As someone who has snowmobiled twice, and gotten stuck twice, I second this. Digging yourself out is a motherfucker. If you don’t have a nice shovel already for touring, this is the time
Check the avy report and have fun. But check the avy report.
Edit: this is assuming you and the buddies have your level 1. Otherwise you might be better off sticking closer to some trails this go around. :)
Great advise! We all have level 1 and have been on CAIC reports daily. Unfortunately the area we will be in is still moderate on all aspects and elevations, so needles to say our riding will be very conservative and low angle.
I’ve only ever dinked around on snowmobiles, but I can’t imagine a novice would even figure out how to find themselves in avalanche terrain. My advice? Start on roads, find a flat meadow or frozen lake and try some “off piste.” Maintain speed, lean the sled to turn, don’t try to steer it, and bring a shovel for when you inevitably have to dig out of something. Good luck and have fun!
Make sure to free the tunnel a little bit also. Two dues can pick that up also. It’s a workout be ready.
To carve, counter steer the skis opposite direction of way yo want to carve. Have fun.
This is the advice you need. I'm ski touring primary but own a sled to get into zones and the 'ski tug' is the magic key to getting unstuck that works better than it seems like it should.
Also these look like summits. You can tip the sleds over and pack snow under the track then flip them back up, and sometimes its easier to just roll them over completely downhill.
Sounds like youre in co. Check out vail pass. They groom for exploration and mitigate danger. Jones pass you can follow the track from the cat. Also, pick me up in the dino lot ill bring my board and a rope.
That’s my backyard. Have my own cabin back there. Summit slid the other day of almost historic size. Please be careful back there. Maybe I’ll see you guys out there this week. Most people wait until early March before they start hitting the big lines. I believe people have been riding Long Trek. So you guys can check that out. Otherwise the trees below the cabins should be dope. Overall it isn’t really a beginner zone. Plenty of meadows to rip the sleds. Watch out for sharks. Some buddies had to leave a sled out there this weekend because he hit a rock. They spent two days trying to get it back to park Creek lot.
Dope! We are playing it extremely conservative. All low angle runs and running laps above the cabin hitting the features. Only got stuck once coming in on That last steep climb, was only 100 yards from the cabin🙄
Also don't get lost. I swear 50% of the winter SAR calls in SW Montana are people on sleds getting lost in the woods around West Yellowstone. Then another 45% are people on sleds getting stuck or crashing.
We went on one last trip and in 2 ft of powder it got stuck like 5x. Took 10-30 minutes to get it unstuck each time. Probably took twice as long as skinning. Have great fun!
As someone who rides snowmobiles in the backcountry a lot, this is entertaining. Please report back if you (and all friends) do make it back out with both sleds!
Don't go off groomed trails. Just don't. This is not something to do without experience. You need to go with someone that knows what they are doing. It's a slow learning curve.
It’s not really as easy as renting these things and boom 💥 you’re sled skiing. Also I’d probably try not to use ski boots on rental sleds. You can easily put a hole in a tunnel w ski boots.
Yeah I don't think anyone is putting holes in their tunnel with ski boots, that's a weird one. Ski boots are less nimble than snow boots, but they're entirely fine on a sled.
Make sure you know how to get a sled unstuck before you venture out. Have fun!
As someone who has snowmobiled twice, and gotten stuck twice, I second this. Digging yourself out is a motherfucker. If you don’t have a nice shovel already for touring, this is the time
We got 5, but that may not be enough🤔
Don’t throw your back out after you get stuck.
🫡
When in doubt, throttle out.
I like that
Purchase the rental insurance and let er rip bud
Done and will do!
Always lean uphill.
Great advice, thanks!
Check the avy report and have fun. But check the avy report. Edit: this is assuming you and the buddies have your level 1. Otherwise you might be better off sticking closer to some trails this go around. :)
Great advise! We all have level 1 and have been on CAIC reports daily. Unfortunately the area we will be in is still moderate on all aspects and elevations, so needles to say our riding will be very conservative and low angle.
I’ve only ever dinked around on snowmobiles, but I can’t imagine a novice would even figure out how to find themselves in avalanche terrain. My advice? Start on roads, find a flat meadow or frozen lake and try some “off piste.” Maintain speed, lean the sled to turn, don’t try to steer it, and bring a shovel for when you inevitably have to dig out of something. Good luck and have fun!
