How big is too big??

[CatWoman]

2-3 is the perfect size for me. I prefer 5 or fewer, but occasionally people show up at the parking lot with a gaggle, which I hate.

Ditto! That's when Glenn and I bag out and go ride by ourselves instead. On occasion, and depending on where we ride to, I can handle bigger groups. But 5-6 is about tops that I can handle. 3-4 is best for me, though I don't mind getting out with just the hubby.

As others have said....you get in a groove with those you ride with often, and can just about anticipate their moves. You know they are looking out for you, as you are for them. In larger groups, there is always someone running off someplace, then you wind up looking for them (while some just stay put and wait)...typically stuck someplace not near to the group.

We watch out for each, and are always looking back to make sure the rider behind us is in view. Once we hit play areas, then we set up where the main meet up spot (usually in the center of play area).....and playing can commence (not too far off), but everyone is always checking back through the *main* place to see how others are doing. It doesn't really work though if you have larger groups.

 

[AdrenalineAddict]

It all depends on what kind of group it is, if they're all self sufficient, 15 or 20 guys can be an absolute blast. You have a chance to see what works, what doesn't. I live for competition, not trail riding or sight seeing. All you need is one sorry rider in the bunch to screw up what could have been a decent ride whether you have 3 guys or 20. After three or four rescues and dig outs I find it real easy to put'em on ignore. Gathering'em up on the way back to the trailer is sometimes done, providing the last stick was in a harmless spot. I've found if there are two handicapped riders in the group they generally adopt each other for the day. I ride with alot of lone rangers, we sort of find each other on the mountain then Rock & Roll!!! I've road with a few overly organized anal retentive groups that carry safety and concern to a queer sort of extreme, that's not much fun each other.

 

[Powlaris rdr]

No more than 5 is perfect

 

[sledjunkies]

3-4 is an excellent size group. We've learned to leave the careless and inconsiderate behind, or leave them in their own group. On our first ride this year, we had a guy who "felt like going back to the truck", and didn't bother to tell anyone. We searched for two hours in an absolute white-out. We gave up, went back to the cabin, waited, then back to the truck and found him sleeping in his pick-up. He has never been invited back, and probably never will be.

The worst thing for me is when everyone decides to pack up and head out. This happens rather quickly at times. They usually leave me behind while I pack up all the camera gear. More times than not, there is someone waiting for me a short distance away.

Basically, we try and pick and choose our groups when possible.

 

[POLZIN]

3-5 is good! the weakest link kinda thing. nothing more frustrating than waiting on a noob in a-hole deep pow. I know they need to learn but powder days are not the time.

 

[Cyle]

I've rode with 4 up to 7, a few times meet up with another group of same size and rode together for a bit, never liked riding with that many people though. 4 or 5 seems great though, lots of people if someones stuck or whatever. I don't think i'd want to ride in the mountains with less then 4 really, if someone really gets stuck with 2 people, your not going to get your sled out. Believe me, 4 of us had a hell of a time getting my sled out last trip to the mountains, I am a pro at getting stuck

 

[skibreeze]

I much prefer small groups, 3-5 that way it's easier to move on to the next area, areas get tracked up slower, and less waiting between hill climbing
Not to mention fewer people means fewer chances for collisions like Bull and I had last year, and Bushmaster vs ?? this year

 

[badass1000]

3-4 is good. 5-6 is the most I like in a group. 3 guys on good sleds that know how to ride is great.
I do alot of riding with just one other guy because not many of my friends can go riding pretty much every day of the week.
In the places we go we would be screwed if we had to tow a sled out though.

 

[Rmk/lolos]

4-6 is a blast if there good riders, seems though lately groups been 7-12 sometime very hectic lots of babysiting.

 

[viper04]

the smallest group ive been in is 12 for the first day then we break apart into groups of 6 for the rest of the time. i dont think 6 is bad but riding with 12 is too much.

 

[CROSSFIREMAN]

3 to 7 in our group normally, I will always lead and we will always have the same person bringing up the back,this works best in our group
I have a mirror mounted on side of windshield, it is easier to look in mirror
than looking back over your shoulder every 2 minutes
radios for me and the person pulling the rear of the pack, if someone gets
stuck or disapears in the trees , that is where the radio is nice
our back guy is the most experienced in our group and we call him GRUMPY!!

 

[Trenchmaster]

My enclosed trailer can fit 5 sleds, so that is how many are usually in our group. More than that and it gets hard to keep track of everyone, but makes for more fun after the sledding is done.

 

[Reeb]

My dad and I have been sledding together for 31 years. We know how each other rides, we know what the other is thinking...and we know when it's time to fire up and roll on, move to a new hill/meadow/clearcut without even talking to each other.

