Riding alone in the mountains?
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Like I said before in reach, snowshoes... And lastly try to stay close to a groomed trail.. mitigate the risk ... But man I have been out there stuck... With no one... When not if it happens it is a crappy day... 10 miles on snowshoes is way worse than on the bike
I am lucky to where I can stay pretty close to a "road" home that is groomed and still get good snow.. plus having access to various huts sprinkled through the mountains .. besides all the you should make sure someone knows where your going to be and stay in that area
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I am lucky to where I can stay pretty close to a "road" home that is groomed and still get good snow.. plus having access to various huts sprinkled through the mountains .. besides all the you should make sure someone knows where your going to be and stay in that area.
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I broke my collarbone riding solo in early September. I was a third of a mile from a road with no technical sections in front of me, so not a big deal. I could have been 2 miles back with rock gardens in front of me--then instead of being 2 1/2 hours to the ER it would have been more like 6 or so. I had my Spot beacon, so I would have been ok, but add in a punctured lung or a more serious injury? Who knows?
In the winter, no way. If you have little backcountry experience you don't have a good sense of what slopes can slide. A 40' deep creekbed can easily kill you. A cutbank on a groomed trail that has 2' fresh on it can kill you. And when you go off trail, the reality is that a lot of places you'll go only another snowbike or someone on skis or snowshoes can get to you. If they need to bring a litter, that's going to take a long long time.
If the bike breaks down and it's typical Colorado powder with sugar underneath, snowshoes might not cut it. If you drench yourself with sweat and it's -5, you're done.
Lastly, the one injury that seems more likely in the winter than summer? Broken Femur.
In the winter, no way. If you have little backcountry experience you don't have a good sense of what slopes can slide. A 40' deep creekbed can easily kill you. A cutbank on a groomed trail that has 2' fresh on it can kill you. And when you go off trail, the reality is that a lot of places you'll go only another snowbike or someone on skis or snowshoes can get to you. If they need to bring a litter, that's going to take a long long time.
If the bike breaks down and it's typical Colorado powder with sugar underneath, snowshoes might not cut it. If you drench yourself with sweat and it's -5, you're done.
Lastly, the one injury that seems more likely in the winter than summer? Broken Femur.
C
capulin overdrive
Well-known member
Even though I ride alone, I didn't just get a bike a head out to the hills. Have 40 years+ on skis and slowly transitioned into the back country first through skis with Cat skiing and then skins, then I started sledding. Now on bikes.
One great thing about the bikes is that there is usually untouched snow just a stones throw from a trail. So that helps some with the risk factor.
One great thing about the bikes is that there is usually untouched snow just a stones throw from a trail. So that helps some with the risk factor.
I ride alone most of the time. I carry some survival gear including an InReach. I ride the back country both summer and winter on bikes and sleds. The key is using your head and making good decisions. I've been riding solo like this for more than 20 years with no major issues. Some of my best rides have been solo back country rides, so I would say get some training, get some experience and use your head, make good decisions and have fun, but be prepared for the worst.
I used to do a lot of riding alone in the backcountry. It is less and less appealing with every passing season. Two events last winter made me even less likely to ride alone. Simple fouled plugs on a new sled 10+ miles from the truck would have made for a very long difficult walk. Ski Doo told him he wouldn't need a spare set, and no plug wrench even on the sled. He would have been screwed. Another buddy dislocating his shoulder was the other adventure. Getting him out through technical terrain took 4 of us a couple of hours. He would have been screwed.
I am very comfortable in the back country having ridden he same areas now for over 15 years. Even on early season break in trail rides I bring a buddy now.
If you are going to go ahead anyway, make sure you tell somebody you can trust where you are going and when you plan to be back. If you plan to do it often I would carry a locator device as well.
Good Luck, be safe, have fun!
I am very comfortable in the back country having ridden he same areas now for over 15 years. Even on early season break in trail rides I bring a buddy now.
If you are going to go ahead anyway, make sure you tell somebody you can trust where you are going and when you plan to be back. If you plan to do it often I would carry a locator device as well.
