Someone to follow

[snotracks]

First post - hello world!
After years of skiing the BC I bought my first sled to get in farther and faster, but dang I need some practice with this thing.
Hoping to find someone to follow around and show me a thing or two. Will buy gas for your sled and beers for the privilege. I have a 2-sled trailer so can do the driving as well.
I live in the Snoqualmie Valley.
I got a 2001 RMK 800 that's been rebuilt and has a 163" track.
I've got a pre-season done at Xtreme Motorworks and they tell me it's in good shape.
I've had it out once up at Gold Creek.

 

[Wapow]

Ha! I know your pain. I first bought a sled in order to access BC ski terrain, and there was nobody to show me the ropes. It was a tough learning curve. Happy to get out with you. I usually ride/ski out of Salmon la Sac and the Teanaway Sno Parks, which are just about ready for action.

 

[sidehil]

Very secret bunch we are

 

[sanity]

I'd encourage you to join a local snowmobile club. I'm in the Cascade Drift Skippers, which meets the 2nd Wed of every month in Issaquah. Lots of great information shared at the meetings. More importantly for you there are club rides almost every weekend of different skill types and many more groups that are riding together all over. You'll have plenty of opportunities once you get plugged in.
http://www.cascadedriftskippers.com/

 

[snotracks]

Very secret bunch we are

Yeah man I get it I got started BC skiing the same way and think back on those first couple years and experiences meeting up with random people - makes me grateful for regular trusted partners and knowledge of where to go and when. Sucks starting over but I'm stoked to have a sled and for the adventure ahead.

 

[snotracks]

I'd encourage you to join a local snowmobile club. I'm in the Cascade Drift Skippers, which meets the 2nd Wed of every month in Issaquah. Lots of great information shared at the meetings. More importantly for you there are club rides almost every weekend of different skill types and many more groups that are riding together all over. You'll have plenty of opportunities once you get plugged in.
http://www.cascadedriftskippers.com/

I'm there! Do I need to sign up to be a member to check out the meeting?

 

[catlsled]

No sign up necessary to attend meetings - welcome anytime. December we don't have meeting though as we have Christmas Party at Last Resort this Saturday instead. If you did sign up though there are several member groups going Saturday - beginner, intermediate, and expert that you can sign up for if member.

 

[Cascade crawler]

I'm also in the Snoquamlie Valley (Carnation) and can show you some areas. I'm intermediate in skill level but know the areas pretty well and am interested in using my sled to access nice terrain to snowboard. Not sure if you are talking downhill, touring.

 

[glaciermonkey]

First post - hello world!
After years of skiing the BC I bought my first sled to get in farther and faster, but dang I need some practice with this thing.
Hoping to find someone to follow around and show me a thing or two. Will buy gas for your sled and beers for the privilege. I have a 2-sled trailer so can do the driving as well.
I live in the Snoqualmie Valley.
I got a 2001 RMK 800 that's been rebuilt and has a 163" track.
I've got a pre-season done at Xtreme Motorworks and they tell me it's in good shape.
I've had it out once up at Gold Creek.

Hi. Welcome to sledding

If you want to get into backcountry skiing from your sled my advise is join a club. They will help you through sharp learning curve. They will help you with things like learning to get unstuck or not getting stuck in the first place. Which should teach you to help other people get unstuck. They will help with not overheating your sled or melting your hifax.

Get an extra water pump belt for that old rmk and check the existing one

Sorry to say that ski boots and sledding is a rough mix. Unless your only sticking to the groomer. You can bring your ski boots along and throw handwarmers in the toes then switch when you're ready to ride Can you snowboard?

Learn to Hillclimb to a specific point , like around a tree. also be able to turn around when you're facing downhill

Be able to load and unload your sled by yourself

Carry extra beers for the people pulling your sled out of holes

When you can do all that, assuming you have some back country skills already, then you're on your way to being a good snowmobiling partner

Also you might want to avoid some frustration and sell that rmk and get a reliable m7 or an unmodified m8

I know I sound like an ******* but I mean well

 

[GreenState]

It goes like this, just to save you some time. You're currently on step 5.

1) Learn to ski.
2) Learn to ski proficiently.
3) Get tired of skiing in bounds.
4) Get tired of walking around out of bounds.
5) Buy used sled for BC access.
6) Learn how to ride sled.
7) Learn how to ride sled proficiently.
8) Sell ski gear.
9) Buy new sled.

 

[norsepeak]

It goes like this, just to save you some time. You're currently on step 5.

1) Learn to ski.
2) Learn to ski proficiently.
3) Get tired of skiing in bounds.
4) Get tired of walking around out of bounds.
5) Buy used sled for BC access.
6) Learn how to ride sled.
7) Learn how to ride sled proficiently.
8) Sell ski gear.
9) Buy new sled.

Excellent list...I made it all the way thru this progression back in the mid 90's...haven't looked back.