It's weird to ride with new peeps, because you don't have that same thing going with them.

I totally agree. If it's a place we usually ride together, we'll decide to meet up at a certain spot in 10 minutes or so(when leaving the cabin, or leaving the truck even) and end up running into eachother on our ways there. Sometimes never see eachother. Always end up in the same place at the same time though.

Lately I've been riding with buddies which is a little different. Not the same chemistry there but a nod or a wave and that's all it takes. Most of the time the guys I ride with can keep up and go pretty much anywhere I'd go so that's been good, but I've been on a stock sled for 2 years now......I know I get in trouble(with others, even my dad once in awhile) because I'm on my mod, or someone else's mod and fawk off up into some area and they can't follow. It happens, but you try to keep it at a minimum.

Bigger groups is good for Event days. 10 sleds or so and it's a shuttle from one area to the next, don't really get off the path too much unless you stop to actually play in an area. Pretty slow, sit around and bullchit kinda day.....which is welcome once in awhile.

 

[built4dtuff]

I like 3 to 5 but most the time ride with more. When the group is toooo big it seems your ALLWAYS STOPING and GATHERING

 

[Hatcher]

On the snowest ride in Goldlake, our group had 13 +/- somebodys. I was in the back following up and we were on a ridgeline and they all went down this INSANE SHUTE. I had to go because my group was up front.............when we got down t some lake, MY PARTY WAS NO WERE TO BE SEEN AND I AM IN A FOREIGN LAND with a bunch of strangers I didn't know. I was following a bunch of young bucks. The old fart followed the wrong f%&*ing group! I will say this, they gave me a run for my money!!! and were quit helpfull in finding my party. Mike (or dave??), Danielle and Shane Kelly, thanks.

I prefer 4 max. That ride was an exception.

 

[travydog]

i would say two especialy if you have been rideing with the other guy you both know what the other is going to do before you do it i have had more fun when it was just a buddy and me that when it was 10 of us running we always have fun and a good time but it seems like you can do more boondocking and stuff with only a couple

 

[AkHockey10]

we got a big group of 7 riders. everyone knows everyone. everyone has different skill levels. thats ok. sometimes we break up, and ride the hills for a bit then go back down and meet up with the people who are riding the swamps. thats what i like! and i got no problem with that one bit. But, we normally stick together.

 

[jim]

We know how each other rides, we know what the other is thinking...and we know when it's time to fire up and roll on, move to a new hill/meadow/clearcut without even talking to each other.

Exactly...I say that 2 is the ultimate for riding FUN but it's nice to have the extra 2-3 to keep things safe. Towing a sled out, survival, etc. lead me to want to ride with 4-5. BUT, just me and a buddy can cover the most ground and keep track of each other. Riding-wise, the smaller the better, but having a few extra around is nice security for any issues that can and do often arise.

 

[bushy]

Not to mention fewer people means fewer chances for collisions like Bull and I had last year, and Bushmaster vs ?? this year

That was just me and Rotax out that day Dave. Acres of space and we wind up in the same exact place! lol I like 2 or 3 for simplicity, but usually end up with more, and the clusterfuch really gets going around 6. I don't mind leading big groups now and then and showing them the area I ride. Those days are more about making sure everyone has a good time and gets back OK.

 

[Killerk]

I usually ride with my dad, brother, and good friend who may as well be my brother... Ocasionally we have another friend join, and as was said, chemistry is there, we have a great time, limited stops, and I feel comfortable knowing if something went wrong, I am with the right group of people.
Depending on conditions and riders, we have had some great rides with 7-8 people.
I also ride a lot with just 2 of us, and we cover a lot of area, and are usually right on eachothers bumpers... But a few years past my buddy and I had an epic day, broke trail to the top, dropped in the next canyon and my sled let go... No trail out the bottom, late in the afternoon... We made what we thought was the right decision at the time, I broke trail out on my buddies sled, and came back and towed mine out... Things worked out, but the situation was not good and could have turned ugly in a hurry... In hindsite, we didn't have many other options as I don't think we could have broken trail riding double, but I still have that day etched in my mind, and I am much more conscious of situations, especially with just 2 people.
Just a few weeks ago we invited 2 guys whom we ride dirtbikes with "good riders" only to have them bring a whole group, and a girl... Snow was bottomless... We sent 3 back because of sled issues, and had a good ride... But they were beer drinkers and we could not even take our goggles off without them cracking open a beer... All were good riders, and we all helped eachother out... But I couldn't help but think of how prepared they would be if something happened.
Some of them think we are Azzholes for not inviting them anymore, but I don't want to ride with people like that.