Hill climbing

[rasp112]

Okay i'm going to admit it!! I cant highmark every single person on this forum or any sled that crosses my path! haha

Actually i would really like to learn how to.. I ride an 07' RMK 600 bone stock and know that im not going to shoot over the top of every mountain.. But i really do enjoy riding with bigger sleds and trying to climb with them. its fun to try and work my sled around and try to get up where i shouldnt be..

So does anyone have any pointers on riding methods tricks or whatever on hil climbing.. i feel like a lot of the time i"m not making it higher on steep hills because of MYSELF.. Not that the sled cant perform.. Sometimes i feel like im turning out too soon.. But also i feel like im going to get stuck at the same time.. Do i need to get a better run at hills? more side to side movement as i begin to lose momentum? I'm not sure what the best thing to do on the smaller sled

So if anyone has some help on the matter i would greatly appreciate the pointers and advice

 

[Rev Rider]

My advice would to get alot of momentum at the bottom of the hill, also when you start to lose momentum start carving back in fourth for traction or go into a sidehill. That would be my best advice for a smaller sled

 

[markoo]

A big advantage with a smaller engine is ground speed at the bottom of the hill. If you can get a long run before the hill you will climb higher. Another thing you can try is not to go straight up. Start on left or right of the hill and go up at an angle. You will have better traction if you are side cutting abit. This way you can turn out of a climb at the last possible moment without getting stuck. And standing up always helps for control.

 

[rasp112]

Okay.. when im trying to climb at an angle up the hill and lose room (say in a not very wide area) should i try to cut at an angle the other way and continue doing that up.. would i lose track speed or start to dig more in the snow as i switch to the other direction?

thanks fro the help i can see how those methods would work.. i ususally try to go up straight with ballz to the walls then start to carve more as i lose momentum but maybe it might be better to start the climb angling the whole way up so i can keep momentum

 

[Rev Rider]

Yes you will lose a little speed cutting back the other direction but it will get u higher than say turning out

 

[rasp112]

haha aint that the truth.. but i guess my only concern is losing enough speed that i start to trench and get stuck.. i dont like getting stuck on steep hills! but i guess if thats what it takes to learn to get higher its worth it

 

[trench]

H.P. = highest climb

You need h.p. or you will never ever climb .
I'm only generalizing , not many other factors play a big role.
Especialy in all the new mountain sleds today.

 

[snowmobiler]

right when you start loosing power and slowing down,hit the noss button.
my advise is...its better to turn out before you roll your sled.

 

[rasp112]

I agree about the hp comment i would like to get a bigger sled next year either a 7 or 800. But on that same not ive seen some guys on 600 make people on bigger sleds look foolish.. i think that hp is important but rider technique and skill play a big roll also.

Im guess im not really looking to make every high mark on every mountain. I just know i can get my sled higher than i currently do and was looking for some pointers on how to make my performance better and get higher!

thanks though for everyones help.. i'll try that out this weekend

 

[XC700116]

I agree about the hp comment i would like to get a bigger sled next year either a 7 or 800.

Dude don't buy another sled just send your to Carls Cycle and get the 660/685 or 860 kit put in it. Then you'll have all the Hp you want without taking the beating on selling yours and buying another new one.

Also you are right technique does come into play. You can also try some suspension adjustments to get the chassis to it's full potential. there are a lot of threads in the Polaris section that would help you.

Clutching is another one to play with. You might not be getting all the hp that your 600 is already making.

 

[Himark]

Track poach and side hill to pick up momentum then turn back up hill.

 

[NoSecondChances]

Track poach and side hill to pick up momentum then turn back up hill.

I have no respect for track poachers unless you need to make it up that hill to continue riding with your buddies.

If it is just for bragging rights in some bowl...Track poachers deserve a kick in the nuts.

Braaap:

Do your best, climb as high as you can, try different techniques til you find what works for you. Try standing farther forward/backward on the machine, tighten that limiter strap up, etc. Do the best you can and have FUN! if you don't make the highmark, no one will fault you for it with a 600 against some 800's, as long as you are out there doing the best you can and having fun! I don't get too worked up about highmarking, since there will always be someone with more HP who will come along and beat it eventually. I spent too many years riding with guys who were only concerned about making the highest mark on the first hill we arrived at, when we should have been exploring and boondocking and discovering and finding cool little spots to play in.

 

[MtnCrazy]

All you gotta do is come watch me look and learn, if the moon was any closer I'm sure I could get there

Kidding I actually suck as a rider, but I have a lot of fun out there!!!

 

[aebsledder]

hill climbing

I agree with no second chances. Not that hill climbing doesn't take skill, it does. But I have seen lesser riders point a turboed apex straight up, hang on for dear life, and crush everyone. I would just work on your technique and have fun. If you get a chance watch the Jackson Hill Climbs. There are dudes that make it to the top every year on basically stock 600's.

 

[Why Not]

Ya got what ya got, but don't put yourself and everybody else in danger by sidehilling on a climb. When you run out of HP turn out and come back down and be happy until you can afford more HP. I hate it when were trying to make a line up a big pull and some guy heads up and runs out of mow so he pulls out and cuts a big trench across the hill. I've put 2 friends to rest from guys pulling that $hit on the hill. It's already dangerous enough making a straight pull. Once anybody carves a line across a big hill, it's time for everybody to move on.

 

[AaronBND]

I've put 2 friends to rest from guys pulling that $hit on the hill.

You had 2 buddies die going across someones sidehill trench??? Huh?

Aaron

 

[shortstop20]

^^^^^^^^^^
Ditto.

 

[HighonBoost]

In deeper snow the odds are against you when your up against the bigger sleds; but my advice to get better at climbing is increasing your confidence. Find yourself a smaller hill thats untracked but one that you know you won't be able to make it to the top and just go until you get er' stuck. Once you teach yourself how to get your sled unstuck on a steep incline you won't be as sketched out and have more time to think about your line. You'll also be much more relaxed and be able to be 'in tune' with your machine.

Trackpoach and sidehill all you want on a climb. If the hill looks vulnerable to slide why would you even be climbing on it in the first place?

 

[rasp112]

Thank you everyone for the pointers.. I think I will try them out soon and see what I can do.. I dont really care if i high mark everyone.. That wasnt really my issue i just knew there was something that i could change in my riding to get higher and be a better hill climber!! I think some of the suggestions here will help me a lot! i would never want to put myself or anyone at risk..

I have fun always trying.. I usually climb standing with my feet back a little farther on my running boards and leaning forward.. is that the bst stance for climbing? or is there a better way to do it

 

[Why Not]

For those of you who don't understand avalanche danger. A hill can be relatively safe and stable as long as the track is going up. As soon as you cut a line across it you can take it from relatively safe to extremely dangerous.

I have had two friends die from avalanches caused by guys cutting lines across the hill. The guys who caused the avalanches lived and just seeing the guilt they have to live with was enough to stop me from being stupid.

Do what you want, but remember it's not just your life you have in your hands. At the very least make sure the guys below you are not waiting for their pull at the bottom of the hill when you do it.