Breakdowns in the backcountry?

[doorider]

little advise

My second snowmobile ride ever required a heli rescue of my riding buddy. It's amazing he did not die that day. He spent 7 weeks in the hospital and and started walking again about 4 months later. It gave me a case PTSD as it relates to this sport.

Here is what i've learned.

#1 Accept the worst that may occure.
#2 Do everything you can think of, all ready mentioned above, to prevent it from happening to you and your friends. Study, Learn and buy the equipement.
#3 Let go of the outcome and enjoy the moment, knowing you have prepared as much as possiable.

I can relate to your feeling of stress. As an expample, I can not ride without my 45lb pack on my back. It's a sense of comfort that allows me to enjoy the day. As I see it... my entire future rides in that pack and the trust of my riding buddies.

Yesterday... 5 sleds go into the back country we call Mandy's Pit. One machine blows a chaincase. 2 of 5 riders do not have the skill to get out of the bowl. ugggg We got back to the truck about 6:00pm with one of the sleds in tow. We had to leave one the hill. As a group we made some "not so good" calls, but we stuck with each other and that's what gets you off the mountain. Preperation and good friends. It' like scuba diving... pick your riding buddys carefully. I have seen people freak out and go into self presevation mode. You need a person you can count on... I really only have one riding buddy that I know would never leave the mountain without me and I ride with him about 70% of the time, including yesterday. You need to have confidence in your riding partners.

Have fun!

 

[AdrenalineAddict]

I ride a very small area that is frequently ridden by the same 40 or 50 guys all year. I ride this area 50 to 60 rides a year and have gone out of my way to help and get to know pretty much everybody on the mountain. Being an introvert at heart, introducing myself and putting my extrovert smiley face on is not the most comfortable, but hopefully when I need help someday some of these folks will remember it's polite to return a favor. I used to have the same anxiety as you but I have lived, rode, and hunted in some of the most remote locations in Nevada, I am now 50 years young and the anxiety is long gone.

 

[EagleRiverDee]

My second snowmobile ride ever required a heli rescue of my riding buddy. It's amazing he did not die that day. He spent 7 weeks in the hospital and and started walking again about 4 months later. It gave me a case PTSD as it relates to this sport.

I totally get this. I broke my ribs riding last year and had I not been wearing a TekVest I believe I might have been flown out instead of riding out (albeit quite slowly and painfully). Since then, I get a case of nerves before riding, and sometimes even while riding. What scares me most is avalanches, but I think being injured like that made me realize that crap can happen in an instant and despite using what we think is our best judgment you only have to make one mistake.

 

[MTdream]

This might go down as the dumbest post of the New Year but here it goes. I am a very nervous/anxious person. I love to ride snowmobile in the backcountry and I am a decent rider. I spend a copious amount of time working on my sled getting it ready for our weekend trips to the mountains. My sled runs great and it hasn't faltered once in three season (09 Summit X with RK Tek 860R). My trouble is once I am in the backcountry I can't get the thought of breaking down out of my head. The area we ride is very remote and the thought of having to drag a dead sled out is driving me nuts. If I could just relax, push the sled and myself to the limit without constantly worry about blowing a engine or hitting something I would have a blast. What do the rest of you guys do? Do you not worry about breaking down in the backcountry? Once I can get past this stupid fear I will have a blast riding again. Thanks.

Is your fear the breaking down? Or the being stranded? Or having to spend the night??? All different solutions for different issues right?

If breaking down is the fear, then go with the most reliable sled made (Yamaha nytro stock), won't eliminate it, but will severely change the fear of breaking down...but if breaking parts is the fear...get accustomed to double riding, as you can get to safety, come back next day get sled out...towing one out is not that terrible, even from the worst locales...have towed out a good number of people who had even dropped into canyons...just takes calmness and persistence...one of the buddy tows works great..and you can either pack it in back pack or mount on sled, or leave in trailer fr buddy to go get if problem happens...

http://www.buddytow.com/

If being stranded is the fear get SPOT satellite messenger Www.findmespot.com. Which allows you to have three levels of emergency messages to send out...we have one programmed to send emails to our riding buddies/wives that we are out safe, and some other riders we ride occasionally with in case we are broke down and need help...and it has a 911 button that goes to a national search and rescues dispatch center...and they will, dispatch to the exact gps coordinates of your message...

If fear is staying over night, carry at least three forms of fire starter ( I carry fire gel, matches, magnesium starter, and two tampons (to dip in tank and then light) additionally, grab two regular space blankets, and my favorite grab one of these

http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/product.php?product=146

I carry this on my sled, and carry the two regular foil space blankets in my backpack...

