hey everyone me and my 2 buddies are heading to cooke city this week, both have rode mountains for a few years,im kinda nervous/scared to go, should i be?haha
first time mountain rider
- Thread starter kreps306
- Start date
C
carlc
Well-known member
Yeah you should be nervous! You guys will be so stuck in the openings you won't even see the climbs! J/k just be cautious, always look at what is above what you are climbing. Only one person on a hill at a time, and be sure to stay out of the runout zones. You guys will have a blast. Stop in at bear claw and see what the Avy danger is each morning. Have fun!
Sent from my iPhone via magic!
Sent from my iPhone via magic!
thanks im actually rentin a sled from bob,thanks for the info too,anyone in that area next friday wed like some company
J
Jaynelson
Well-known member
Naaaah it'll be fun. Don't worry about getting stuck...it's part if the game. You can have tons of fun in the mountains while maintaining very little avalanche risk....just use your heads. Cruise around, enjoy the views and screw around with the terrain features along the way....that's what it's all about.
Gear up your backpack. Shovel, beacon, probe, saw. Radio. Extra gloves and socks, firestarter. Couple bottles of water. A FULL lunch, plus healthy snacks. Powerbars and muscle milk.
Camera.
Take an Avy course.
If/WHEN you leave the trail, learn to ride standing up. Learn to body steer.
Camera.
Take an Avy course.
If/WHEN you leave the trail, learn to ride standing up. Learn to body steer.
All spot on advice so far.
The biggest thing you have to worry about though is hating trail riding once you ride in the mountians.
Having helped/rescued more than a few people from the back country that weren't prepared in one way or another, pay attention to what these guys here are saying, it will make the difference between an enjoyable trip and a less than enjoyable or potentially dangerous situation. No rest stops, bars, gas stations, highways, civilization in the back country. It's you and the mtns! (Part of what makes it better btw)
Tips for getting unstuck. If the snow is good (deeeep) then you'll get stuck, probably alot. Think about how to get out while expending as little energy as possible. 99% of the time hooking up to another sled will do you no good or not be possible.
Stuck on the flats, clean out/pack down the snow along one whole side of the sled til you can see the whole skid. Pack down a launch ramp in front of the sled and under the front end. Move the back end over once to get it up a little higher and on packed snow. Test that the sled will actually move slightly before gunning it or you'll start over again.....and go!
Stuck on a hill, the majority of the time it is easiest, especially with no other help to roll the sled out of it's stuck. Usually you'r epointed up hill when you auger in. DO a little digging and packing, pull the front of the sled around some if you can and then roll the sled over, out of the hole it's in and onto fresh snow. Be careful if the hill is steep that you can control it coming over so it doesn't barrel roll down the hill.
Stuck in some other spot that this stuff doesn't apply to? In general, digging and packing snow is less exhausting than trying to dead lift your machine multiple times.
Have fun.
The biggest thing you have to worry about though is hating trail riding once you ride in the mountians.
Having helped/rescued more than a few people from the back country that weren't prepared in one way or another, pay attention to what these guys here are saying, it will make the difference between an enjoyable trip and a less than enjoyable or potentially dangerous situation. No rest stops, bars, gas stations, highways, civilization in the back country. It's you and the mtns! (Part of what makes it better btw)
Tips for getting unstuck. If the snow is good (deeeep) then you'll get stuck, probably alot. Think about how to get out while expending as little energy as possible. 99% of the time hooking up to another sled will do you no good or not be possible.
Stuck on the flats, clean out/pack down the snow along one whole side of the sled til you can see the whole skid. Pack down a launch ramp in front of the sled and under the front end. Move the back end over once to get it up a little higher and on packed snow. Test that the sled will actually move slightly before gunning it or you'll start over again.....and go!
Stuck on a hill, the majority of the time it is easiest, especially with no other help to roll the sled out of it's stuck. Usually you'r epointed up hill when you auger in. DO a little digging and packing, pull the front of the sled around some if you can and then roll the sled over, out of the hole it's in and onto fresh snow. Be careful if the hill is steep that you can control it coming over so it doesn't barrel roll down the hill.
Stuck in some other spot that this stuff doesn't apply to? In general, digging and packing snow is less exhausting than trying to dead lift your machine multiple times.
Have fun.
M
mtsummitx
Well-known member
Holy Cr@p Man! My training regimen for snowmobiling season is sitting around in the A/C all summer, watching TV, eating junk food and drinking lottsa soda!
Is that why I get so winded digging out? 
remember when you go into the mountains from the flatlands...
you go in a boy and come out a man..
you go in a boy and come out a man..
I'm laughing at some of these posts. You won't want to ride flatland once you go! SO TRUE!! I'd take an avy course for sure and at least rent beacons and probes. BUT you have to practice with them! There are some dangerous places around Cooke so ask the locals where to stay out of this time of year. Don't go into wilderness areas, it just ruins it for everyone when some tree hugger sees tracks going past the signs.
Go and have an awesome time! Some great riding is to be had in Cooke, hoping myself to get there again this season! Welcome to the dark side BWHAHAHA!
