake and riding down the side of M-55 getting fuel. A storm is starting to develop out in the Pacific and will track accross the country this week. Hopefully it targets the midwest (Like Houghton Lake) We will have to wait and see. We would like to thank all of you who support our businesses and the Houghton Lake area. We will be open this coming Wednesday and New Years. Stop by and check us out. If you break down please call and we will get you in right away. Tell my staff that you are a sled the web reader. Please remember to ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE....... Bob. Jon and Jeremy

We need Snow bad

2009-12-26T06:36:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, I had to travel down state in that mess. We had a potpourri of weather over the last couple of days. The bads news is that we did not get any snow, the good news is that we did not lose any significant snow and we have cold air that should stick around for a while. The weather man is calling for snow every day, maybe an inch here and there. The lake effect areas should get significant snow fall starting Sunday and going all week. The rain and cold temps actually helped because it will make our base stronger.(All we need now is more snow) Jeremy rode to Grayling Wednesday from Houghton Lake, the trails were snirty and thin as well. They rode back roads home and he said that they were great. I will be watching the weather like a hawk and let you know the minute it changes. Please use this down time to make sure your sled is ready

Please read below

2009-12-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

Alright here we go. I rode a little last night just to check a few things out and I also received an email from one of my trusty fellow sledders. Trail 6 was spotty at best and the further west you rode the worse it seemed to get. The trail to Meredith was bumpy and trail 654 was snirty in the corners. The groomers were supposed to go out late last night to smooth things out. I cannot honestly say how good they are, however, If you are into Boone Docken and off trail riding we have great conditions for that. Depending on your riding standards, if you want excellent conditions you may need to head further north. We have a clipper system rolling through late Sunday into Monday that is supposed to bring some accumulation. We are watching a big storm that could hit us Christmas Eve and Christmas day. (That would be a great X-mas Present)I will be watching and reporting as it approaches

Trails took a beating this weekend

2009-12-14T10:20:00.000-08:00

I have good news and bad news - lets start with the good news. Houghton Lake had a lot of snowmobilers up this weekend, bad news is that the trails took a beating. My wife and I rode with three other couples Saturday night and found some really thin areas. All the off trails have plenty of snow. All we really need is about 4 inches of snow to freshen things up a little. The weatherman is calling for pockets of snow all week with minimal accumulation, however, just a little north of us could see significant Lake effect especially by the end of the week. We are going to try and groom a little this week as long as things stabilize. Saturday night I was leading our group and decided to show off a little by clinbing what I thought was a small hill, I did not realize it was a brick wall until I started flying through the air. The wall was covered with drifting snow so it appeared to be on a slant. Fortunatey I was not hurt nor the sled, only my ego. Our group thought is was pretty funny. Let this be a leason, do not clinb any brick walls (LOL) I will post again on Thursday

Now thats what I am talking about!!

2009-12-10T07:47:00.001-08:00

WOW!!! I dont know where to start. Mr Spicer, Jeremy and myself set out yesterday morning for an all day ride. Snow was piled everwhere, it was that heavy wet, packing snow-man bulding kind of snow. It was very hard to steer because of the heavy wet snow. We attempted to go to St. Helen but after about 10 miles we decided to turn around and come back. We were the first ones on that trail and it was a work out trying to steer. After all that hard work we rode to Meredith and had a pizza. During this whole time it was snowing. After Meredith we all rode home and was going to wait for the groomers to start packing it down. After the temperatures started to cool down, my wife and I went out along with another couple. The snow was starting to harden which made the ride awesome. We ran in to a couple of good Ol' boys Dan and Brian from Lake James they rode to Leotta and Temple. They said it was deep snow and conditions got better as the day progressed. The trails did have a lot of branches and debris which made it interesting to navigate. The groomers are going out today and should have the trails in good shape for the this weeked. Mother Nature has blessed us indeed. I am on my way out the door right now to go riding I will update it in the early A.M Friday. (FYI - I rode over 125 miles yesterday)

Gear up for the coming weekend

2009-12-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

Hello from all of us at Spicers Boat City, I hope you have the sleds loaded and ready to roll. We are supposed to get a snow storm by Tuesday night and Wednesday. I suspect we will be riding this weekend. It has been snowing most of the day and we have about 3-4 inches on the ground. The cold temps are helping to keep the snow on the ground. I anticipate that if we get as much snow as predicted, the groomers will start working their magic by Thursday Night and early Friday. Get the family packed and head up this weekend. I will post midweek just in case!! See ya soon. Bob

Days until Sled Season!

