How many of you have needed a few more bodies to go on a trip and you posted something on here to find someone and went with guys you did not know? Every year it seems harder & harder for me to find bodies to go on my once a year trip that I look forward to all year. I keep thinking that I will have to post something in here to find someone to go with but so far people have stepped up at the last minute. I have had 2 years where it was just another guy and myself that made a 16-18 hour drive to go sledding. Tough drive and more $ too. Just a little skeptical about it. Not saying that anyone in here is weird or pyscho or anything, lol. Just people are different with different personalities.
People question
- Thread starter Delo
- Start date
I am just the opposite. My friends don't have the same schedule as I do and I am continually looking for others to ride with. I find it hard to get a feel for what people will be like and how I will fit in with a group.
I am sure when I post to go out with a group they wonder why I don't have any of my own friends... and what type of a retard I will be.
I am sure when I post to go out with a group they wonder why I don't have any of my own friends... and what type of a retard I will be.
J
JHG
Well-known member
There's a group of riders that come out a few times a year from the city's. They bring a tractor trailer with 20+ sleds in it. I think most either drive separate or fly out. You might check with the local dealerships and see if you can hook up with them. The ones I've met seem like good people and might save you some $$$$.
I think you actually might want to say it, its pretty obvious plenty are!
There are a lot of people that just arent in big sledding circles, but via snowest have made large groups of friends to go sledding with. I know i have met at least 3-4 people on here who I have become good friends with just from a PM asking about this or that.
You definately are at risk for pickin up some weird people, but get the word out early, chances are you will find some really good/nice people.
Almost everyone I ride with I have meet on the sled forums. Over the last 15 years I would guess I have went on trips with somewhere around 40-50 different people. Out of all of those trips there has only been one person that "wacked" out on me. Bad thing for me was that it was only the two of us on that trip. Wouldnt think twice about going with someone I havent meet before. Eric
I struggle with this from time to time. I have seen guys in my group come and go due to financial, kids, other hobbies etc. I have made some lifetime friends due to sledding and some not so good experiences. I like every other sledder wants to diminish the cost by adding people and all the while not just lowering the cost but making friends at the same time. All I can say is just keep trying! you will find good peeps that are just as committed as you.
Best story is I met a guy on here 5 or 6 years back and he seemed like a real good guy/rider...............right up to the time he left me ALONE in a deep pow bowl in the dark and i made it out to find him at the mtn bar 2 hours later! (almost punched him) Hated him from that minute forward. Then bad enough I have to share a room with the guy, next day I finally find departure from him and as I am getting ready to unhook my trailer I walk back to take a pizz i come back and find he is taking a chit right by the jack..needless to say he will never be riding with us again!
Best story is I met a guy on here 5 or 6 years back and he seemed like a real good guy/rider...............right up to the time he left me ALONE in a deep pow bowl in the dark and i made it out to find him at the mtn bar 2 hours later! (almost punched him) Hated him from that minute forward. Then bad enough I have to share a room with the guy, next day I finally find departure from him and as I am getting ready to unhook my trailer I walk back to take a pizz i come back and find he is taking a chit right by the jack..needless to say he will never be riding with us again!
Himark.....its funny you say that. The one guy I had problems with also "just left" while out riding. We had joined up with another group of guys that I know and this guys just disapears. We spent SEVERAL hours looking for him and found him hours later on the trail. He just decided to ride over to the other side of the mountain to take a break and get something to eat!!!! Everyone one of us wanted to kill him. To top it off it was great snow too. Nothing like wasting a bunch of peoples time looking for someone that just decided to ride off on there own. Eric
never gone on a whole trip, but definately thought about it, same reservations as you. Met up with people from the forum and rode once we got there, that worked out great. same boat though need other peeps to go on trips with since my ridin buddy has limited time off
T
theultrarider
Well-known member
A couple years ago my normal riding partners for one reason or another were mostly home bound that year. I met up several times with guys from this forum to ride with. No overnighters, but day trips. Of a couple dozen guys, there are only a couple that I don't care to ever ride with again. Most have been great people and a couple have become good freinds with or wothout snow involved. Alot of great folks in this sports, and a handfull of the jerks that we all get judged by.
