best place to ride?

[donbrown]

well i'm not sure how many of us there will be but i think we would rent a cabin if possible.

in terms of what we ride. i have 2 doo revs a 600 and 440x. we do a good amount of off trail, ungroomed climbing and screwing around. as for other sleds, there is a renegade, switchback, couple other doo 600 121's and other trail type sleds. we use the 121's in the deep around here, its not where near the pow you see out west but its no easy task to get through the off trail snow with the 121" x 1" lugs. my 440x with the 1.75 lugs is better but still not easy, but it is easy to get stuck.

People rarely ride alone in the mountains. Why, safety. Avalanche, get lost get stranded, storms can come,a cloud could hit the mountain and you can't see 10 feet.

Was riding back in February went over the crest and dropped down into this snowing soup cloud with visibility of a few feet. Made it back to the other side and really enjoyed it.

It is typical to ride with several people. So you have to ride what they ride something similar so everyone has a good experience.

Experienced riders ride a 700 to 1000cc sled. A 600cc sled is an entry level mountain sled. But I must say a newer model past 2005 has suspension/ fuel management / gear advancements light years beyond the older sleds. A 1999 year 800cc sled will not handle or keep up with a 2008 600cc sled because of throttle response, handling etc... but there is rider experience.

So on a flat away most cc sled are the same but out here when you get into the mountains then track and engine size make a difference. And the biggest input is rider experience.

Lots of guys on here will tell you on the mountain it is common to only have one ski on the ground and the good riders have the both skis off the ground for great riding. Not that they are acting crazy but to be able to maneuver in tight places you need less of the sled on the ground. All the while messing in powder from a foot to several feet. That is why you need the horsepower and track size and the experienced riders will tell you your best friend is the throttle.

When in doubt throttlle out.

So when you do go riding a nice ride would be a 600 cc 144 but to really experience western riding I would look at a 700 cc sled and maybe ride an 800with experienced western riders around you. Plus most places will rent air cooled to anyone , 600-700 to unknown riders and 800's to the choosen few.

So when you go looking aroiund for places to visit the type of machines will tell you what conditions they want you to ride and not what the area terrain has to offer.

Exceptions are off course legal liability. Like here in California where most insurance companies tell shops to require renters to keep the sled below 25MPH. My personal sled would overheat if I rode under 25MPH to powder but i would be lucky to be going 25MPH in 4 feet of powder.

So to conclude look at what sled clubs ride in the area while looking at what rent shops have to rent.

 

[donbrown]

There are few places to ride from the "front door of the cabin" that has the very best in western sledding.

West Yellow Stone, Cooke City, and so on. Much more great riding would be done pulling a trailer.

Why, because the good riding places are on public land which restricts construction or there is just too much snow to have a cabin in the area.

It is not uncommon to get 2 feet of snow in an hour at elevation out here.
November and December, March storms are known to be measured in feet.

For time of year. Late Jan then Feb early March. ut it depends on the snow.

 

[tbeaton]

thanks don, that is some really good info. to be honest, i wasn't planning on anything less than a 700. i want to get as much as i can out of this out west experience as possible.

 

[shortstop20]

You said your looking for backcountry riding and big bowls. In which case if you do go to West Yellowstone you do not want to ride IN the park. In the park you have to stay on the trail and have a guide. There's plenty of riding outside the park though.

 

[tbeaton]

def don't want to ride in the park. what about togwotee and the mountain lodge they have up there? what kind of riding can we do out there? we just need a guide that will bring us to the good stuff, no trails and 25mph rides.

 

[donbrown]

You said your looking for backcountry riding and big bowls. In which case if you do go to West Yellowstone you do not want to ride IN the park. In the park you have to stay on the trail and have a guide. There's plenty of riding outside the park though.

IMHO to go a step further I would recommend you taking a tour bus into Yellowstone.

To rent a sled and ride single file behind a tour guide traveling 25MPH or less is the experience you'll have on a Yellowstone tour. Plus you will not go off trail ... unless you want to pay a hefty fine.

There are lots of places to ride. Like I said ... you gotta find a place to rent the right sleds and maybe a great map or tour guide.

I think the best would be to talk to local sled club.

 

[tbeaton]

so are there no guides that will take you up to the mountains? one of my friends that is going went to Whistler a few years back. the place they rented from had guides that took them to nothing but deep off trail powder. the only trails they rode were those to get to and from the good stuff. thats the kind of guide we need, unless they don't exist anymore.

 

[Bigs Apex Turbo]

If want to have some amazing riding West Yellowstone can easily fill that void, West Yellowstone has every type of terrain there is, big hillclimbs chutes, big bowls and yes they have trails as well, but what you need to do is definitley swallow your pride and get a guide from Ace powder Guides, they know the area better then any one else, If people tell you West doesnt have terrain then they dont know where to go, otherwise why do you think several film companys come to West every year to film. Plus the town has a night life and restaurants and plent of hotels. just my 2 cents

 

[tbeaton]

If want to have some amazing riding West Yellowstone can easily fill that void, West Yellowstone has every type of terrain there is, big hillclimbs chutes, big bowls and yes they have trails as well, but what you need to do is definitley swallow your pride and get a guide from Ace powder Guides, they know the area better then any one else, If people tell you West doesnt have terrain then they dont know where to go, otherwise why do you think several film companys come to West every year to film. Plus the town has a night life and restaurants and plent of hotels. just my 2 cents

i'm all for a guide, i just don't want a trail guide, i want a backcountry guide.