2009-09-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

Countdown To Sled Season

Cant Wait !!

2009-06-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

Riding in Roscommon County who would have thought that 2 years ago? Now as I drive home down Reserve road its not uncommon to pass an ATV. The Trails have been great so far, we do have some logging activity going on from Prudenville to St. Helen so watch for debris in the trails. Jon and Mark saw a pretty good sized black bear yesterday evening riding towards Meredith. My wife and I rode the other evening towards Leotta and found a couple of spots that are a little compromising. East of US 27 we have a floating bridge that is really cool to cross, however, at the end of the bridge it drops off and you feel like it will swallow you up. Make sure the unit is in 4 wheel drive mode or someone will be pulling you out. We watched this poor guy come through riding a Racing sport type quad and BAM their he went. I had to winch him out and he was soaked from head to toe. Of course I did not have my camera with me. My wife tried to stop him but it was too late. As most of you know the trails get a little narrow so please use caution. We caught up with my neighbor and he followed us back, I know this area where the road actually crosses a river, it is kind of shallow so when you cross it you need to go slow and pick your spot. I conveyed this information to him and he did not listen, he hit the river at full throttle, the next thing I saw after the huge water Spray was him swimming to his machine. So let that be a lesson, if someone is giving you good advice please listen. Until next time please ride safe and be courtesous to your fellow ATV'r. ITS TIME TO GET DIRTY!!!!!!!!!! Bob, Jon and Jeremy

LETS RIDE!!!!!!

2009-05-28T06:07:00.000-07:00

Roscommon countyIS OPEN to ATVs. All county roads are open, however, please read up on the restricted areas before heading out. Spicers Boat City has the list of restrictions, I will be more than happy to email you that list if you wish. For all of you who choose to come ride here please be courteous and respectful of private property and law enforcement. Speed limit on county roads are 25mph unless posted otherwise and you must be in single file on the right shoulder of the road. DO NOT FORGET YOUR ORV STICKER. Some of us who work here have been riding our ATVs to work. (It is pretty cool I must admit). Last week myself and another employee rode the trails home and ran across a couple of guys who somehow became submerged in the muck. They reluctantly gave me their name and where they are from. One of the gentlemans name was Tom and they were from the Lansing area. I have attached some photos of this event. Sorry Tom its my duty as a fellow ATVr to post these pictures. I hope you enjoy. Please ride safe and be courteous to your fellow ATV'r. ITS TIME TO GET DIRTY!!!!!!!!!! Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Thank you for a great year

2009-04-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

From all of us at Spicers Boat City we want to thank you for a great year. We want to wish you a great summer and we look forward to doing this again next year.

Spicers Boat City Staff

Still no riding in Houghton Lake

2009-03-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Once again I hate when I cant write something positive but I am committed to keeping you in the loop. The weather is supposed to get kind of crazy this week, Snow/rain and freezing rain. We are currently under a winter advisory, I will not even speculate as to what I think. I would love to ride at least one more time. I do know that north of us has snow and people are riding. I do not know the specifics. If anyone was riding shoot me an email and let me know the conditions. I am starting to gear up for ATV season. Dont forget We will be at the Mt Brighton Hill Climb the weekend of March 20, 2009. Bring the family it is a real blast I promise you. My son and I will be competing for king of the Hill. Come out and cheer us on. I hope you get one more ride in, until next time. Bob. Jon and Jeremy

Not So Good!!!

