Mid-West region cat clowder February 3-4

[redsqwrl]

The dates have been set for the 2017 Cat Clowder At Big Powderhorn....If you don't know what a clowder is....(it is what you call a group of cats....like a herd of deer, or a flock of sheep) so what better to call a meeting of cats!

The dates are Feb 3&4 at Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Bessemer Mi. The dates were selected to follow the annual St. Germain snow grooming show held Feb.1-2.

Plans are still being made...however, plan on some backwoods riding in deep snow, showing off your machines, trading stories and parts, dinner with a few fun speakers and, of course, driving the machines on the ski resort slopes.

More information will be coming soon. Please express your interest in attending so that we can plan accordingly....post your interest here or email me....bruce@bigpowderhorn.net

We hope to see you at the first Midwest Cat Clowder!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xI4zeldInw

 

[redsqwrl]

Well just to keep this alive and up to date.

The Committee quorum-ed and the it has been decided..... (Oh i can't keep a straight
face) Matt and I chatted about what to add or change....

The Games are staying: with the addition of a less subjective scoring system. You can't win by just merely hitting the nitrous oxide bottle on a ski dozer, we are adding style points to even the field..... ( ugly, shiny, driving blind-folded ect.....)
The trail ride is staying: With Copper Peak opening back up we may lose the parking venue so we figured we better (run it while we can) the open forest blanketed in lake effect snow with Lake Superior as a destination makes a great playground.
The clowder proper is staying: The show and not so Shine is a great time to network and SKI.

The options at this event are many and snow is off to a tremendous start. Winter camping has been mentioned in the past and maybe 2017 is the year to make that happen.

Kt-4 should be chiming in shortly to gather ideas as well. The Sqwrl clan will be staying in *slopeside* this year, so tamarous runs done will get a break. I highly recommend that lodge we just needed more beds/space.....

happy new year!

 

[redsqwrl]

Oh also, I have a hammer/vice induced media deficiency and anyone that has some photos to share would be appreciated. all the photos I have are scattered, (100mph's dozer needs to be posted) the two speed super imp would be nice to see as well.,

 

[night-owl]

Mr & Mrs Night Owl certainly plan to be there! A great group and plenty of powder to play in! If you don't know where you are going you don't know you are lost Lots of fun great scenery, always feel safer with the mass of knowledge of this group. Maybe need kidney belt from laughing too much, if you are traveling far plan to stay extra days- it's hard to leave!

 

[300 H and H]

I can not for the life of me get any photobucket pics to open here..

But I will be there in Michigan in February for sure!

Regards, Kirk

 

[luvthemvws]

Can't access the photos? Contact the administrator.
I had the same issue until they "fixed my gmail".

 

[AwHellSnow]

Hi All,
Definitely looking forward tot he Clowder, it just keeps getting better and better each year!!

 

[Kristi Kt-4]

Well.... The Cat Clowder is a month away and we are off to a great start with snow. Currently we are under a lake effect snow warning which is calling for 8-15 inches but we shall see what happens. (We have been forecasted for 3 inches and received 3 feet before) I am guilty as I know some others are.... But I need to dust off the cat and make some test/tune runs before the Clowder. I know it happens but I don't want to be the guy that has a Tucker roller pass you by on camera!

So, I am going to say its time for a roll call.... I know that there will be a few new machines and faces this year already.

Some pics from last year.....

 

[redsqwrl]

http://bigpowderhorn.net/newsletters/new/newsletter-clowder.htm

 

[redsqwrl]

Ha this worked!

This is our event get that cat out!

 

[100MPH]

Someone asked for some pictures. Here are some of the cats that were in the show and shine at 2016 Cat Clowder at BPH, here you go....

 

[100MPH]

As for the role call for 2017 Cat Clowder there is a very good chance that the Ski-Dozer will be back again this year. I would plan to get there Thursday for the early bird trek. Matt what you got lined up??

 

[night-owl]

We want in for the early bird trip Thursday!!! 100MPH I think I still owe you some of that special binder wire, the SnoTrac loved it

 

[Kristi Kt-4]

As for the role call for 2017 Cat Clowder there is a very good chance that the Ski-Dozer will be back again this year. I would plan to get there Thursday for the early bird trek. Matt what you got lined up??

I am thinking the same parking area as last year but heading in a different direction. I am going to take advantage of the snowmobile trail closed this winter due to a bridge out. There is a very cool scenic overlook to spend some time and have lunch while looking at the big lake! Hoping the Thursday gang will all be at the hill by 9 am or so to head out.

 

[100MPH]

I am thinking the same parking area as last year but heading in a different direction. I am going to take advantage of the snowmobile trail closed this winter due to a bridge out. There is a very cool scenic overlook to spend some time and have lunch while looking at the big lake! Hoping the Thursday gang will all be at the hill by 9 am or so to head out.

Thursday is my travel day as well but I will try to be there for the 9:00 AM start.

You bring up a very good point and something that should be taken into consideration is the July 2016 storm that when thru the area. For those who are not familiar with that storm it left a lot of damage in its path, roads washed out, bridges washed away, trees down and recreational-trails closed for some time. Do you think we may run into issues on our route or are things cleared up fairly well?

 

[Kristi Kt-4]

Thursday is my travel day as well but I will try to be there for the 9:00 AM start.