Go and have an awesome time! Some great riding is to be had in Cooke, hoping myself to get there again this season! Welcome to the dark side BWHAHAHA!
Your spot on for timing, another fresh dump of 8 inches last night makes around 80 inches on the ground.
Get a Map from BearClaw with the 'play areas', also get the real map from the exon station. Also, rent a Snobunje from Bob. Ask for a small tutorial on how to use it, I would recommend the sled to sled. Also Bob rents beacons, probes, pack and shovels if you need and you will. Don't forget to pack the camera and post some pic's up here.
With all the new snow in the mountains EVERYONE remember to check Avalanche.org for the most up to date reports on riding areas in the west.
Today's Report for Cooke and Bozeman Area.........
Daily snowfall has blanketed southwest Montana over the last 20 days. Winds have been strong, gusty and created wind drifts, most notably at the higher elevation ridge lines where avalanches are likely to be trigger these wind-loading on Buck Ridge south of Big Sky as well.
Talking to snowmobilers yesterday I condensed the entire advisory into one sentence: Besides stability is pretty good. This assessment seems accurate for our entire area. I do not expect folks to snowpit). We’ve gotten similar results in the Madison, Gallatin and Bridger Ranges, but only on a handful of slopes. With the latest round of storms we have not seen natural or human trigger a wind-loaded slopes and skied lines that were not very exposed. step down to deeper layers on select, but not easily identifiable slopes. Dig and test. For today, the avalanche danger continues to be rated wind-loaded terrain. All other slopes have a MODERATE danger
Get a Map from BearClaw with the 'play areas', also get the real map from the exon station. Also, rent a Snobunje from Bob. Ask for a small tutorial on how to use it, I would recommend the sled to sled. Also Bob rents beacons, probes, pack and shovels if you need and you will. Don't forget to pack the camera and post some pic's up here.
With all the new snow in the mountains EVERYONE remember to check Avalanche.org for the most up to date reports on riding areas in the west.
Today's Report for Cooke and Bozeman Area.........
Daily snowfall has blanketed southwest Montana over the last 20 days. Winds have been strong, gusty and created wind drifts, most notably at the higher elevation ridge lines where avalanches are likely to be trigger these wind-loading on Buck Ridge south of Big Sky as well.
Talking to snowmobilers yesterday I condensed the entire advisory into one sentence: Besides stability is pretty good. This assessment seems accurate for our entire area. I do not expect folks to snowpit). We’ve gotten similar results in the Madison, Gallatin and Bridger Ranges, but only on a handful of slopes. With the latest round of storms we have not seen natural or human trigger a wind-loaded slopes and skied lines that were not very exposed. step down to deeper layers on select, but not easily identifiable slopes. Dig and test. For today, the avalanche danger continues to be rated wind-loaded terrain. All other slopes have a MODERATE danger
D
diggerdown
Well-known member
It's you buddies that should be nervous.....they gotta pull you out!
W
WIrider
Member
ditto, what everyone has already said....but to add drink LOTS of water before your go and while you are out there. Start drinking tip you pee clear...staying hydrated helps with altitude for us flatlanders. Beer does not count, sorry. . If you had a good day with a lot of stucks you will probably be too wiped to party anyhow. Have fun and be safe, so you can return. As Travelgirl says, once you go you won't want to ride back at home again....
. If you had a good day with a lot of stucks you will probably be too wiped to party anyhow. Have fun and be safe, so you can return. As Travelgirl says, once you go you won't want to ride back at home again....If you are renting a sled with any sort of rear pouch dont you dare put a sandwich in it.....it will look like someone vommited in a bag when you go to eat lunch. This is a known fact among mountain riders and take it from someone that has been in your shoes.....put your food in your packpack. But in all seriousness and to chime in on what these guys are telling you watch the avalanche danger and be aware of not only your buddies but anyone that is around you if you are climbing and if the avalanche danger is high stay off the hills. I lost a great friend in Cooke last year and it makes me sick to hear that all these avalanches could have been prevented if people would have listen to the avalanche report and stayed off the hills. Have a great time and be safe!
PS
Remember if you aren't getting stuck you aren't having a good time...just saying
PS
Remember if you aren't getting stuck you aren't having a good time...just saying
check this everyday.
Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center
http://www.mtavalanche.com/
Be weary of wind loaded slopes. Cooke has recently had new snow with high winds.
Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center
http://www.mtavalanche.com/
Be weary of wind loaded slopes. Cooke has recently had new snow with high winds.
S
suitcase
Well-known member
eveyone has nailed it.
Avy Gear and know how to use it. If you don't have time to take a avy class, start with the net. and do as much reseach as possible, read read read everything you can. at least youll have something.
Know where you are going, where your at, and how to get out if the weather sets in.
Take it all in, Enjoy! You will want to move out west.
Avy Gear and know how to use it. If you don't have time to take a avy class, start with the net. and do as much reseach as possible, read read read everything you can. at least youll have something.
Know where you are going, where your at, and how to get out if the weather sets in.
Take it all in, Enjoy! You will want to move out west.
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