2009-03-01T09:59:00.000-08:00

Hello folks, I wish I had better news but I dont. The trails are extremely thin and icy. I tried to ride a little yesterday and had to turn around. My sled started overheating because of the lack of snow. This month will be hit or miss so you need to stay on stand by and be ready. I suspect we will have at least another weekend to ride if not two before it all ends. I like riding in March, its almost like riding out west but without the mountains. It is very cold out right now (10) We do have plenty of sunshine! The long range forcast is calling for precipitation later in the week. I am trying to stay optomistic. We are hearing reports that snow conditions are very favorable north of us. Lucky for us we are conveiently located just off I-75 and US 27. We are open weekends. We are moving our boats in and the sleds have to go. Now is the best time to purchase, too many deals to list. Go online at www.spicersboatcity.com. FYI, Spicers Boat City will be at the MT Brighton Hill Climb the weekend of March 21, 2009. Yours truely will be running two sleds in the competition so stop by our booth and check us out. We will be selling some closeout items at low low Prices. I hope to see you there. Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Good riding in Houghton Lake

2009-02-25T05:41:00.000-08:00

Hello folks, I got a chance to ride with some good Ol boys from the Thumb area I.E Port Huron etc.. (Todd, Jason, Todd and Kirk) we rode all three trails last night from Houghton Lake and they were very good. If your wives are reading this report, they were good boys at least last night (LOL) Dont worry I have them under my wing. I would rate the trails a 7-8 on and scale from 1-10. a few corners were a little thin and icy but the rest of the trail was like riding on rails. The groomers hit all three so they should be in good shape this weekend. The forecast looks touch and go, We could get some rain, freezing drizzle and then some accumulating snow. We are currently under a winter weather advisory. This weekend should be a good one especially if we get another 3-4 inches of snow. The extended outlook for next week looks like we could get some significant moisture possibilites, as always I will keep you posted.

Much improved - ITS TIME TO RIDE

2009-02-19T06:27:00.000-08:00

Well Houghton Lake did not get blasted like we had hoped but we did get some snow. Snow is forecasted everyday and a clipper system is forecasted to roll through on Saturday. Jeremy, myself and some of our buddies rode about 160 miles yesterday. We went from Meredith to Grayling, Moorestown and onto Lake City. The trails were actually great and we had a blast. We saw 12 sleds all day. We did run into a group of guys from Ohio. Most of the trails had no tracks on them so you can imagine how cool it was. As of Yesterday no trails were groomed but they were all flat. I spoke to groomer Steve this morning and they are firing up the tractors. They hope to have trail 6 double groomed by tonight. They will work on trail 654 and 655 tomorrow. Both of those trails I rode yesterday really did not need it. This should be a good weekend to ride, I will go out again tonight and let you know first thing tomorrow. Half hour north and west got hammered. If you make the trek up here this weekend you will defineately ride.

Big Changes are heading this way

2009-02-17T05:43:00.001-08:00

Ok folks, get the kids and wife ready we may be riding within 48 hours!! If all goes as planned we will be riding snow packed and groomed trails this weekend. The local weather this morning was calling for 5-10 inches and maybe more in isolated areas from tonight thru Thursday. The groomers are ready and cant wait to get our wonderful trail system back up to 100%. I want to see everyone this weekend, we dont have many more weeks left. I am planning a ride with Jeremy and couple of buddies tomorrow so I will not be updating this site until Thursday Morning. Hopefully I will have a great report! Personally if I were most of you out there I would call in sick and leave Thursday (LOL)

Northern Michigan Still Rides!

2009-02-16T15:05:00.000-08:00

Went out last night near Lake Ann. Bombing through the woods on plenty of snow. The snow was stiff, but very rideable. No Snirt. Saw a herd of deer, and followed them for about 5 minutes until they darted off the trail. They can run about 30 mph through the snow! Not that we were chasing them....they were just going the same way!

Get ready its coming !!!!!!

2009-02-16T05:30:00.001-08:00

Ok Folks here is the skinny, I have been monitoring the weather station and local weather steadily over the last 24 hours. We are supposed to get snow Tuesday night into Wednesday night. One local station last night said it could be a substantial amount (8-12) I am definetaley not going to put a lot of faith into these guys but I do think we will have a snow event. All we really need is about 3-5 inches of snow and we are back in business. People have been riding from Houghton Lake to Meredith, the trails are thin and Icy. The groomers are not running until we get at least 3 inches of snow. I suspect this weekend will be a good one. As always stay tuned and I will update you as information comes in. If the system stays on track the heaviest snow will be South of M-72 and north of M-10. (This will make Houghton Lake area a bullseye

