Need information about Albany

[blackhillsrmk]

Taking six, mostly new riders, to Albany in two weeks. Need information on dos and don'ts, where to go and where not to go. Have heard up top gets a little dicy in bad weather. Not looking for info on anybodys "honey holes" but would like some good riding to get some of these guys hooked on sledding. I hear that the best snow is on the west side, but how far do you have to ride to get to some decent POW without taking them on a 100 mile ride. I was also told that they don't rent avy gear at Albany because it isn't a real concern, but I just don't buy that. I won't ride without it and need to know where we can rent beacons nearby. And advice is greatly apreciated. thanks!

 

[rev*baron]

What weekend you coming?
Come pick me and my sleds up in Loveland, CO and I'll guide you for free as long as you want.

I'm flying in on Sat. the 16th to Denver at 7:30am and I can take the Supershuttle up to Loveland where I keep my sleds and trailer. I just don't have a truck to get to the range.

I know the area well as I used to put out the safety kits all over the Range for a few years.

I have 2 extra beacons and several backpacks, shovels, snobunjies, ect...

What kind of riding experience do these folks have? Types of sleds?
Safety is #1 priority so looking for people that ride sober and aren't a bunch of cry babies if they get stuck......cause gettting stuck is part of the game.

I can find POW in about 10 miles up the trail out of Albany. The "great" stuff is on the backside and is about 25 miles or so. I usually take the back roads off trail going there to make it more fun. When the snow is real good you don't even need to go that far to just play in the meadows. You can shorten up the trail ride a ton if you load up the sleds and just drive 15 miles up to Greenrock parking area and take 130 hwy/trail to get to the backside.

Everyone needs a jerry can too. Don't leave the parking lot without extra fuel.

 

[dansyl159]

I don't believe there is anywhere out here that rents beacons. I always wear one and advocate their use, but coming out of Albany with newbies you COULD be just fine w/o them. There are a couple of slide areas on the backside, but for the most part it's large open meadows that are easily navigated.

If you could hook up with Chuck(revbaron) you'd be damn tickled.

 

[tmk50]

Riding out of Albany there are several "loops" you could do on the trails and hit a bunch of meadows and drainages near the trails and stay very safe and show them a good time. If they are new and you are trying to get them hooked on sledding you probably just need to make sure they stay warm and don't get stuck too often.

Going up from Albany - especially this time of year - IMO you want to get up in elevation since the sun is higher in the sky and the temps are generally warmer. IMO don't even bother getting off the trail until you get past the Spruce Mountain lookout (roughly 6 miles up on trail Q). If you hit a cool day or it is snowing you may be able to jump off sooner. Generally there are decent areas off of trail T (Nelson Park etc) on the way up to Libby flats, but that can get tracked up in a hurry on a weekend since it is the main road towards the top of the mountain. If it is a clear day and the wind is not blowing you should go up and show them the top of the mountain - when I was guiding up there in college everyone always wanted to take a ton of pictures up there when the visibility was good.

The Avy gear subject (I always wear my beacon) - my parents ride out of Albany all the time to and from their cabin. They hit a ton of forest service roads and areas around Rob Roy and never wear beacons. The most important avy gear sits on top of your neck - as Dan mentioned, you can ride out of Albany and could easily stay out of any trouble areas. Not condoning riding without avy gear, but if you can't find beacons to rent, don't cancel your trip

 

[excav8ter]

Make sure you look over a map of the area and know where the reservoirs are....and then DO NOT go on them.
Beyond that, just keep your eyes open for places to explore.

 

[blackhillsrmk]

Rev*Baron…I really appreciate the offer, but we are going down on the 21st and back on the 24th. Sure wish I could make it work, especially on my first trip down there. How often do you get out here? Wouldn’t mind following you around for a few days if the offer is good on future trips!!!
This group will be quite a crew as far as experience goes, but most new to mountain riding a couple new to riding all together. No boozing while riding, saving that for the lodge. No crybabies…they all know that you aren’t riding if you aren’t stuck!!!
I will be taking my two sleds and we are renting the rest, so all will be on long tracks. Good meadows and some back roads will be perfect for this group. Nothing too steep, not a huge hill climber myself.
OH…and thanks for the fuel comment. I was going to ask that in my original post and forgot.
Dansyl, tmk, Excav8ter…Thanks for all the info. This puts my mind as ease a little regarding the beacons. You recommend a map… I assume they will have those at the lodge when we pick up the rentals. The terrain described sounds perfect for what we are looking for on this ride. I hope everyone has a blast and it turns into a regular desto for this group and maybe even the Cooke and West fans that I ride with. (if you boys are reading this)

 

[rev*baron]

My offer always stands. I'm always looking for someone to ride with and show them what mountain riding is all about.

The trail map at the lodge is good, but also pick up the ATV map as it shows the forest service roads which aren't marked on the snowmobile map. There are lots of them up there that can lead you to some fun places that aren't always apparent.

One more big thing.....besides the reservoirs is the Springs! They (holes) come out of no where and will eat you and your sled for lunch. That's why you carry a snowbunjie and some slick tape (kevlar 20ft tow strap made by snowbunjie).

Here's a spring hole to give you an idea. Luckily this guy had on his tek vest that saved him some broken ribs. His wrists were mighty sore from the landing though. We used our shovels and dug him out and then hooked up the tow straps and bunjies to help get the sled out.