 

[Pro-8250]

I'd encourage you to join a local snowmobile club. I'm in the Cascade Drift Skippers, which meets the 2nd Wed of every month in Issaquah. Lots of great information shared at the meetings. More importantly for you there are club rides almost every weekend of different skill types and many more groups that are riding together all over. You'll have plenty of opportunities once you get plugged in.
http://www.cascadedriftskippers.com/

I can not agree more. Join a club! Without us getting involved, we are history.

 

[sanity]

It goes like this, just to save you some time. You're currently on step 5.

1) Learn to ski.
2) Learn to ski proficiently.
3) Get tired of skiing in bounds.
4) Get tired of walking around out of bounds.
5) Buy used sled for BC access.
6) Learn how to ride sled.
7) Learn how to ride sled proficiently.
8) Sell ski gear.
9) Buy new sled.

Haha! Mine went very similar to that. I have not skied or snowboarded since buying my first sled (6 years!). Have bought 4 snowmobiles though! Lot's more fun being able to go up hills than just down.

 

[cornRIDE]

It goes like this, just to save you some time. You're currently on step 5.

1) Learn to ski.
2) Learn to ski proficiently.
3) Get tired of skiing in bounds.
4) Get tired of walking around out of bounds.
5) Buy used sled for BC access.
6) Learn how to ride sled.
7) Learn how to ride sled proficiently.
8) Sell ski gear.
9) Buy new sled.

so funny

 

[snotracks]

Hi. Welcome to sledding

If you want to get into backcountry skiing from your sled my advise is join a club. They will help you through sharp learning curve. They will help you with things like learning to get unstuck or not getting stuck in the first place. Which should teach you to help other people get unstuck. They will help with not overheating your sled or melting your hifax.

Get an extra water pump belt for that old rmk and check the existing one

Sorry to say that ski boots and sledding is a rough mix. Unless your only sticking to the groomer. You can bring your ski boots along and throw handwarmers in the toes then switch when you're ready to ride Can you snowboard?

Learn to Hillclimb to a specific point , like around a tree. also be able to turn around when you're facing downhill

Be able to load and unload your sled by yourself

Carry extra beers for the people pulling your sled out of holes

When you can do all that, assuming you have some back country skills already, then you're on your way to being a good snowmobiling partner

Also you might want to avoid some frustration and sell that rmk and get a reliable m7 or an unmodified m8

I know I sound like an ******* but I mean well

Man no offense taken! This sled is purely an experiment so knew full well for the price point I wanted to be at I would get a bit of a klunker.
Appreciate all the advice - seems to be on point from everything else I've read

 

[snotracks]

It goes like this, just to save you some time. You're currently on step 5.

1) Learn to ski.
2) Learn to ski proficiently.
3) Get tired of skiing in bounds.
4) Get tired of walking around out of bounds.
5) Buy used sled for BC access.
6) Learn how to ride sled.
7) Learn how to ride sled proficiently.
8) Sell ski gear.
9) Buy new sled.

Freakin' awesome. After really getting out for the first time yesterday I have line of sight on this premonition but don't tell my touring buddies that!

 

[glaciermonkey]

Freakin' awesome. After really getting out for the first time yesterday I have line of sight on this premonition but don't tell my touring buddies that!

Awesome
Could not ask for better days to get your first tracks. Where did you ride?

You might have to cut the cord with your touring buddies. In my experience trying to get them to see what sledding is and the option it can provide is like asking equestrians to get along with dirt bikers. Better analogy might be, asking trump supporters to admit the sky is blue

 

[AZ800]

I ride mostly with my kids, so fairly mellow rides. You're welcome to come with anytime. I'll pm you when we go.
Oh, along with normal tools/parts, get a spare coolant temp sensor for that RMK 800, or the proper resistor to plug into the temp sensor wires.
That's the only part that left me walking out with my 01Rmk8. Sled will not run if the sensor takes a crap. Can't just jumper wire it. It has to sense a certain range of resisitnace.

 

[sidehil]

It goes like this, just to save you some time. You're currently on step 5.

1) Learn to ski.
2) Learn to ski proficiently.
3) Get tired of skiing in bounds.
4) Get tired of walking around out of bounds.
5) Buy used sled for BC access.
6) Learn how to ride sled.
7) Learn how to ride sled proficiently.
8) Sell ski gear.
9) Buy new sled.

I was on a ski trip with sleds for access and we drug our stuff in and I asked my buddy if he minded if I road around on his wife's new exciter, that was it and never skied again,this started in 97 and never looked back, I'm now on my 4th new sled as well as my family, cousins and friends.

 

[snotracks]

Awesome
Could not ask for better days to get your first tracks. Where did you ride?

You might have to cut the cord with your touring buddies. In my experience trying to get them to see what sledding is and the option it can provide is like asking equestrians to get along with dirt bikers. Better analogy might be, asking trump supporters to admit the sky is blue

It was quite a day to get out! Ended up at Crystal Springs but rode the Kachees side. Literally wanted to get on a flat road and start to figure some things out (like turning around). Ended up climbing up a road/trail that someone had put a track in that was a great learning experience. Riding there again this weekend with CDS! 2 weeks in a row sledding instead of skiing...but that's just a coincidence! (he tells himself)