Signs of improvement

2009-02-14T06:01:00.000-08:00

Its starting to look like winter again, I woke up this morning to about an inch of snow and it is still snowing, we may get a total of about 2 inches when it is all said and done. Groomer Steve stopped by yesterday and said that the DNR was going out to inspect the trails and see how much snow was in the woods. They were going to entertain the idea of pulling snow in the trails, based on my observation I do not think that will happen just yet! Every time I look at the weather Forecast it changes everyday, A couple of days ago they were saying sunny skies all week and possible snow Wendesday. This morning I was watching and now they are calling for snow almost everyday with some measurable snow Wednesday into Thursday. (I am lost at this point) If we can get three or four more inches We will be back in bussiness, I think we will be riding next weekend. Fill up the truck and keep the trailer on stand by. All I know is that I need to get a ride fix soon!!!

NOT GOOD!!

2009-02-12T06:38:00.001-08:00

Well what can I say, the trails took a direct hit the last couple of days! I am trying to stay positive. Remember we still have over 6 weeks left to ride. I had Tuesday and Wednesday off this week. I actually rode Tuesday, it was 56 degrees. The ride was surprisingly good. I rode in a sweat shirt and sweat pants, it felt like Colorado in March. All the two tracks had snow and most of the trails were not melted but a little slushy. The weather station is saying mid to late next week we may get some snow. All is not lost, however, the woods have snow and as I drove by trail 6 this morning it still had an icy base. (Trail 6 at Reserve RD) As long as it stays cold and we get some snow we may be able to ride next weekend. (This is a big maybe)I will try and get out the next couple of days with my ATV and survey the area between Meredith and Houghton Lake. You can still ride on Houghton Lake and visit some of our Local bussinesses around the lake for Lunch or Dinner.

Rideable but deteriorating

2009-02-08T07:38:00.001-08:00

If you have not figured out by now that I am an optimist!(The glass is always half full in my world) We have a minor set back with the trails currently. I spoke with a few people yesterday and got mixed reports depending on your standards. Bad news is that we have a lot of slush in the trails and the roadways are dry. Good News is that all trails in Houghton Lake were groomed Friday night into early Saturday morning. As long as we dont have a complete melt down this will help out in the long term. The sunshine and warm weather put a hurting on them. The trails in the woods seem to be ok and holding up. I would not ride on them personally, but I have high expectations. The weather is going to get crazy by mid to lake week. First we have rain forecasted then ice and hopefully it will all turn to snow, I even heard the word (Snow Storm) As always I will keep you posted so stay tuned. The weather is supposed to get cold again by Friday so we could have a decent weekend for next week.
Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Just having fun

2009-02-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

Just having a fun day at the lake Enjoy

Not Bad at all

2009-02-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

Can you believe its already February, where has this winter gone. I hope most of you have taken advantage of this wonderful winter we have been blessed with. I know one thing, it has been making my job fun and easy. We have had a 95% positive trail report so far this year. This is a first time in many years we can say that. I truely believe that our winters are back on the upswing. As you know, seasons historically run cyclical. Back to bussiness, Two of our guys went out last night. One went to Leota and the other to Meredith. The trail to Meredith was getting rough. He rated it a 6 on scale from 1-10. The second person rode to Leota and rated it an 8 from 1-10. On the way back from Leota he ran into the groomer. They should have trail 655 and 654 groomed by later on today. I drove by trail 654 and it did not look that bad. It is currently 30 degrees and sunny, It almost seems like 75 and Florida like (LOL) compared to the last couple of weeks. Traffic seemed a little light this weekend and with snow predicted all week it should make next weekend an awesome ride!!! The Pictures are actually in the U.P last week. Get up here next weekend and ride!!

