SNOWMOBILE BLOG

 Last week I actually spent three days out on the snow … and the riding wasn’t too bad. One day I was in Togwotee, WY, where the higher elevations have about as much snow as anywhere around. The downside is that there was no fresh snow so you had to look hard to find areas without tracks.

Later in the week I was riding along the eastern Idaho/Western Wyoming border. Again, the snow was marginal in the areas under 7,500 feet elevation or on any south-facing slope where the sun and wind could cut it.

In the tight canyons that don’t get much sunlight (and many snowmobilers), there was some pretty good riding. But you had to work to find it.

It will be nice once winter finally arrives when we don’t have to search to find good snow. But until then, the best riding is for those who work the hardest to find it.

SJ

            So far I’ve done a fairly good job at balancing out my winter. I’ve spent one day of the new year on the mountain slopes, and one day on the golf course. To be honest, I know I’ll get about 100 rounds of golf in before the end of the year … that means I’m really going to need to pick it up if I expect to get that many snowmobile rides in.

            The beauty of both golf and snowmobiling is that you can usually always find grass or snow somewhere, it just depends on how hard you’re willing to look.

            Usually during January, we tend to have to search harder for a golf course than we do for a mountain loaded with snow. However, this year it seems to be just the opposite … at least for the time being.

            On January 2 I was working hard trying to tune some ski lift out of my snowmobile. On January 4 I was trying to fix a shank from my chipping game. I think right now I’m more content working out the ski lift and letting the shank sit idle for a couple of months.

            Although there isn’t a lot of snow in the higher elevations, there are some pockets of pretty good riding. But after saying that, I must also include that there are also a lot of pockets with unstable snow. And we’re likely to battle those unstable snow conditions for quite a while.

So be careful as you take to the slopes.    

SJ

            Last week we talked about the job of product testing here at SnoWest … and some of the risks that go along with it.

            One time we were asked to test a digital thermometer that is attached a key chain. This is a simple enough test—certainly our crackpot crew could hand this product review. So one of our SnowTest riders attached the thermometer to the key of his snowmobile and we went for a ride.

            Well, apparently the manufacturer of the thermometer didn’t foresee the vigorous jiggles and jolts associated with being affixed to a snowmobile. So somewhere along the ride our thermometer key chain morphed into your basic key loop with a chain that was at one time attached to something. (I guess it could have been worse … we could have kept the thermometer and lost the sled.)

            Another time a turbo manufacturer asked if we wanted to install and test his turbo. I asked how difficult of an install it would be. His reply: “It’s about like putting in a car stereo.”

            So he shipped us the turbo for testing.

            When I opened the package, I swear there was over 200 parts and an installation
manual about the size of a Los Angeles phone book. And he thinks that guys who screwed up a thermometer test could install this thing?

            Well, after collecting dust in my shop for about a year, I gave the turbo to a local snowmobile mechanic and told him if he ever used it to let me know how it worked out. About two years later I bumped into him and asked him if he was ever able to install the turbo.

            “No … I could never figure out the instructions. But I did use a few of the parts to repair my car stereo.”

SJ

The 12 days of SnoWest giveaways are in full motion.  LISTED Below are the winners for the past seven days leading us to the Ski-Doo Summit and Carl Kuster’s Camp getaway.

cONGRATS TO ALL THESE WINNERS AND GOOD LUCK TO OUR FUTURE WINNERS.  for details and prizes check out www.snowest.com/12days .  iT IS  NOT TO LATE TO SUBSCRIBE AND GET IN ON THE WINNING.  gOOD lUCK!

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Failing The Test

          Part of our job at SnoWest (read excuses to go snowmobiling) is to test new products. And that is something we take very seriously. Almost every time we’re out on the snow we have some product that we’re evaluating.

            Now, although it’s part of a job, you have to remember that first and foremost, we’re journalists. And as a collective group, journalists are not the sharpest knives in the drawer. Sometimes we struggle finding the best methods for testing products.

            Years ago we were sent a clear, paint-on liquid that was designed to reduce drag. The intent of the product was to apply it to your snowmobile skis to make them glide through the snow. Well, we decided to take two skis (one with the liquid applied and the other without) up to a steep hill and let them slide down the slope.

            The first couple of tries where unsuccessful since the hill wasn’t steep enough to allow the skis to glide through the snow. We finally found a really steep section of slope that dropped down into trees and a deep canyon. The perfect place.