Good Luck, be safe, have fun!
alone in the woods
the best safety equipment for riding alone in the winter woods is a set of snow shoes and use them and check them out before an emergency need.
you have complete injury control by your sensible cautious riding
what you can't always predict is bike failure or you might not have the skills to over come mechanical issues.
bikes dead, get out the snow shoes and start walking a slow steady pace and go back to the truck. I have friends that have walked 24hrs slow and steady to get to the truck when the sled broke. Some water and good and snowshoes you can walk for days.
big fresh dump, stay home.........STAY HOME. Early season land mines, bottomless snow in the willows and creek bottoms, wait for good riding.........mother nature will provide.
the sleding lone riders that have froze to death in the area around my cabin over years all went on sunny spring days with no emergency equipment,broke or slid off side hills, fell through rotten snow on warm spring days until soaked and then tried to run home in panic, found within 2 or 3 miles from home, all 1 and 2 year riders that moved to the mtns to commune with nature, with good sleds.......dead now.
the best safety equipment for riding alone in the winter woods is a set of snow shoes and use them and check them out before an emergency need.
you have complete injury control by your sensible cautious riding
what you can't always predict is bike failure or you might not have the skills to over come mechanical issues.
bikes dead, get out the snow shoes and start walking a slow steady pace and go back to the truck. I have friends that have walked 24hrs slow and steady to get to the truck when the sled broke. Some water and good and snowshoes you can walk for days.
big fresh dump, stay home.........STAY HOME. Early season land mines, bottomless snow in the willows and creek bottoms, wait for good riding.........mother nature will provide.
the sleding lone riders that have froze to death in the area around my cabin over years all went on sunny spring days with no emergency equipment,broke or slid off side hills, fell through rotten snow on warm spring days until soaked and then tried to run home in panic, found within 2 or 3 miles from home, all 1 and 2 year riders that moved to the mtns to commune with nature, with good sleds.......dead now.
"you have complete injury control by your sensible cautious riding"
Really...... come on dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What about search and recue????
You willing to endanger others with your bad judgement?????
Not a single person i know could anyone sit down with and convince that it is even slightly okay to ride alone.
This question should never even be asked.
Anyone that thinks it is a good idea or even on the fence about it please keep it to yourself as you may influence others.
This question should never even be asked.
Anyone that thinks it is a good idea or even on the fence about it please keep it to yourself as you may influence others.
Its obvious you still wet your pants at night.
You don't need to repeat yourself 3 times.
If someone wants to ride alone it's their risk and their choice.
This is America.
I prefer to ride with other people because it's no fun riding alone, that doesn't mean I wouldn't ride alone when nobody else is free to go.
Thanks for all the input guys! Obviously it's a controversial topic.
I doubt that I'm going to find others to ride with, unless I trailer up and/or ride over to Breck.
In the long term, if I really get into the sport, then would I be prepared to load up. But I still want to ride the trails around my hood during the week. If I can trail ride over to Breck and meet up with the summit guys with relatively little risk, then that's perfect. That involves an 11,000ft pass though.
A few years back I got some first hand info from a guy who used to sled that route solo. Such a shame that he moved away and isn't into the sport anymore.
I guess if I do my due diligence, I can minimize the risks. I.E. be prepared to spend a night out, have the wife at home checking in on me with the inreach (I use one for dirt/summer). Carry gear to walk out, stick to the trails and learn as much as possible about conditions. You don't know what you don't know and that can bit you in the ***.
Which leads into a good question. How much gear can you carry on a snowbike? I'm good for about 15lb's on my back, but the rest has to go on the bike.
The fact is that I'm going to be out there this winter anyway, since I put studded tires on the bike. Not good for deep snow and most of the riding will be below 10,000ft, but still there's the risk of an unplanned night out in the winter.
My other problem is that Timbersled doesn't make a kit for my 06' KTM 300 xc-w... but I will have to start another thread on that one.