Trails are getting better

2009-01-26T10:53:00.001-08:00

Jeremy rode last night and said the trails were in good condition until someone in his group broke a chain in the chaincase. The good news is that we have all the parts in stock and was able to repair it first thing this morning. Trail 654 and trail 6 were relatively flat. Jeremy did say that some of the corners were a little icy. Groomer Steve told me that they will be pulling snow from the sides all week and should have the base built back up. We could get a couple of inches of snow Thursday which would really make good conditions even better. I am going to speak on behalf of all Houghton Lake area businesses "A HUGE THANK YOU" for supporting our Tip-Up-Town festival. We had a great turn out with tons of sleds. Nothing is more cool than seeing over 100 sleds parked at Kil-Kare inn. Keep in mind that February is also a great Month to ride. With all this said its time to pay the bills. Spicers Boat City has close out deals on most clothing, Manufacturer clothing 10% off. Fox Clothing 25% off. Sled deal of the day, 2009 Polaris 2 up trail Touring $5999 + freight and prep. A couple of buddies and myself went in on a 16 gallon barrel of XPS semi Synthetic oil for only $448.49 savings of over $50.00 (This is the only way to buy oil) Spicers always has easy on the spot financing available, our moto is "you buy today and you ride today" As always please ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE!!! Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Trail are great

2009-01-15T06:05:00.001-08:00

Jon and jeremy rode yesterday, trails were great. They rode to Leota and were the first ones just after the groomer was out! (I love when that happens) I rode Tuesday night and nearly froze to death (LOL) I was out about 200 yards on the ice and believe this or not I almost hit 2 deer, yes thats right 2 deer. (no I was not drinking) It is cold right now, it is supposed to warm up to about 4 degrees today. This weekend its supposed to warm up to the low 20s or high teens with snow forecasted everyday. It should be a great Tip-Up-Town weekend. We have plenty of snow and great ice conditions. Get up here and enjoy Houghton Lake. I hope to see you on the trail. ITS TIME TO RIDE!! Bob, Jon and Jeremy

What to consider when purchasing a new sled

2009-01-12T06:11:00.001-08:00

I don’t want this to sound like an ad for Spicer's Boat City but I do want you to give you my perspective on what to consider when buying a sled. Just to give you some back ground I was a customer for 8 years before I started working at Spicers. I was the service director for a high end European Automotive dealership. Customer service was the number 1 priority. We keep hearing the word “Bad economy” I like to choose the word “soft economy” people are still buying sleds, buying accessories and having repairs performed. You can ask anybody in the business and you will get the same answer “it could always be better” I have bought 6 new sleds in the last 8 years so I can speak from experience.

The three things that came to mind for me when I bought a new sled was 1. Selection/Brand 2. Can I get it the same day 3. Convience of Getting it serviced. Believe it or not Price was not in the equation until I found out these three things. Could I have bought it cheaper somewhere else, Sure if I call several places and maybe go on the Internet and play match the price game? I have to think to myself and say what is my time worth. Another question, would I get great service and all the amenities that come along after the sale? This is a very serious question that I want you to ask yourself. I lived down state but always rode up north. I could ride my sled for the weekend and drop it off on the way home. In most cases it would be ready to ride by the next weekend. That was convenient. Spicer's Boat City has been in business and family owned for almost 50 years. I am not saying we are perfect because we learn something ever day but what I can say is that we take care of our customers. Our staff will go the extra mile to get something covered from a manufacturer that maybe out of warranty and in a lot of cases it gets taken care of. That’s an advantage of being in business for 50 years and having the Spicer's Boat City name.

We see an alarming amount of sleds that come in for service that have set up issues. I am not going to bad mouth any other dealers, but when you buy something for less money something takes a hit I.E prepping quality, set up etc…

I know people work hard for their money and spend a lot on a new toy but do not make price your only reason to purchase. My saying has always been “it’s never a problem until its problem” I want to share a true story with you, this Just happened over the weekend. A good friend of mine who purchased a sled somewhere else and bragged about how much money he saved called me at 11:00 at night wanting me to repair his new sled because it keeps breaking belts. He bought two new belts at $150.00 each and only has 100 miles on it. Reluctantly I agreed to have him meet me at the shop when we opened. (Sunday of Course) Upon inspection, we found the belt deflection was way too tight. We also found the track was never adjusted and out of alignment. This was a set up issue that should have been taken care of at the time of purchase. Now He is out another $100.00 for us to set it up properly and another $150.00 for a spare belt. He is out a total of over $500.00. The Moral of the story is, did he really save any money? And what was his time worth having to trailer it back. This is only my perspective and I felt compelled to share it with you. All in all we as snowmobilers are a close nit bunch and share an incredible passion. I hope you enjoy our trail reports and blogs.