            I dropped down the slope about 50 feet (that should be far enough to see the distance between the skis) and my assistant pushed the skis over the cornice to give them momentum to glide down to me.

            Sure enough, the ski with the product applied to its surface was faster, actually catching me by surprise and smacking me in the shin. But it wasn’t that much faster … so as I grabbed the ski, the other zipped past me and down the canyon into the trees.

            That didn’t seem to matter much with me at the moment. The pain in my leg was tremendous and I could feel the blood being absorbed by my pant leg.

            To summarize the test: The product did make the ski slightly faster, I walked with a limp for the next two weeks, and we never did find the other ski.

SJ

Mother Nature’s Hoar (Part 2)

Following up on last week’s report of the potential of depth hoar, we took and research to the steep and deep back in Mount Jefferson to see first-hand what kind of base was developing in the snow.

Just as we related last week, there was a weak layer of snow that has a potential of being a problem throughout the winter. Any west facing ridge also was blown clean by the wind, leaving a very thin layer of snow covering the ground and exposing rocks.

There was good snow on north-facing slopes above 7,500 feet elevation. This made for good riding. But it’s obvious the area needs much more snow depth.

Until we get more snow, riding at best is marginal. However, once we get the snow, we need to pay attention to that weak layer of snow that can cause potential slab slides.

A lot will depend on when we get snow, how much snow falls, and the composition of the snow (moisture content) before we know if Mother Nature will solve her depth hoar problem. Until then, be patient, smart and safe.

SnoWest Newsletter - December 15, 2011

Shape Up

I’ve never been one to put forth any extra effort to get into shape. Now, that doesn’t mean I’m a huge coach potato blog (actually I prefer a recliner). But this time of year I tend to stay camped in front of the TV watching college football and stuffing my face with Oreos.

There is something about cold weather that makes the brain tell the body “it’s time to preserve energy and store up an ample supply of fats” to survive the winter. After all, the golf courses are closed, hunting season is over and the snow hasn’t stacked up deep enough to be overly inviting.

So there’s about a four week window between late November and mid December when all there is to do is watch football and eat junk food.

Well, the other day I saw my annoying neighbor out jogging. Now I know for a fact that he hates to jog. So the only reason he’s putting his body through such abuse is because he wants to be in better shape for our first big ride. He is anticipating that I will be pudgy and out of shape so he can ride circles around me.

Well I got news for him. He may think that I’m allowing my body to decay in front of the TV while I consume gallons of carbonated sugar and Oreos … but in reality, I’m drinking diet pop and watching Rasmussen’s “Schooled” snowmobile videos.

That’s right, I’m gearing up to get my butt off the seat and hang my body over the side of the sled. But while I practice, I can’t hang over the side of recliner too far … it’s too hard to reach my cookies.           

SJ

Mother Nature’s Hoar

Although we are all anxious to get out and embrace winter with our new snowmobiles, it would be wise if we pay close attention to the weather and more specifically this past week of clear skies and frigid temperatures.

            While most of us merely bundled up and watched the weather forecasts for the next storm front, we may have missed an important signal from Mother Nature—conditions have been optimum the creation of depth hoar.

            Now, some of you may ask what this has to do with snowmobiling. Well, depth hoar is the main culprit behind most avalanche fatalities. It represents that weak layer of snow that tends to persist throughout the season just waiting for something to put enough pressure on it to break away and create slab slides.

            Basically, this is how it forms. Early snow tends to provide an insulation factor for the ground. When cold temperatures freeze the surface of the snow, a hoar layer begins to grow, being maintained by moisture that is protected by the insulation of snow over the earth. This hoar has ample strength to sustain pressure from above, such as additional snow weight, but is very vulnerable to side pressure. And once it breaks away, it serves as ice beads that facilitate the sliding of heavy slabs of snow.

            So all of this cold dry weather has just made our future base level a death trap for the next few months.

            Depending on how Mother Nature distributes its snow and cold temperatures for the rest of the winter will determine how safe the high elevations will be. But for a while, snowmobilers need to be on their guard, particularly on west and south facing slopes and near ridgelines where wind tends to keep snow levels close to the surface.

            Although we often equate avalanche danger to deep snow, in reality it is a thin snowpack and cold temperatures that create the most dangerous conditions. A thick snowpack can actually do more good in the long run to eliminate depth hoar … but that’s in the long run. The next deep snowfall might be the deadliest. So pay attention to the weather.

SnoWest Newsletter - December 8, 2011