We had to abandon 3 sleds on Sunday. We have 5 guys headed up if anyone wants to help us tomorrow. We will be at Spring Creek lot at 8:00 am. The sleds are below the Elliots Ridge you are here sign. Feel free to join us, its going to be a task.
Spring Creek Sled Recovery 4/14
- Thread starter m8vohkman
- Start date
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Zone28M7
Well-known member
All three recovered today. On Sunday one guy who got turned around and separated from group. We spotted his solo track that went off the backside of the mtn. Two of us went down to track him down. After descending one table at a time we got about 300 yards down and realized we couldn't see further than about 15 feet in front of us. After my buddy and I had bashed about six trees in ten minutes, the last one left us stranded. One sled took off downhill and got pinned in the trees followed by mine pinning his even worse. We dug and maneuvered for about thirty minutes then heard the initial guy yelling underneath us. He came up on foot and met us at our pile of sleds/trees. At this point it was about 330p.
Between blizzard conditions, winds, severely steep grade, lack of daylight, and exhaustion, we made the decision to walk away from our sleds and come back for them. One of the hardest things to do but I'd rather be alive. Hiked up and out about 4 miles before being picked up on the hardpack.
We went back today. Its bright and sunny. Had an entire day to get the sleds out. We get down to the site and immediately spot a couple different lines to get out. Going back out the top was out of the question. If you turn and face the hill, it's so steep you can reach out and touch the side hill in front of you in spots. Sidehilled over about 100 yds, elevatored down about 200 yds then maneuvered into the ravine. Did a u-ball and shot up the drainage and sidehilled the face to the top. Sick lines today for sure. But definitely could've went much worse on Sunday.
Let it be known that no matter how technical of a rider you are, your situation can change in a matter of minutes. I like to consider myself a fairly seasoned rider but had to put my pride aside on this one and look out for our lives. Sorry for the long story and lecture. It will change some of the things I carry with me and definitely what conditions I ride.
K. Nuff said
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All sleds recovered, lots of ways out once the sun came out. Thanks to Fastline Performance who helped get all 3 sleds out. Also want to thank Adam Onasch for coming up in the morning to check on us. Also all the guys from Alpine Motor Sports who offered to come up on Sunday and help.
Btw, the true hero's were Derick and Kevin who spent an hour tracing my tracks, and following them down an unrideable hill to get to me. This was my 1st trip to Spring Creek and I did not know which way to walk out. Considering we never met before, his decisions were truly heroic! It could have been a long night waiting on search and rescue during a blizzard. I owe u guys big time!
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Nychaze
Well-known member
Glad to hear all is well.
Been there...
We got stuck on the back side of Elliot's earlier this year...went down Sheep Mtn Rd (11A) which is a long shelf rd down the back of Elliots. The shelf rd was so windblown that we decided to turn around. In the process of turning around one of the riders we were with (shall remain un-named...) fell off his sled which proceeded to ghost ride down the hill over a bank and out of sight...all we could do wait and watch for the top of a tree to start swaying...luckily it slammed into wind drift and wasn't damaged... went down dug it out then had to find a way back up the ridge...he rode down to the valley floor and lucky was able to climb back up to the top of the ridge. I stayed on top of the ridge where i had cell service and stayed in contact with the rider with a 2-way radio. Get some radios...well worth it when you get separated.
On the back side (west side) of Elliot's is Sheephorn Ranch, there a couple of buildings down in the valley that could be a life saver in the event of a night out in the cold.
"Let it be known that no matter how technical of a rider you are, your situation can change in a matter of minutes. I like to consider myself a fairly seasoned rider but had to put my pride aside on this one and look out for our lives. Sorry for the long story and lecture. It will change some of the things I carry with me and definitely what conditions I ride. "
Couldn't agree more... **** goes bad...quick.
Been there...
