New To Denver

[backcountryislife]

The main reason I rip on vail pass is that tons of people go there to ride when there are SO many other places to go that have as good or better terrain, and no gapers, full parking lots, crazy rangers, or wacked out terrain mgmt policy, and less ski traffic (both on the highway & on the trail).

There are MUCH better places to ride if people would be a bit more creative & look, but they just go where their buddy is going & never bother to realize that they passed 4 better areas on the way.


Oh holy crap! Did I foget to mention it's RIGHT on I-70, making it even worse????? Well... it is.


not that I've got an opinion about it though

 

[sledskiing]

If you are new to the area VP is a good place to start. It is soo well marked that it's hard to get lost. I went there 2 last season (both great days) but it is no where on my top priority.

BCIL is right... I drive past some great riding areas to ride RE's because that's where my friends want to ride and I know the area pretty well. Every year I say I am going to learn more about his riding areas because it is much closer. Also on days when my crew backs out you can always find somebody to ride with at RE's and I'm sure VP is very similiar.

 

[arfrce]

HI gentlemen.

My name is Jeff I recently moved BACK to Colorado. When I lived here last I was not into sledding. More of dirt bikes, an quads. Well time to turn over a leaf. I am getting rid of one of my quads so I can get a sled. And like the OP I am not familier with the riding areas. I have ridden sleds before. SO I am not new to that just new to the places to ride. So as you might guess I am looking for people to ride with as well. You can email me at arfrce@yahoo.com or call me at 479-426-4145. Yeah still have not changed over my number. Oh what is RE's, I can guess that it is a riding area just never heard of it. Thanks Jeff

 

[tudizzle]

Rabbit Ears

 

[smokenjay]

basically even if you live in Denver you still have to drive a minimum of 4 hours to find anywhere worth riding to ride.

You don't know sh** and utah sucks

 

[Mrs Snowrider]

The best thing to do is to join the local club in Denver, the Mile-Hi SNowmobile Club. They do rides two times a month at different locations. You will find some new riding partners, and learn the area. They meet once a month on the first Wednesday at the Clements Recreation Center in Lakewood, just off Colfax and Wadsworth. It takes us 2 1/2 hours to Rabbit Ears, one of our favorites. But, there are many more areas. Come join us. PM me if you want more info.

 

[tudizzle]

You don't know sh** and utah sucks

Utah most definetly does not suck for sledding......but 4 hours to riding from Denver is just crazy?

 

[backcountryislife]

I doubt Jay is talking about the sledding, more likely has a reference to SLC & it's general population.


So, yeah, Utah...


I talk smack about places like RE & VP because I can ride without ever touching I-70 so it's worth it to me to ride at a place that's maybe a small notch down in snow quality depending on the day (and more likely the wind!)

The guys that live in denver have a solid drive either way so the extra hour probably doesn't matter as much to them. for me it's 5 min compared to 1 hour minimum & a hellish return drive. I have to admit RE is a cool place I just don't like how flat it is in so many places, but it is fun riding with other people! (unless you get seperated when it's snowing & you're running on empty & you don't know where you are)

 

[fitler]

I knew VP post would get some quick responses. I have to admit that i'm a little bias since all of our sled are kept up in summit. I really just wanted to see why there seemed to be a stigma on the forum about it.
As i may have mentioned parking is a absolute circus. Could be much improved but it is plowed ridiculously bad. and they let cars park at top of the road even when the regular car lot isn't full.
The rangers that i have delt with have been pretty worthless. I think they should have to stay until the last trailer is gone. Not that they would find anyone at night but it seems like my tax dollar shouldn't be just paying rangers to write tickets. teach them some search and rescue or something.

I thought that they changed the prices on the tickets last year to $7 but i may be mistaken as i had a pass.

Anyway for the first time all of our equipment should be up to sprawling out a bit. come a ways from packing three sled on a two place and the fourth in the back of the truck. So we are definitely down to riding some new areas. That club sounds like sweet pretty sweet deal.

 

[AndrettiDog]

I agree Filter, VP does fire people up (including myself).

It's just that it's a circus out there. Last year I was driving up the first part of the road and cut up (where so many people do). I got the finger from some x-country skiers that were laying stuff out for some sort of training or project. They didn't bother to cone or rope anything off though so nobody could tell. They seem to think that is there spot.

The parking is a joke. The biggest problems i that the sledders get there before the plows hit it very effectively. CDOT's priority is I-70, not the sledders. Maybe Vail Task Force could start plowing?

The ranger stuff is another joke. They just basically took advantage of a high use area and started charging people because they knew they would have to pay. I grew up in the Vail Valley and that was literally my back yard when I was a kid. We never paid before, but they came in and starting charging.

I guess I'm spoiled at my other spots. We usually get out and 2-4 of us ride and never see another person all day. Then you deal with the fuktards at VP.

 

[icedrop]

I agree Filter, VP does fire people up (including myself).

It's just that it's a circus out there. Last year I was driving up the first part of the road and cut up (where so many people do). I got the finger from some x-country skiers that were laying stuff out for some sort of training or project. They didn't bother to cone or rope anything off though so nobody could tell. They seem to think that is there spot.

The parking is a joke. The biggest problems i that the sledders get there before the plows hit it very effectively. CDOT's priority is I-70, not the sledders. Maybe Vail Task Force could start plowing?

The ranger stuff is another joke. They just basically took advantage of a high use area and started charging people because they knew they would have to pay. I grew up in the Vail Valley and that was literally my back yard when I was a kid. We never paid before, but they came in and starting charging.

I guess I'm spoiled at my other spots. We usually get out and 2-4 of us ride and never see another person all day. Then you deal with the fuktards at VP.

Nothing worse than a bunch of pretentious x-country skiers. I've caught them using our trails more than a few times. And, yes, it sure is one of the downsides to VP.

 

[Waldo11]

Thanks all for the replys. I'll definetly have to look into the club route.

I'm sick of summer. Need to move to Alaska

 

[backcountryislife]

Thanks all for the replys. I'll definetly have to look into the club route.

I'm sick of summer. Need to move to Alaska

HA

I thought the same thing till I went there a few weeks before we were done riding here & NO ONE could ride there because of all the rules about access.

The areas that you can ride in year round require a chopper

it cost me $800 to go ride for a day, then I came home a week later & went riding about 5 min from my house & had WAY more fun. If you want to avoid summer, don't move to Alaska... Move to Clear Creek!!!


btw, it's humid as sheeeeeaaaaatt up there in summer, no bueno for me!


oh and Jeff... Douchebaggery, it's a word, look it up. it's under the title "large city inhabitation" in websters! (admittedly hard to find, I understand)

 

[fitler]

there are alot of xc skiers at VP. I like to burn passed them on the trail. My arctic cat 800 came with the loudest can you have ever heard. I didn't put any $ into that sled so never changed it. I guess i'm a big reason why they want us off the trails because i come though with no mercy. It must be so loud. I have to this date not heard a louder sled on the hill. It is awful. I just don't understand how xc could be enjoyable. One day someone was like i'll take the worst part of skiing and turn it in to a sport. Even in the olympics it sucks unless they are strapped with the rifle.
And at what point was it written that if you xc you have to drive a Subaru outbacks? Then at the end of the day all the subarus get together and set up a Japanese road block on I70.

 

[Rprecision]

I think VP is great...............for everyone else.

I'm serious I think everybody should sled there!

 

[FCR112]

I think VP is great...............for everyone else.

I'm serious I think everybody should sled there!

Haha I like where you are going with this