Thank you

Bobby R Nicholson

The other night

2009-01-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

I need to practice what I preach. The other night, Jon and Jeremy stopped over at the house and wanted to run up for some food. I relunctly agreed, because its never just go get food and come back. They want to stay out late and ride everywhere and of course when you get a little older sleep becomes more of a priority. We argued where to eat for about 20 minutes and then we decided. We almost made it to town and I blew a belt. No problem right? well I did not have an extra one (I know its rediculous) the service manager at Spicers Boat city who does not carry an extra belt, thats bad. I have had this discussion with many customers as to why you carry an extra belt. I have been chastized by all the staff for this since. Fortunately Jon had an extra Polaris Belt that worked. After we ate we headed for home and with all the blowing snow we kind of lost our since of direction, Jeremy was leading the next thing I know we are crossing open water. WOW that is a rush that I dont want to experience again. It was about 100 feet wide, I just pressed the throttle and we were out of it. I think I did something in my pants. The moral of the story is dont let Jeremy Lead, just kidding. Seriously, pay attention to your surroundings, its very easy to get turned around out on the ice. We live here and still get turned around. The weather can change in minutes. Its sunday and we are riding again after work. I do have an extra belt now. ITS TIME TO RIDE!!!! Bob, jon and Jeremy

A little information about us

2009-01-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

We will start with myself Pictured with the Yellow Ski-doo. I Actually ride two sleds. I have a 2008 Ski-doo 800R which I love, it handles like no other sled. (This is just my opinion) I also ride a 2007 Arctic Cat Cross-Fire 1000 Sno-Pro. I have logged over 1300 miles so far this year. I have worked for Spicers Boat City for just over One year as the service director. I have the best job in the world, we have great owners who are just as enthusiastic about snowmobiling as we are. My wife and I both enjoy riding and often go to dinner on our sleds. We have Jon who rides a modified 2003 Polaris 700 Pro-X this sled ROCKS, I must admit I have eaten about enough of his snow dust this year so I have a little surprise coming in the near future. Jon Is our Assistant Service manager and has been with Spicers for about 7 years. He knows his stuff, he his well spoken and goes the extra mile when needed. He has a wonderful and hopefully a future wife (Dana) and two awesome dogs Lexi and Mallory. Jon is also a Markey Township fire fighter. Now We have Jeremy, this guy is a character. He rides a 2007 Polaris Dragon 700. He also has a 2000 and something Arctic Cat ZLR which means a conglomeration of various sleds in one. Jeremy has riden sleds his whole life but you could not convince me of this. (LOL) He totaled two sleds last year however neither was his fault. Jeremy is a Master Certified Technician with all three of our snowmobile Manufacters. This man can fix anything. Jeremy has worked for Spicers Boat city for over 6 years and worked his way up to one of our premier technicians. He recently purchased his first home with his girlfriend Mandy and son Dallas. This is a little information about us I hope you enjoy reading our articles and reports. We Truly enjoy doiung this for you. We will see you on the trail. Our moto is ITS TIME TO RIDE!!!!!!!!! Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Nasty Hole on Trail 6 (USE CAUTION)

2009-01-06T05:51:00.000-08:00

I tried to get better video but it was dark out. This is a lot worse than it looks. It can almost swallow a sled up. Remember its on trail 6 heading west about 1/2 mile past Boyce rd. Groomers are ahead of the game, the trails should be fantastic by this weekend. I am going to get pictures of myself, Jeremy and Jon and tell you a little about ourselves and what we ride. This is coming Thursday. I will be picking a date for an over night ride by Next monday. We will have limited space available. We will leave Houghton Lake go west and end up near Mackinaw. We did this last year and had a blast. I cannot believe the smoking deals on sleds this year, we have one left 2008 Ski-Doo GSX 550F with Electric Start and reverse. It also has mirrors for only $5288 plus freight and prep. Call today 989-366-8400. I appreciate all the cool e-mails I get from all of you, It makes this job a lot of fun. I will see you on the trail. ITS TIME TO RIDE!!!! Bob

Sledding in Benzie & Leelanau!