Also, packing a jet-boil on your sled with one freeze dry meal, will ensure some warm food in your belly for the night...the jet boil is about 2lbs. The bivvy sack is Just over 1/2 pound...so your not adding much weight...


All of the above are real concerns, and things all people in the back country should take precautions for...

P.s. for the record, and so this does not come across as brand snobbery or bashing, I have towed out all brands...

 

[Blk88GT]

I have been part of 3 disabled sleds in the back country. 2 of the instances were A arm fatalities, one was a complete rear axle failure (BDX)

I've been separated from the group at one point for over an hour, with no fuel and the sun going down after I stopped to find a broken shock shaft in the skid (BDX junk again)

Interestingly enough, the group's solution was to leave me on the mountain. My riding buddy and 2 Snowest members were the only guys who were going to stay until I was located. The S+R guy with us wanted to leave and call it in. Go figure. Last time I ever rode with those guys.

Once I got over the initial freak out, I had some great moments of clarity. My main concern was running out of fuel, but apparently an M7 can run for 30 miles without the needle even bouncing. LOL

What it comes down to is trusting your ability and trusting the guys you ride with. Not the usual trust, I mean trust with your life kinda stuff. I've got one buddy I ride with who's earned that.

At the end of the day, the sled is a chunk of aluminum and can be replaced with a swipe of the VISA. Work as a team. Nobody gets left behind, NOBODY.

 

[Himark]

Once I got over the initial freak out, I had some great moments of clarity.

At the end of the day, the sled is a chunk of aluminum and can be replaced with a swipe of the VISA. Work as a team. Nobody gets left behind, NOBODY.

well put

 

[m8magicandmystery]

if ya have one of those good roll up tow buddies to get a sled out easier in your group then alot of tension is gone worrying about what to do if a sled breaks down cause you know it will be doable to get it out...9 times out of ten...don;t fret now about you being that one time...lol..

 

[EagleRiverDee]

Interestingly enough, the group's solution was to leave me on the mountain. My riding buddy and 2 Snowest members were the only guys who were going to stay until I was located. The S+R guy with us wanted to leave and call it in. Go figure. Last time I ever rode with those guys.
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At the end of the day, the sled is a chunk of aluminum and can be replaced with a swipe of the VISA. Work as a team. Nobody gets left behind, NOBODY.

I agree fully. We NEVER leave someone behind. If there's an injury 5 minutes into the ride, we escort the injured out. We never leave them. We're even that way with strangers. We can ride another day.

Appalling that riding partners would opt to leave you, particularly one trained in S&R. I agree, I would never ride with someone like that again.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I ride some pretty serious country..I have a trapping cabin 50 miles from the road....elevations go from 3000 ft at the road to 5000 at the cabin and I have been over 8000 in some of the higher mnts around the area...Temps are commonly -30 to -40 in the heart of winter and I have rode out to meet friends by myself in as cold as -65...not the place for the feint of heart....with that said..no I dont have a death wish..I plan very carefully, I am meticulous about my maintanence..i pack all sorts of gear, and most of all..I use tons of common sense...On ocasion I take others out to enjoy the area(I can ride all winter without ever crossing another sledders track..no one rides this area but us)and the first thing I tell them before we leave the parking lot.." this is serious riding..anything you do puts us all at risk..so ride smart, have fun..but think before you do..if you get hurt out here..its gonna be about 8 hrs from the time you get hurt...till you are in a hospital..just how long it takes to get a chopper out here and back to town...with that said..we have blown motors, broken drivers, wreaked suspensions..its all part of it...yet we always manage to get everyone and everything back to the road safely....dont fear the back country..instead realistically look at you and your riding partners abilities, sleds and knowledge, and do whatever you have to in order to be able to travel safely in the back country....oh..and if someone cant put their ego aside ..dont ride with them........

 

[ndmeathead]

I've read several survival pack, what if, etc., posts and this is the first one I recall anyone mention bringing good pain killers incase of injury. Great idear. I've dealt with some painful chit, never in subzero temps, on a windloaded hill, or with bigfoot watching. Being the anxious type as well I talked the wife into buying a spot/gps combo for my b-day gift that she overpayed for, thanks scheels. They have an app for that!! so the spot can be used with a smart phone now and rough math tells me if it lasts 5 years its a $100 a year fantastic piece of mind.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

I not only carry good pain killers, I also carry nitro glisserin pills , just in case someone has a heart attack, as well as a good first aid kit...

