Helping Out Fellow Sledders?

[94fordguy]

Agreed. I have been on both ends of it... my buddy and I helped a guy get his sled out of a 6ft deep tree well alongside the trail he fell into one time, numerous little stucks here and there that you may come across, etc, but so far we have not seen anything serious.

On the other end I once had a mechanical breakdown and my buddy had to pull me back off the hill to the truck which was parked at the lower snowpark nearly 20 miles away. A few other sledders followed us down off the hill and when they heard we were parked at the farther park they offered me a ride to my truck once we got to the closer park which was only 11 miles away. It was dark out and getting cold, they got me to my truck and I drove back up to get my buddy and our sleds waiting at the upper snow park... I actually ran into those same guys this past season on the same hill and thanked them again, sure enough, they remembered me and we had a good time BSn...

You never know what might happen up there so its always best to make sure everyone is doing good... winter may be a really fun season, but it can also be deadly if you get stranded...

 

[AZ800]

Always try to stop and help, even just someone stuck. It's always nice to have an extra set of hands pulling!
Have had several instances over the years where the people were inexperienced, lost or both. I'm confident it saved a few people from a long cold walk out...or worse!
Had 2 couples from IA stuck up int he snowies once. Guy pulled up on a sled while we were de-icing some other guy's XLT fuel line...looking for rope. They had one of their heavy @ss rentals over the top of a dam and couldn't get back out. Followed the guy back there, saw where he was going and when me and my buddy hit the dam, we launched it, like we were earlier in the day...almost landed on the stuck sled!
Took us about 20min to get teh sled dug out, turned around and rode out for the folks. They were very appreciative. Didn't know they were only a couple miles form the warming hut...one of the girls asked my wife if we were search and rescue!

 

[Scott]

Been there and done that. We helped a couple of knucklhead that missed a corner on a logging road at Lolo Pass a couple years back. Sleds were 50 feet over a STEEP bank. Had about 6 guys roping and pulling each sled back up on the road.
Didn't kow em from Adam...had to stop...that's how it goes.

 

[Scut Farkus]

always stop and offer assistance. as much time as i spend upside down, stuck or out of gas, i need to have karma on my side. sometimes it's as easy as giving directions or lending someone a tool that they need.

 

[TheFlyingFynn]

Our group ALWAYS stops to help. Even if it looks like they can probably get it out, we always stop and make sure everything is ok. Sledders or not, it doesn't matter.

Last year when we were coming back after a long day of riding. We were loading sleds when a guy approached us and said that two of the CC skiers in his group never came back. We didn't even think twice. We didnt' even wait for him to ask. We knew what to do. There were only four of us left on the hill so we split into two groups and headed off. It took about an hour to find them but boy, were those skiers glad to see us. No jackets, just vests. No hats either. Hell, they would've frozen to death especially since they were at least 4-5 miles from the trailhead and COMPLETELY lost. We gave them some fresh gloves/hats for the ride back.

I swear I've never seen more thankful people than that group of cc skiers. We didn't take anything for what we did but they sure tried to give us stuff. All we asked is that they remember that snowmobilers aren't all bad guys. We're here to help and share the space. It was really nice to see a group of 40 or so skiers so thankful. I'm not sure if we built any bridges that day but I think it certainly helped our cause a bit.

Remember - It can never hurt to stop and ask if everything is ok.

I was with Bigtree on this little search and rescue and hes right they were very glad to see the sleds that day.

You have to do the right thing out there it can go from funny to bad to almost terminal so fast that if you dont help I wont be riding with you.

 

[aux187]

this one occasion we saw two older couples take the wrong chute trying to get to the main trail. They were lucky we saw them. It was around 9am we barely rode 2 miles. To make long story short we finally got out of there around 3pm after that we were done for the day and went home. we didnt see anyone else ride by so it was only my buddy and I

 

[WyoBoy1000]

always stop, helped many people. Once a guy headed off the mountain and couldn't see, he stuffed his truck in a 5 ft drift. we dug him out for 5 hours, then he left no thanks. Don't forget to thank people. Around here the Search and Rescue calls on the locals, they can't sled for beans but you will have over 50 sleds on the mountain in a few hours if needed.

 

[KFD070]

Good to see there are still some good people out there. I suppose every sport or activity is going to have its "yahoos" but I believe sledders for the most part are "Good People". In this screwed up world of kidnapped girls being held for 18 years or a young couple sexually abusing their 2 week old infant.... maybe we're the last hope for this planet. Well some of us anyway! Great stories...keep em coming.

 

[AbnRangerM7]

I have always been very dedicated to helping anyone who needed it. I came across a rider by himself in a state forest with a dead sled. Others rode right by him and didn't even stop. I towed him out of the state forest to the nearest road and then put him on my sled and drove him back to the parking area to get his truck and trailer. Even rode back to the sled to help him load it. He offered me money but I wouldn't take it.