2009-01-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

Lots of snow! On Jan 1, we went from Lake Ann to Copemish and back. About 84 miles. The Benzie trail was fantastic. We even got behind the groomer for quite a few miles. We were in the middle of the woods, not near any roads, on trail #3 and we caught up to a new Grand Caravan, driving right down the trail. The stopped us and said the were from downstate and looking for their friends cottage. The the passenger spoke up and said..."it is really pretty back here, why don't many cars travel back here"...we just looked at each other and shook our heads. We then told them they better get the hell off here or they will end up with a Polaris sticking out of their hood.

We rode on Jan 3, from Empire to Maple City. Trails were excellent, and the food was great at Benchwarmers, at the end of the trail in Maple City. Many sleds out running.

Update report 01/04/09

2009-01-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

Jon and Jeremey Ventured out last night for nice ride. I met up with them in Meredith. I had a burger and went back home. They rode the Houghton Lake trail system and said that the trails were not that bad and actually ran into the groomer on 655. The corners are thin and Icy so please slow down in the turns and stay on your side of the trail. We are still watching a storm for tuesday into Wednesday, All we really need is about 4-6 inches of wet snow and conditions will improve drastically. Houghton Lake had a lot of traffic on the trails during this Holiday season. The Groomers did a great job at keeping up with the trails. All in all it was a great Holiday. I think I can speak on behalf of all the area Bussinesses and Spicers Boat City, we would like to thank all of you for stopping in and look forward to your return visit. (THANK YOU) Our inventory took a big hit but we still have items left for you to get. ZR1 Snowmobile helmet Close out price for only $79.95. Snofire Coldwave Jackets Buy one Free get one Free. SCREAMING DEAL ON POLARIS 2009 550 SHIFT $4699.00 + FREIGHT AND PREP This offer is good thru January 9, We only have a couple left. Call a sales professional today. (989-366-8400) Move your sled easy with Steal Sled Caddies 3 piece for only $39.95 In stock now. WARNING ***** TRAIL 6 Just past Boyce Rd is starting to get dangerous washed out with a large hole, it is on a straight away. (PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION) they hope to have it repaired later today. I will keep you updated. Please ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE!!!!!!! Bob, Jon and Jeremy.

Trail ride yesterday

2009-01-03T05:46:00.000-08:00

Well folks I finally got to ride yesterday. The trails were busy, I saw a lot of families. (Very nice to see) I did get some pictures yesterday The trails were nice and flat, I ran into the groomer last night around 9:00 P.M heading towards Meredith. Earlier in the day I started to go to St. Helen after about 4 miles I thought I lost a kidney. I had to turn around it was beat up bad. I was told it was supposed to be groomed last night. (Lets Hope so)The trail going towards Leota was very nice. All in all the trails were in good shape. The corners are icy so please use caution. On trail 6 heading West of Boyce Rd we have open water crossing the trail which has produced a huge hole please use caution when approaching this area. We are watching a storm for Tuesday into Wednesday. It could produce significate snow. Dont forget Tip Up Town is only a couple of weeks away. Most area bussinesses have those collectable Tip-Up-Town badges for only $5.00. After riding yesterday I have concluded that Studs are a must. I was sliding every where. We are going to run a special for a basic stud package for as low as $2.69 a stud installed. Offer good Thru January 30, 2009. We have a couple of those hard to find 800R X Package Ski Doos left. Dont Forget Buy today and ride today. We have easy on the spot financing available. Please ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE!!!!!!!! Bob, Jon And Jeremy

Dude where are we, I Dont know I am playing with my new friend.

2009-01-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

Its time to ride

2009-01-02T06:40:00.000-08:00

Hello to all, I was unable to ride over New Years, had the family thing going on. The groomers were out and hit all the trails. I am being told that the trails are in pretty good shape but a little thin on the corners. Today is my day off so I am going out to investigate. I may have an additional update later today. We are watching a storm to come through late Saturday Night into Sunday It could have some freezing rain at first and then turn to all snow. One or two degrees will make a difference. It is currently snowing at a good pace right now. We have another Storm brewing for Tuesday and into Wednesday. This could be a dandy. Kudos to our local Groomers, these guys have been doing an incredible job. With gas prices at an all time low and with all the rebates on sleds this is the time to buy. Its nice to pull up to a gas pump with your wife and fill both sleds for $16.00. Houghton lake is not even a tank away from most places in lower Michigan. Spicers Boat City is conviently located just off I-75 and I-27 on M-55. Our Accessories manager notified me that if you mention Sled the Web you will receive 10% off Clothing and Accessories. (No Parts or Oil is included)We need your used sleds, Boats and ATVs. We can sell your Power Sports toy on consignment (Must meet Spicers Boat City requirements) Call a sales Professional today (989-366-8400). I think I finally figured out how to use my helmet cam, It took Two people with A masters Degree and one PHD but we figured it out. This is coming soon. Well I have to go, keep doing the snow dance. PLease ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TO RIDE!!!! Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Just some good Ol' Boys