I know I run the risk of getting some odd balls but all in all it seems like everyone in here is good. I guess to be safe I would just post what kind of guys we are, how boring we are lol, and what our riding style is like. I know over the years people lives change, loose interest, financial things change. So not upset with the few guys I ride with I just look forward to going out west each year and want to keep going, this will only be the 7th year.
O
Oregongirl
Well-known member
I cannot even begin to count the number of people from the forums that we have hooked up with over the last several years. As of right now, we've never had a bad experience. BUT - we are necessarily travel WITH THEM....just meeting up in the same location, or having them guide us in their back yard, etc.
As for someone leaving you or abandoning the group. That is pure and simple BS!!! I would say just be sure you have some "rules of engagement " established. Things like Got Beacon, Got Radio, Got your own dam water??? These simple things can be a big clue about their "preparedness".
As for someone leaving you or abandoning the group. That is pure and simple BS!!! I would say just be sure you have some "rules of engagement " established. Things like Got Beacon, Got Radio, Got your own dam water??? These simple things can be a big clue about their "preparedness".
I think that common sense should be applied, but you never know with some people. I would explain riding style and what kind of people we are. Backpacks, food, beacons, shovels, and definitley your own water. That is one thing that is hard enough to share with close friends, lol. Also one thing I need to consider is the 16-18 hour drive. I guess I will know after a little bit in the truck if we will get along or not. Will just have to wait and see what happens. Went out once with 3 people that I knew and I guy that I did not. The guy who I did not know - man he talked himself up - I was like wow I cannot wait to see him ride, maybe learn some stuff. Huge disapointment, nice guy helped dig out when stuck - but could not back the talk with the riding.
J
JHG
Well-known member
j/kOn a serious note, I'm sure if you know the dates you're going to be around you can find plenty of people that live out here that will ride with you too. I know it doesn't help with gas but if they turn out to be a freak show you are only stuck with them for a day and not a whole trip. You might find better areas to ride if you go with some of the locals.
I have met up with several people in different states and always seem to go ok. Riding style is important one time i spent all day helping a guys wife get unstuck while he just keeps riding. Other then that all good.
Oh I have no doubts I could find some good local people to ride with from the area we are planning on going (Grand Mesa). But if I can get 4 guys instead of 2, gas price is cut in half. Saving money, I like doing that, lol. But BigHoe you are right if we hook up with someone out there and don't get along it is just 1 day vs. 7 days with someone from home.
I have been dwelling on the same idea, I just moved to a new area and dont know the riding areas to good and all my riding buddies are a good 5 hours away.
E
enis750
Well-known member
I too have to travel 10+ hours to ride
No problem finding guys to ride with, as I really only ride w my bro in law
He has introduced me to a bunch of dudes that he rides w, that are stand up dudes
a few i dont care for, but hey it is what it is
TO be honest, I dont think I would ride in the hills w anyone else, other than him
this is only my 3rd year riding out west and am still learning A LOT - I don't trust anyone else to ride with or even make the drive out there
we have seen some chitty hwy's and he gets us home every year unscathed
also, he knows my riding abiliites, probably better than me!! hahaha!
I know he wont take me where I cant make it, but at the same time will push me to learn and get to be a better rider
couldnt ask for more
No problem finding guys to ride with, as I really only ride w my bro in law
He has introduced me to a bunch of dudes that he rides w, that are stand up dudes
a few i dont care for, but hey it is what it is
TO be honest, I dont think I would ride in the hills w anyone else, other than him
this is only my 3rd year riding out west and am still learning A LOT - I don't trust anyone else to ride with or even make the drive out there
we have seen some chitty hwy's and he gets us home every year unscathed
also, he knows my riding abiliites, probably better than me!! hahaha!
I know he wont take me where I cant make it, but at the same time will push me to learn and get to be a better rider
couldnt ask for more
I posted on here and HCS last year before going to Cooke and found 2 guys to go with my brother and I. We didn't know them and they didn't know each other. We found a guy with an 800 crossfire and a guy w/an 800 SKS. Everyone got along fine (for strangers) and at the end of the trip after playing in 2 1/2 feet of fresh powder for 4 days and digging out sleds constantly we all still got along. At first it was a little awkward because nobody knew anything about anyone else but 15+ hours in the car is plenty of time to get to know people. I'd ride with strangers again in a heartbeat - I'll pretty much ride with anyone who seems normal once.