On another trip my brother and I come across a guy by himself stopped along the trail in Upper Michigan with his hood up on a F7. His oil light was on and he had no idea where he was at or how to get back to his wife at the hotel. I gave him a quart of oil and my brother and I led him 20 miles out of our way to get him to his hotel and safely to his wife.

There are many others but this last one is my favorite. After a day of riding we went to a local bar (with a designated driver!) until about midnight. Back at the cabin I was the last one awake around 1 am and heard a knocking on the cabin door. Flipped the outside light on and there stood a rider almost frozen to death. He was shaking so bad he could barely talk. I dragged him in by the wood stove. I could smell the liquor on him. His whole mustache was a block of ice and he only had one glove on. After warming up a little he said he had wrecked his sled and no one came by. He got his sled out of the woods and rode it until he finally saw a house with lights on. (mine) This guy also did not know where he was at and didn't even know where his friends cabin was. I started my truck and outside saw his sled. A Polaris Ultra that looked like someone took an axe and chopped off the top of the hood! No head light, no windshield, no dash, no gauges, even the kill switch was knocked off. Surprised this guy didn't have his head knocked off! I drove him around until 3:30 in the morning when he finally recognized his buddies cabin. Before drunk guy could spill out of my truck I was walking in the front door. All of his "friends" were asleep but one, who was climbing into bed. Un-F*%$ing real! The one guy that was awake said they thought he'd be okay and he'd come back sooner or later! They came by the next day to get the sled. They apologized and thanked me but I was still pi$$ed.
You'll notice that the guys from each event were riding alone!

I never usually thought about Karma, I always thought it was just the right thing to do. But Karma did get me back big time! Some riders here on Snowest turned a bad deal with Team2 into the biggest gift of generosity I have ever received.
THANK YOU!! You know who you are

My apologies for the long reply.

 

[KFD070]

Cool! I'm a firm believer in Karma.

 

[HUNDO]

I will always stop to see if folks need help...even if they're just pulled over on the trail with the hood up. You never know when your wife or kid will be out there stranded and you gotta hope the karma thing will pay off then

 

[xrated]

It all comes down to Karma. If you haven't been in the same spot already....you will be soon enough.

been in the spots so I always stop and see if a hand is needed. Course last time I did I ended up getting electrocuted and frost bitten hands....all I wanted was the bottle of rum I had ran to the bar for.

course I cashed in a ton of Karma when I went west for the X-Ride with spokalo crew. Lots of help getting unstuck, etc, etc.

 

[Tree Boss]

I have always been very dedicated to helping anyone who needed it. I came across a rider by himself in a state forest with a dead sled. Others rode right by him and didn't even stop. I towed him out of the state forest to the nearest road and then put him on my sled and drove him back to the parking area to get his truck and trailer. Even rode back to the sled to help him load it. He offered me money but I wouldn't take it.

On another trip my brother and I come across a guy by himself stopped along the trail in Upper Michigan with his hood up on a F7. His oil light was on and he had no idea where he was at or how to get back to his wife at the hotel. I gave him a quart of oil and my brother and I led him 20 miles out of our way to get him to his hotel and safely to his wife.

There are many others but this last one is my favorite. After a day of riding we went to a local bar (with a designated driver!) until about midnight. Back at the cabin I was the last one awake around 1 am and heard a knocking on the cabin door. Flipped the outside light on and there stood a rider almost frozen to death. He was shaking so bad he could barely talk. I dragged him in by the wood stove. I could smell the liquor on him. His whole mustache was a block of ice and he only had one glove on. After warming up a little he said he had wrecked his sled and no one came by. He got his sled out of the woods and rode it until he finally saw a house with lights on. (mine) This guy also did not know where he was at and didn't even know where his friends cabin was. I started my truck and outside saw his sled. A Polaris Ultra that looked like someone took an axe and chopped off the top of the hood! No head light, no windshield, no dash, no gauges, even the kill switch was knocked off. Surprised this guy didn't have his head knocked off! I drove him around until 3:30 in the morning when he finally recognized his buddies cabin. Before drunk guy could spill out of my truck I was walking in the front door. All of his "friends" were asleep but one, who was climbing into bed. Un-F*%$ing real! The one guy that was awake said they thought he'd be okay and he'd come back sooner or later! They came by the next day to get the sled. They apologized and thanked me but I was still pi$$ed.
You'll notice that the guys from each event were riding alone!

I never usually thought about Karma, I always thought it was just the right thing to do. But Karma did get me back big time! Some riders here on Snowest turned a bad deal with Team2 into the biggest gift of generosity I have ever received.
THANK YOU!! You know who you are

My apologies for the long reply.