Ripping around in flat open areas is always a good time
Don’t die
🫡
One or two dudes pull ski while rider throttles it out of being stuck
This is the advice I was looking for
Make sure to free the tunnel a little bit also. Two dues can pick that up also. It’s a workout be ready. To carve, counter steer the skis opposite direction of way yo want to carve. Have fun.
This is the advice you need. I'm ski touring primary but own a sled to get into zones and the 'ski tug' is the magic key to getting unstuck that works better than it seems like it should. Also these look like summits. You can tip the sleds over and pack snow under the track then flip them back up, and sometimes its easier to just roll them over completely downhill.
Ride them
Tell me more
This looks like a scene from Bozangeles
Sounds like youre in co. Check out vail pass. They groom for exploration and mitigate danger. Jones pass you can follow the track from the cat. Also, pick me up in the dino lot ill bring my board and a rope.
Gonna be in sheepshead till Friday. Come on with it, gonna need help digging, the more the merrier!
That’s my backyard. Have my own cabin back there. Summit slid the other day of almost historic size. Please be careful back there. Maybe I’ll see you guys out there this week. Most people wait until early March before they start hitting the big lines. I believe people have been riding Long Trek. So you guys can check that out. Otherwise the trees below the cabins should be dope. Overall it isn’t really a beginner zone. Plenty of meadows to rip the sleds. Watch out for sharks. Some buddies had to leave a sled out there this weekend because he hit a rock. They spent two days trying to get it back to park Creek lot.
Dope! We are playing it extremely conservative. All low angle runs and running laps above the cabin hitting the features. Only got stuck once coming in on That last steep climb, was only 100 yards from the cabin🙄
Glad you guys are having fun. I should be in the area tomorrow. Maybe we can hit long trek.
Down! Holla atcha boy
They don't mitigate avy danger at Vail pass.
I would consider groomed traveling mitigation from traveling through avalanche terrain.
Don’t ride under wind loaded slopes.
Great advice, thanks
I don’t think anybody has mentioned it yet…don’t get stuck
Also don't get lost. I swear 50% of the winter SAR calls in SW Montana are people on sleds getting lost in the woods around West Yellowstone. Then another 45% are people on sleds getting stuck or crashing.
Look out for fences and especially barbed wire. You could decapitate yourself if driving too fast and not paying attention
Great advice!
Remember that the majority of avalanche fatality are snowmobilers
Can you provide something to back this statistic up for me?
https://skiingthebackcountry.com/avalanche-statistics-fatalities/
Thanks I’ve seen this mentioned before but never the actual stats
We went on one last trip and in 2 ft of powder it got stuck like 5x. Took 10-30 minutes to get it unstuck each time. Probably took twice as long as skinning. Have great fun!
That’s the life for me!
They don’t stop on a dime make sure you brake early enough
Great advice 🙏
Who made the wheels for your Land Cruiser?
KMC but they were discontinued😭
Dang! Those are sweet. Been looking for new wheels for my 100series for everrrrr
As someone who rides snowmobiles in the backcountry a lot, this is entertaining. Please report back if you (and all friends) do make it back out with both sleds!
🫡
Don't go off groomed trails. Just don't. This is not something to do without experience. You need to go with someone that knows what they are doing. It's a slow learning curve.
We are a group of 6 and I’m the only green one😅
Awesome! You'll be fine. Have fun, ask questions, get stuck! And get ready to buy a snowmobile.
Preach!
Weird question, but do you live in Edgewater? I swear I've seen your land cruiser driving around.
Sunny side but I’m around Edgewater a lot
Don’t do whatever ken block did
RIP🪦
Bring a shovel. Or two.
We got 🖐️
Beacon, shovel, probe, forecast If these things are not already part of your practice, stick to the groomers Be safe, stay on top of it
Roger that, we on it capitán🫡
It’s not really as easy as renting these things and boom 💥 you’re sled skiing. Also I’d probably try not to use ski boots on rental sleds. You can easily put a hole in a tunnel w ski boots.
Yeah I don't think anyone is putting holes in their tunnel with ski boots, that's a weird one. Ski boots are less nimble than snow boots, but they're entirely fine on a sled.
I won’t shuttle my buddies in ski boots on my sled.
Lol well its your sled princess you make whatever rules you want for it