 

[Gmiller]

I've read several survival pack, what if, etc., posts and this is the first one I recall anyone mention bringing good pain killers incase of injury. Great idear. I've dealt with some painful chit, never in subzero temps, on a windloaded hill, or with bigfoot watching. Being the anxious type as well I talked the wife into buying a spot/gps combo for my b-day gift that she overpayed for, thanks scheels. They have an app for that!! so the spot can be used with a smart phone now and rough math tells me if it lasts 5 years its a $100 a year fantastic piece of mind.

Keep in mind that while a smart phone is ON in the backcountry, it has been known to interfere with a beacon signal. I would assume if you put it in an Airplane mode it would be ok and then you could use it in case something happens with your SPOT app. Its just not worth dying over, i would rather have my calls and emails go un-answered then not have my beacon signal clear.

 

[bikerjustin]

This might go down as the dumbest post of the New Year

You are correct

 

[skidoo xp]

You are correct

and you are rude

 

[chadweiser]

bikerjustin dont be a dik head you are most likely the the guy no one wants to ride with. these have been some of the best post i have read. and a great question asked. so that in mind, if you dont like a post then dont read it. and certainly you should keep your mouth shut. as for backcountrypro good luck have fun cause thats what this sport is about, and dont ever think any question is DUMB, just some of the answers you get back are! ( bikerjustin)

 

[IDA rather b sledding]

It also helps to get to know the country you ride in. Even better if you can get out there in the summer. Generally helps alot to have a sense of where you are.

 

[Timbre]

GREAT POST!

The input from everyone has not only been interesting, but very informative as well...which is exactly what this site is all about

Cheers!

 

[PowderCrew]

Well, this is where its a lil' different for me. I really havent had a "great group" for a few years. I head up alone and hook onto a group IF i can. Sometimes I ride all day alone. I've spent 9hrs hiking out, had to leave a sled for over 2 months and times I've had to be pulled out have been CRRRRAZY! That said, I find AWESOME people to ride with! Once knew the guys from the past, never even knew they had sleds til we met on the mountain. Busted an engine mount 3 canyons back and had to get up over 2 HUGE cornices on the way out. Took us 3hrs and both their mtn sleds WORKED HARD! But it was all good, said they enjoyed the "challenge" of getting the thing out! But... I always try EVERY OTHER option than affecting someone else ride! Lost 2 belts in 1 morning... told the guys to keep rideing, I would walk the 7 miles out by trail. I ASSURED them to GO! About a 3hr hike out, ran to town for 2 more belts, got back to the parking lot to find my sled sitting there! Another guy I knew recognized my sled and towed it out for me! I never even saw him that day!

I have never even come close to spending a night. The sleds may not always make it home. Heck, sometimes they'll get left for more than a week... but the bodies ALWAYS make it home... NO MATTER WHAT!

 

[MTdream]

Well, this is where its a lil' different for me. I really havent had a "great group" for a few years. I head up alone and hook onto a group IF i can. Sometimes I ride all day alone. I've spent 9hrs hiking out, had to leave a sled for over 2 months and times I've had to be pulled out have been CRRRRAZY! That said, I find AWESOME people to ride with! Once knew the guys from the past, never even knew they had sleds til we met on the mountain. Busted an engine mount 3 canyons back and had to get up over 2 HUGE cornices on the way out. Took us 3hrs and both their mtn sleds WORKED HARD! But it was all good, said they enjoyed the "challenge" of getting the thing out! But... I always try EVERY OTHER option than affecting someone else ride! Lost 2 belts in 1 morning... told the guys to keep rideing, I would walk the 7 miles out by trail. I ASSURED them to GO! About a 3hr hike out, ran to town for 2 more belts, got back to the parking lot to find my sled sitting there! Another guy I knew recognized my sled and towed it out for me! I never even saw him that day!

I have never even come close to spending a night. The sleds may not always make it home. Heck, sometimes they'll get left for more than a week... but the bodies ALWAYS make it home... NO MATTER WHAT!

Hmmm sounds like some pretty fine people to me!!!

 

[harrysmith500]

This is a great post and should be a sticky. I get bad anxiety in break down/ lost situations. I've found some great info on this thread to calm my nerves.

First thing I'm doing. Adding a second gerber saw to my pack. Adding fire gel and magnesium starter to my pack. Adding 3 space blankets. Adding some rope (to build a lean-to). Adding ibuprofen.

I feel much better already.