So a few guys from work are planning a trip to cooke city over christmas shutdown. I am thinking about bringing my girlfriend along with but she has very little experience with riding sleds would it be a good idea for her to ride out there with us
Cooke City for novice rider
- Thread starter nulty_23
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suitcase
Well-known member
Well that all depends on the group. IMO you can take anyone at any level, if you are willing to take care of them and make sure the are never in harmes way, and they have a good time one to remember, in a good way.
IMO If I was going with a small group of guys that want to ride and do what guys do when it comes time to ride. I would leave my girlfiend or wife at home. I think there is a time for family rides and there is a time for the guys to tear it up.
IMO If I was going with a small group of guys that want to ride and do what guys do when it comes time to ride. I would leave my girlfiend or wife at home. I think there is a time for family rides and there is a time for the guys to tear it up.
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diggerdown
Well-known member
There sure are a lot better places to take her. Just a simple trail ride that drops over dasiy pass could prove to be more than she could handle.
I am doing the same thing in January with me GF. There are places she can go and places she cant. You just got to be sure what is safe and what is not. If she does go and had a great time you will be buying her a sled for the next trip.
Uh, in short, no.
Yeah, what everyone is saying is true, you can take care of her, make sure she's having fun, etc. Cooke City, unless you ride up to the Top of the World, which will be sketchy for snow in December unless we have an epic start to the season, has very little trails for novices. You can ride the novice trails and meadows out in a day, maybe 2 of riding. Then it is all up and down. Heck, as diggerdown says, even the trail over Daisy can be ugly.
Now she might have a great time, but I would say the odds of that happening are not in your favor, especially if you are going with a group of guys.
I speak from experience, I took my wife for one of her first trips to Cooke City and it was not fun for her and she was not a pure novice at the time either.
sled_guy
Yeah, what everyone is saying is true, you can take care of her, make sure she's having fun, etc. Cooke City, unless you ride up to the Top of the World, which will be sketchy for snow in December unless we have an epic start to the season, has very little trails for novices. You can ride the novice trails and meadows out in a day, maybe 2 of riding. Then it is all up and down. Heck, as diggerdown says, even the trail over Daisy can be ugly.
Now she might have a great time, but I would say the odds of that happening are not in your favor, especially if you are going with a group of guys.
I speak from experience, I took my wife for one of her first trips to Cooke City and it was not fun for her and she was not a pure novice at the time either.
sled_guy
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aebsledder
Well-known member
cooke
Lots of variables in Cooke City. If there is significant snowfall, it can be challenging to go anywhere. Much easier to get around if it is hardpack conditions, but if you have never been snowmobiling, I would say it is not a good first timer area.
Lots of variables in Cooke City. If there is significant snowfall, it can be challenging to go anywhere. Much easier to get around if it is hardpack conditions, but if you have never been snowmobiling, I would say it is not a good first timer area.
If you love your girlfriend and value the relationship that you two have I would not even consider it, but if you dont care take her because you probably won't be dating after the first hour of riding if there is a significant amount of snow during that time. I personally think and this my opinion here guys that Cooke is not a place to take a beginer especially early season and with the way that snow conditions have been over the last couple of years its to risky for a beginer. Like someone said Daisey Pass can be sketchy going down and coming back up and Loo Loo isnt much better.
With that I hope that you take all the advise from the guys that have ridden there and make the right decision. If you go be safe and dont forget your avalanche gear and know how to us it......Good luck!!!
With that I hope that you take all the advise from the guys that have ridden there and make the right decision. If you go be safe and dont forget your avalanche gear and know how to us it......Good luck!!!
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diggerdown
Well-known member
If you are coming from th eeast have the guys drop you two off at the Black Hills or norther bighorns andpick you up on the way home. Northern horns are a very good spot to start learning at.
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mtsummitx
Well-known member
A novice or even a beginner rider can have plenty of fun at Cooke City as long as your group doesnt get them in trouble. We have been riding Cooke since the late 80's, i was a little kid riding 2up with my mom or dad for alot of it. And Daisy Pass is not nearly as trecherous as it used to be with the equipment we ride these days. It's all a matter of being smart and remembering the lowest level of ability with your group. Take her, you will all have a blast even if you don't get to get really crazy for 1 trip.
P.S. In the old days when the snow was soft and deep off trail, we had the better riders break the trail and pack a little, and the novice/beginner riders just stayed in their tracks helping them to not get stuck as much. This would work well with your GF as well.
P.S. In the old days when the snow was soft and deep off trail, we had the better riders break the trail and pack a little, and the novice/beginner riders just stayed in their tracks helping them to not get stuck as much. This would work well with your GF as well.
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skidoorulz
Well-known member
Not to mention the fact that you don't have to drop off Daisy or climb up Lulu to get to the really good stuff. There is a whole lot safer way to get back there.
Haven't been to Cooke, but from what I've heard, I would not expect a novice to have as much fun there as other places.
Again, not sure where you are coming from, but like said, Black Hills is supposed to be great. Big Horns I've heard is good too.
Attitude plays a big role here. If they have the right attitude and roll with the punches when they get stuck, cold, etc, then it makes things go a lot better.
If they are willing to learn, bonus points indeed because if after being stuck a few times they are ready to give up, game over. If after being stuck a few times they are determined to figure out what needs to be done to not get stuck so much, great.
Again, not sure where you are coming from, but like said, Black Hills is supposed to be great. Big Horns I've heard is good too.
Attitude plays a big role here. If they have the right attitude and roll with the punches when they get stuck, cold, etc, then it makes things go a lot better.
If they are willing to learn, bonus points indeed because if after being stuck a few times they are ready to give up, game over. If after being stuck a few times they are determined to figure out what needs to be done to not get stuck so much, great.
I was talking to her about it and im going by myself this time and later in the year we will head to another area with a lot more trails just so she gets more experience riding thanks for the advice guys
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