You bring up a very good point and something that should be taken into consideration is the July 2016 storm that when thru the area. For those who are not familiar with that storm it left a lot of damage in its path, roads washed out, bridges washed away, trees down and recreational-trails closed for some time. Do you think we may run into issues on our route or are things cleared up fairly well?

It was a mess around here for quite awhile after the storm. Things are pretty much cleaned up but we may be accessing some areas that have not been cleaned up or atv's went around in the summer. Not to say that we cannot find a suitable path and go around also The group as a whole usually has everything but the kitchen sink as Night-owl knows. Saxon Harbor which is to the west about 10 miles was hit so hard that the harbor was shut down for the rest of the summer. A couple of boats from there were found up near the tip of Copper Harbor.

Rumor has it that you decided to install NOS on the Ski-Dozer You might need it this year for the Cat Clowder games.

 

[redsqwrl]

Rumor has it that you decided to install NOS on the Ski-Dozer You might need it this year for the Cat Clowder games.

"there was nitrous oxide on that machine last year......" is the rumor I heard.

 

[300 H and H]

With a Ski Dozer in the group and a chain saw or two, I don't think there will be any issues on the trails.

No snow here to try out my machine on so far... darn

Regards, Kirk

 

[100MPH]

"NOS" no...no... you don't remember that was "Not Over Snow"

Here's an action picture of that "Thru the snow event"... you can't see his face but night-owl is grinning in that Snow-Trac in the top left corner of that picture running Ski-Dozer's track in virgin powder.

 

[night-owl]

You forgot to mention you had the blade all the way up Hard to believe the fun in that untouched Lake Effect Snow, Truly up to your waist and an effort to walk machine to machine for a bump! Matt you are a outstanding guide, we passed many trails that never had a trac! and beg to be explored, beautiful scenery and great company!! Any chance someone can run their Cat in that deep powder like they were designed is not to be missed!

 

[night-owl]

I also know that the SkiDozer speed secret is HI-RANGE- Makes that Cat late for happy hour FAST

 

[redsqwrl]

shaping up to be an great event of "epic" Proportion. (NE IA see what I did there?)

• so rumor has it Bait Guy is out?

• anyone hear from the tucker in Sturgeon Bay WI, (cant remember his user name)

• +1 on the Trail coordinator!. Matt is the visionary/navigator with the patients of a monk.

I am wondering if towing a snowmobile around might help When we get to the path less traveled, when light is getting dim, and the day long, a snow machine might expedite that *which way do we go* anxiety. That anxiety for me anyway, is part of the thrill?!

Coot Bruce are you ready? Last I spoke with him, he is..... (Got that Prinoth P15 all tuned up?) I vaguely remember hearing that there may be demonstrator equipment on the hill..... Not sure if I remember correctly.

I rented a ski in ski out with beds for 14, I think we are at 10 right now, so if lodging is a concern I may have a few beds available. no promises as I invited about 40, but with most WI people, weather is such a variable as is the packers playing in the playoffs....

will have plenty of warm seats, *the Thing* cat will be there...

 

[Pontoon Princess]

a get a vibe that, one needs headlights...navigating by the stars adventure??? and a really good GPS

 

[redsqwrl]

No, no, no... positive vibes all around....

We Strive for Day time outings, and regardless of what it sounds like, we are prepared.

We have the most advanced GPS, Good Pointing SKills
It operates something like this, we went up there last year right? Point point point

No no we went this way, remember trying to follow the GPS that led us to the open water, large gorge, downed tree ect..... point point point..

Hey lets go see where this one goes POINT point point.....

For some reason the GPS units we have deployed in the past struggle.

On a serious note. there is so much water shed into lake superior and storm damage from the weather that blows in off the lake we are at the mercy of luck.... and we have a lot of that. and snow.

 

[ravcosales]

Can't wait to go! Almost in our backyard.

 

[Kristi Kt-4]

a get a vibe that, one needs headlights...navigating by the stars adventure??? and a really good GPS

A non-headlight machine will be just fine .... The pics with all of the machines lined up on the snow bank was after the ride last year. We all made it back with minor bumps in the trail and plenty of light left.

 

[redsqwrl]

Mostly for the folks that are coming.

but it is great bait for the fence sitters.

The Arrowhead snow groomer company has been hosting a Groomer show for quite a few years.
manufactures and operators from around the snow belt converge and operate all the available drags and pulling equipment. at noon drags are switched between machines and the local club gets about two miles of trails groomed over and over and over.
Prototype tuckers have been in attendance, as well as vintage snow cats of years gone by.

If you have the time and interest this arrowhead event is less than 1 hr away from the clowder and is free!

If you preregister there is a great social Wednesday night.....

http://www.arrowheadgroomers.com/show.htm

Link here.

 

[corby]

Hey I am for sure planning on being there, I have been so busy in my bodyshop and towing that i have not been on here for a awhile.

 

[redsqwrl]

Hey thanks for speaking up, I was up in SB at a " ye olde opera house" I was going to go door to door looking for a tucker.

You need a hand, speak up. If you are ready get down to appleton and help me..... Giggle giggle.

 

[corby]

You went right by my place when you were up here, LOL. I am on 57 next to Quietwoods RV and Bay Marine, I live at DC Automotive.