2008-12-30T13:35:00.000-08:00

Some good Ol' Boys just stopped by to pick up some supplies

Waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-30T10:51:00.001-08:00

I called the groomers to check status, they are waiting on approval from the DNR. As soon as word comes in they are a go. People have been riding and some say that the trails are not bad. I personally like more snow (I am spoiled that way)We have snow forcasted for tonight and tomorrow with up to 5 inches possible. We also have a storm brewing for Friday. It is supposed to snow every day. All we really need is a couple inches of wet snow to make conditions good. I will post tomorrow morning as to what happened during the night and what to expect. Spicers Boat City will be open Wednesday Dec 31 from 9:00 to 3:00 P.M we will be closed New Years Day. If you need anything please make sure to stop in. Please drive safely this holiday where ever your destination may be. Please ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE!!!!!! Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Things Should get better soon

2008-12-29T06:48:00.000-08:00

Things should be changing for the better soon based on all the reports I am receiving. The groomers may attempt a test run later today or tonight. As of yesterday the trails were still to soft to run a groomer. The weather is calling for some measurable snow late tuesday night. We are also tracking a storm for Friday so stay tuned for updates. As I drove home last night I did see some die hard Sledders on the trails and on Houghton lake. We lost power for several hours and i did not get a chance to go out and investigate the trails. From the road they look to be in poor condition. If the Groomers go out that could change to very good conditions in a matter of hours. I should know by tomorrow morning as to what to expect. We had a lot of snowmobilers take advantage of the down time to have there sled maintenanced.(Kudos for thinking ahead)Spicers Boat city has multiple aftermarket clothing lines as well as factory lines at incredible prices. (Ask for a personal shopper for assistance). When you buy a new Sled from Spicers Boat City you will be gauranteed Express service should a break down occur. We offer great service and support after the sale. Free extended warranty and clothing on most models. Call a sales professional today. (989-366-8400) trade Ins are welcome and on the spot financing why go anywhere else. Catch us on the web at www.spicersboatcity.com Please ride within your limits and always expect the unexpected. ITS TIME TO RIDE!!!!!! Bob, Jon and Jeremy.

Hopefully conditions will improve

2008-12-28T08:26:00.000-08:00

Update report

2008-12-27T09:17:00.000-08:00

Now that we have Christmas behind us lets get down to bussiness. I rode yesterday and the trails were incredible up until the rain came. Yes thats right rain, I can hardly say the word. It is supposed to get out of here late tonight and snow towards morning. Weatherman is calling for a chance of snow everyday so please keep doing the snow dance. Jon and Jeremy rode halfway to St. Helen and turned around, it was getting rough. I will keep you updated as changes occur. I think I finally figured out how to use my Helmet cam so this will be coming soon. If you have any questions please e-mail me bob.nicholson@spicersboatcity.com

See ya on the trial.

Bob, Jon and Jeremy

Last Nights Ride

2008-12-22T10:20:00.000-08:00

Last night was amazing, some of us from Spicers went boondocking off trail last night and had a great time. Jeremy pulled out some of his old school trails that I have never been on and it looks like no one else had been either. The night started out from my house in Meredith, we met up with Jeremy in Houghton Lake. We started out on trail 655 and found a short cut when all of a sudden I see Jeremy's brake lights come on and he slides side ways. As I approach his sled I see a deer jump up and take off. He was shaken up for a split second. upon inspection of his sled we found no damage to the sled (Unbeleiveabe). Be very carefull out there, Last week Phillip Spicer barely missed a deer and I mean it was within inches. The trails are great and more snow is expected. I will have pictures on this site very soon and we should have internet specials for parts and accessories. Merry Christman from all of us at Spicers Boat City.