We got stuck on the back side of Elliot's earlier this year...went down Sheep Mtn Rd (11A) which is a long shelf rd down the back of Elliots. The shelf rd was so windblown that we decided to turn around. In the process of turning around one of the riders we were with (shall remain un-named...) fell off his sled which proceeded to ghost ride down the hill over a bank and out of sight...all we could do wait and watch for the top of a tree to start swaying...luckily it slammed into wind drift and wasn't damaged... went down dug it out then had to find a way back up the ridge...he rode down to the valley floor and lucky was able to climb back up to the top of the ridge. I stayed on top of the ridge where i had cell service and stayed in contact with the rider with a 2-way radio. Get some radios...well worth it when you get separated.
On the back side (west side) of Elliot's is Sheephorn Ranch, there a couple of buildings down in the valley that could be a life saver in the event of a night out in the cold.
"Let it be known that no matter how technical of a rider you are, your situation can change in a matter of minutes. I like to consider myself a fairly seasoned rider but had to put my pride aside on this one and look out for our lives. Sorry for the long story and lecture. It will change some of the things I carry with me and definitely what conditions I ride. "
Couldn't agree more... **** goes bad...quick.
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Doctor D
Active member
Unforgiving country up there
That's one of my favorite area's and I am glad you all are ok. Several men over the years have not made it back from that area. About 5 years ago 3 riders had a very similar situation but one guy John Mckibbin from Kremmling did not make it past the 2nd night (2 days whiteout conditions).
10 years prior I had to leave my sled in a wash by Mahan Lake, got separated from my friends and walked the whole way out. It took 4 hours.
I am pretty sure that ranch your taking about is called Piney Ridge Ranch on the west side of Elliotte, which is accessed by Trough Rd. At the base of Piney Ridge is our new honey hole and is the sickest riding around IMO.
That's one of my favorite area's and I am glad you all are ok. Several men over the years have not made it back from that area. About 5 years ago 3 riders had a very similar situation but one guy John Mckibbin from Kremmling did not make it past the 2nd night (2 days whiteout conditions).
10 years prior I had to leave my sled in a wash by Mahan Lake, got separated from my friends and walked the whole way out. It took 4 hours.
I am pretty sure that ranch your taking about is called Piney Ridge Ranch on the west side of Elliotte, which is accessed by Trough Rd. At the base of Piney Ridge is our new honey hole and is the sickest riding around IMO.
Glad everyone's ok. Makes me miss Spring Creek. Awesome place to ride but haven't been there in almost 10 years now!
Had to pull a group of tourists out of there once though. Riding out about 3pm and pass a group of NMFH wearin short trackers headed in. Didn't think much until we got back to the trucks and commented how out of place they looked and no way if they dropped in were they coming back out on their trail sleds that day.
Buzzed back in there to find them all stuck, split up and one machine with a broken pull rope, flooded, and the rider had no idea how to get it started. One dude trying to make a fire ?? Out in the open. Would have been a bad situation for them because no one else was headed in there that time of day.
Got ole boys sled started for him, got their group back together and then rode their sleds out and had them follow us out back to the hardback on our machines.
Had to pull a group of tourists out of there once though. Riding out about 3pm and pass a group of NMFH wearin short trackers headed in. Didn't think much until we got back to the trucks and commented how out of place they looked and no way if they dropped in were they coming back out on their trail sleds that day.
Buzzed back in there to find them all stuck, split up and one machine with a broken pull rope, flooded, and the rider had no idea how to get it started. One dude trying to make a fire ?? Out in the open. Would have been a bad situation for them because no one else was headed in there that time of day.
Got ole boys sled started for him, got their group back together and then rode their sleds out and had them follow us out back to the hardback on our machines.
spring creek
Pictures please !!!! Glad everybody is ok !! Stuck is stuck !
Pictures please !!!! Glad everybody is ok !! Stuck is stuck !
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Zone28M7
Well-known member
Pictures please !!!! Glad everybody is ok !! Stuck is stuck !
They're in there somewhere
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trackvs2wheels
Well-known member
"I see the line others thought impossible"
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Zone28M7
Well-known member
Impossible in a whiteout. Much harrier than this picture depicts.
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