I have been going to Togwotee for nearly 10 years. The last 3 years I go twice a year (December and March). Each year we talk about the gold mine that this place could be if the Management Team could get their act together and lead the front line folks.
Having said that, I never leave there really upset saying to myself I'm going to start going elsewhere. I do take two trips to the Snowies each year as well, and there are issues there also, just different, but still issues. So, since were airing the issues, my reservation is never truly correct. I always have a room, but there is really poor communication between room reservations and guides or rentals. Our core group takes our own sleds out, but we always seem to have a newbie, and rentals are always screwed up. Guides, oh my, guides and reservations don't go together. Seems they meet on Mondays to decide who is guiding for who, so you cannot really reserve a guide, just request one. I understand the problem of scheduling. But, now I just communicate with my guide before I get there so that I am not overlooked.
The bartenders this year have attitudes, which I think starts with the bar manager. All the stories above are true. Being from Wisconsin where beer flows freely, bartender service is expected, since that is what we are accustomed to. We also tip pretty good for good service - hint, hint...... But I agree with "scmurs," we go there to ride, not drink. Don't get me wrong, we have a good buzz going each night, but we turn in early enough to be fresh for the next day.
Guides. Guides leave around 9:00 and return at 4:00. That schedule suits us fine, unless we get together with a group that wants to go to Brooks for lunch or something. That takes 2 hours of riding out. The rental shop set up our group of 10 in December and we signed up as experienced backcountry riders, which we are. We ended up with some first timers that were not even very good riders - what's up with that? We *****ed to our guide and the young'uns had the old "deer in the headlights" look numerous times the next day. Good for us, but they were definitely outside their comfort zone. I've ridden with them and been the guide for our group, and after all this time I still like going out with a guide.
Food. Marginal to average. Salad/soup bar is the best thing going, but man cannot live on salad alone. Steaks this year were OK, not great. Best part was the baked potato believe it or not. Otherwise, plan on $25-30/person, which for that price you would expect top notch service with impeccable services. Our waitress was great though, look forward to seeing her in March just to give each other more crap.