I can not believe his group figured he would be alright. I wonder if it's fun being dumb

I also helped two people who had rented two sleds and were out for the day in some deep snow. One had rented a Yamaha Nytro and his buddy had a 600 rev. they both got stuck on flat ground. I helped both of them get unstuck while my friend just watched from atop the the hill. He has a 440 snopro and don't get off the trail. Oh Well I was happy to help these guys and try to give them tips on riding in deep snow, I let them know that full throttle is your best friend in these conditions

 

[Sidehiller]

I've always stopped. There is an a-hole that I can't stand who just happens to sled, and I even helped him out twice in one day. That paid off big time the following year when I was hanging on to a ski to keep my sled from a 500 foot tumble when he showed up and helped. (guy is still an a-hole)

Last year my nephew got upside down under his sled in a creek. A group from out of state came by with a jack and bungees and saved us hours of work.

 

[polaris dude]

At least stop to see if every thing is ok. One time about 2 miles out of Albany Lodge found a family of four on the trail with one sled over a small cliff. They were trying to ride it strait up and that was not working so well. So we turned it down and put our best rider (150lbs) on it and he took it through the trees and side hilled it as far as he could. Then we put ropes on it and drug it the rest of the way. When it was back on the trail they thanked us and offered us a round at the bar. Later that night at the bar they seen us and must of forgot.

i have had stuff like that happen. We ran into a couple with 2 rental sleds and the wife had gotten hers stuck facing the wrong way from the trail, right next to a crick about 30feet off the trail and they were trying to pull it backwards. So we stopped and helped them, then she somehow drove it off again and i just hopped on it and(since i was the lightest clockin in at 105) just floated it back to the trail.

It always is nice to help out those "newbies" to the sport, i think we can all remember having bit off more than we can chew at least once or twice

 

[stem]

Winter time is a harsh time and all other animals with something between the ears go seek shelter and stay out of the cold....but not me
And that is why you should always stop, it could seem like a planned stop by the people you pass but it could be anything from illness to breakdown's, and in the low temperatures people can get seriously injured just by sitting on the sled
But then again, if some one got stuck you always pull the camera out first....

 

[2XM3]

yeah i'll always stop and help where i can...but I have to say towing someone's wadded up sled back 10 miles or so is not gunna happen. Ride back to the truck..for sure no problem,help fix his sled a OK towing? unless its someone I know...no he can come back and get it the next day with his buddies..its probably safer sitting there by itself overnight anyway..lol

Last year my wife and I were riding up Lolo a ways back there. Came upon 2 guys on rentals, guy had his sled upside down wadded up in a small ravine aganist a tree, they had no idea where they were also and no way that sled was going anywhere..took us about 2 hours to get it out of there and a bunch of work. Sled was in sorry shape..hood,a-arm plastic..nasty..
young guy,I asked him what he was thinking going down there and he said it looked cool....and it was his first time on a sled...uhg !!
Anyway I bet his credit card took a worse hit when they gotback to the lodge....lol
messed up my whole day but u do whats nessassary to help.

 

[KFD070]

About 6 or 7 years ago....wife and I and a buddy sitting at one of the cabins having lunch. In rolls a crew of 5 yahoos on sleds so modded they were unidentifiable. Just a bunch of loud mouths who were 3/4 pi$$ed, by the time they were done their lunch they were fully loaded. They took off headin down the main trail about Mach 6. We decided to stay put until they were out of harm's way. About 15 mins later we start headin back the way they had just gone, Got about 2 miles from the cabin and there they were. One Moron didn't make a corner and launched, I mean launched over a bank. Rapped his sled on a tree about 15 ft. up. He was somehow uninjured. Second dork came in behind him but somehow managed to miss everything on his way in. I wanted so bad to just ride by with the big "have a nice day" smile.. but the softer side of me made me stop. These guys had nothing for shovels, ropes or any emergency gear whatsoever....just more booze. Another group of 3 guys came along and it took us about 2 hours to dig these Idiots out. Moral of the story..these A$$es were too stupid to learn. Once they were out they gave us a quick "thanks man" and proceeded to leave in the same manner they left the cabin. 10,000 RPM and snow flying everywhere. Including the A$$ who was towing his buddy. We didn't see them again that day...thank God, but I did my part...albeit with some regret.

 

[CuzzinOlaf]

You gotta help. I've been there and done it. Two years ago we came across a guy who was with his teenage daughter, young son and wife who got sucked down into a tree. We cut down branches, got the bungee out, and spent a good 30 minutes trying to get his sled out. We wouldn't have even known he was there if it wasn't for the abandoned sled on the side of the trail. There is no way in hell he would have got it out without the help of us.

I'm sure everyone does this but ANYTIME I pass someone I give them the thumbs up to make sure they are OK. If they don't respond I stop.

Karma!

 

[Nubulin]

Good poll,

Surprising results to say the least. I guess sledders are not all bad after all.

It sucks to stop and help some idiot, but you have to. That's what mom would want you to do.