 

[Mafesto]

I haven't ridden that many areas, but from my experience, I would................
Fly into Jackson WY
Rent a vehicle,
drive over togwotee pass towards Dubois.
Stay at the Line Shack lodge.
Rent your sled right there.
Ride from your room.
They have cabins or rooms.
Full menu & bar on site.
Have Mike Milton guide you. (I guarantee that whatever you desire for riding, he'll deliver)

The Sawmill & Crooked Creek are both a quick sled ride away for a variety for food, drink & entertainment.


My 2 cents

 

[Sleddingfarmer]

def don't want to ride in the park. what about togwotee and the mountain lodge they have up there? what kind of riding can we do out there? we just need a guide that will bring us to the good stuff, no trails and 25mph rides.

Ive made a trip to Tog each of the last 2 winters. Flat out some of the best time riding a snowmobile ive ever had. It has every time of riding much like West Yellowstone is said to have(ive never been there tho) Hills to climb, bowls to drop into, endless amt of trees to bounce off etc...
That said the place is out on the mtn basically. Your a 40 mins(in good weather) from town/resturants/nightlife... It also is well known and pretty well full from the time they open in Dec til they close in April. Its not the cheapest place to stay at either. There are a couple other places in the vicinity that are cheaper should that be the area you decide on it..

 

[GODEEP]

Go do this, forget the BS of hoping to find good snow in places that will be almost certainly tracked up! If I were you, this is what I would do. I know you want to not spend alot, but this is guaranteed killer riding!

http://www.whistlerhelisledder.com/

 

[donbrown]

i'm all for a guide, i just don't want a trail guide, i want a backcountry guide.

Yes there are guides where the only time you see a trail is when you cut across them to the next challenge.

 

[anziconda]

Cooke City

I can't believe this hasn't been posted yet. For what you are asking this is a no brainer. Great riding of ALL skill levels 5 miles from town. No guide needed for the most part. Just follow the road and turn up daisy or lolo pass and there you are. Lodging is great and the bars are an easy walk(or crawl) from most places there. When we go we stay at the alpine motel. Be sure to know your chit about avalanches though. Great atmosphere and enough terrain to challenge about anybody. Good Luck.

 

[tbeaton]

Go do this, forget the BS of hoping to find good snow in places that will be almost certainly tracked up! If I were you, this is what I would do. I know you want to not spend alot, but this is guaranteed killer riding!

http://www.whistlerhelisledder.com/

yeah thats a bit more than i want to spend.

 

[cmanz28]

I can't believe this hasn't been posted yet. For what you are asking this is a no brainer. Great riding of ALL skill levels 5 miles from town. No guide needed for the most part. Just follow the road and turn up daisy or lolo pass and there you are. Lodging is great and the bars are an easy walk(or crawl) from most places there. When we go we stay at the alpine motel. Be sure to know your chit about avalanches though. Great atmosphere and enough terrain to challenge about anybody. Good Luck.

I'll second that.....its GREAT riding there!!!!!

 

[Milton900]

I can't believe this hasn't been posted yet. For what you are asking this is a no brainer. Great riding of ALL skill levels 5 miles from town. No guide needed for the most part. Just follow the road and turn up daisy or lolo pass and there you are. Lodging is great and the bars are an easy walk(or crawl) from most places there. When we go we stay at the alpine motel. Be sure to know your chit about avalanches though. Great atmosphere and enough terrain to challenge about anybody. Good Luck.

Cooke is the place to ride if u wanna ride west great atmosphere in town, plenty of places to eat and stay and only a short ride to endless backcountry. anziconda is right tho, know your avalanches and talk to a local about common slide areas

 

[tbeaton]

Cooke is the place to ride if u wanna ride west great atmosphere in town, plenty of places to eat and stay and only a short ride to endless backcountry. anziconda is right tho, know your avalanches and talk to a local about common slide areas

well thats a problem, seeing that we are from the east coast, avalanches are not a common place out here. so i think we may stay away from avalanche prone places.

 

[Milton900]

Well for a second choice i would recomend togwotee mountain lodge, only been there once but the snow was great and pleanty of riding areas, can go all day and never see another sled. would definitly recomend a guide if u dont know a lot about avy's out west

 

[donbrown]

well thats a problem, seeing that we are from the east coast, avalanches are not a common place out here. so i think we may stay away from avalanche prone places.

Most good / great places to ride might have areas where there are avalanches.

That is why going with a local sled club or get a guide so you don't spend all day looking for good riding areas. I think a guide is aroung $400 a day but riding with an experienced group of local club members ... priceless.

When you go they should issue beacons and training. They are simple to use but remember the weak link is the operator.