I doubt that I'm going to find others to ride with, unless I trailer up and/or ride over to Breck.
In the long term, if I really get into the sport, then would I be prepared to load up. But I still want to ride the trails around my hood during the week. If I can trail ride over to Breck and meet up with the summit guys with relatively little risk, then that's perfect. That involves an 11,000ft pass though.
A few years back I got some first hand info from a guy who used to sled that route solo. Such a shame that he moved away and isn't into the sport anymore.
I guess if I do my due diligence, I can minimize the risks. I.E. be prepared to spend a night out, have the wife at home checking in on me with the inreach (I use one for dirt/summer). Carry gear to walk out, stick to the trails and learn as much as possible about conditions. You don't know what you don't know and that can bit you in the ***.
Which leads into a good question. How much gear can you carry on a snowbike? I'm good for about 15lb's on my back, but the rest has to go on the bike.
The fact is that I'm going to be out there this winter anyway, since I put studded tires on the bike. Not good for deep snow and most of the riding will be below 10,000ft, but still there's the risk of an unplanned night out in the winter.
My other problem is that Timbersled doesn't make a kit for my 06' KTM 300 xc-w... but I will have to start another thread on that one.
Yep. Do you ride there?
C
capulin overdrive
Well-known member
No I farm in Baca county, so don't get to ride much in the summer. If I do it's usually around Crested Butte. Or even New Mexico.
Winter, I ride Kebler, Wolf Creek, and Sometimes Cottonwood. Mostly Kebler.
Sounds like you're maybe Park County? Cottonwood would be an option if so.
Riding alone on a snowbike
You can find some waterproof boxes (pelican type) that fit the tunnel pretty well and there would be room for 2 of them, possibly. Those and a good avalanche air-bag backpack that you can pack some things in and you should be able to pack whatever you feel you should need. Also, a good handle bar bag or/and a fender bag will help spread the weight around. There are a lot of 240-260# fellas out there riding 120" snowbikes so unless you are over that to start with you should be in good shape. If you are over that I would recommend the long track version of whatever brand you decide to purchase.
I have personally been on searches for guys that lost their riding partner. You have to ask yourself "What good was the riding partner?"
If you like single tracking in the summer, you will like snowbiking. You decide what you can live with and enjoy! Don't forget to always pack some gas and realize your distance limits.
You can find some waterproof boxes (pelican type) that fit the tunnel pretty well and there would be room for 2 of them, possibly. Those and a good avalanche air-bag backpack that you can pack some things in and you should be able to pack whatever you feel you should need. Also, a good handle bar bag or/and a fender bag will help spread the weight around. There are a lot of 240-260# fellas out there riding 120" snowbikes so unless you are over that to start with you should be in good shape. If you are over that I would recommend the long track version of whatever brand you decide to purchase.
I have personally been on searches for guys that lost their riding partner. You have to ask yourself "What good was the riding partner?"
If you like single tracking in the summer, you will like snowbiking. You decide what you can live with and enjoy! Don't forget to always pack some gas and realize your distance limits.
It's how mother nature weeds out the weak .
The question should be can you ride without the use off a GPS/ cell phone in the mountains ? If you can not honestly answer that question than you have your answer .
I ride alone quite a bit because it allows me to set my pace , I hate back tracking it feels like I've cheated the day .
Know your limits , riding alone in unfamiliar areas is just asking for it .
The question should be can you ride without the use off a GPS/ cell phone in the mountains ? If you can not honestly answer that question than you have your answer .
I ride alone quite a bit because it allows me to set my pace , I hate back tracking it feels like I've cheated the day .
Know your limits , riding alone in unfamiliar areas is just asking for it .
Yeah, I'm in PC, but do most of my riding over in Summit. Never been to Cottonwood, I will have to check it out.
Crested Butte and New Mexico are beautiful parts of the country!
Thanks for the info. I'm only 175 geared up, so plenty of payload for gear I guess... need to start making a list of everything I will need.
Wow. Huge thanks for your years of service!
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