Who do You Ride With and Where do You Go?

[Cyle]

Only ride with friends now, my bro rode 2 years 1 before I started riding, then he sold his sled when I got into it. My dad bought my first sled off me but we only went out once he didn't like it to much, well the biggest thing is he doesn't want to invest the money it takes to sled really.

I now ride with 2 buddies from high school, and one of their dads.

Usually only hit the mountains once or twice a year and then like 3-4 local rides but hoping to make it 4-5 mountain trips this year. Yea it ain't cheap that's for sure.

Only this year and next year then i'm moving to B.C to within an hour of the best sledding

 

[Blk88GT]

Back home I ride with my family and in laws. It's mainly trail riding with a little exploring. We do this from the cabin, 2 hours away. It's great for the kids, but becoming quite repetitive for me.

Out west I ride with my one riding buddy, harper. We travel anywhere we need to and generally stay for a week but have been known to take weekend trips if the itch needs to be scratched! Finding a reliable and dedicated partner you trust with your life is much harder than you'd think.

 

[pano-dude]

I was raised on the back of a sled going to the ovals with the old man, now I take my family as much as I can.

It's a great family sport, we load up the toboggan behind the family sled with the cooler crazy carpets etc. The wife and daughter like to dig a pit , build a fire and set up camp while the boy and I rip it up... lol. Still teaching the boy to not be so timid he's 10.

Took the boy into a backcounntry cabin for a weekend last year and had a great time. He could not believe how dark it got when it was dumping all night. He thought it was pretty cool that he had to pull my sled to the truck when I broke the steering post!

[/IMG]

 

[montanasledhead]

once the season starts we ride every weekend we can be on the snow in less than twenty min
Usually we plan and go together as a family one day kids and all
then the day left is adults play day a few couples and a few single
adults all go ride the adult ride usually averages 10 - 14 of us and is off
trail play riding
my mother in law also was kind of anti motor sports now she has her own
polaris and rides 5 to 6 times a year with us ...
what a great sport

 

[CatWoman]

Ride with the hubby every time we go out. Used to take the sons, but they are grown now....one still rides and has his own sled. I really enjoy when he gets out with us. My Dad will get out occasionally, though he no longer has his own sled (he was the one to get my brothers and I into the sport). We regularly ride with my Brother and Brother-in-Law. We have some good peeps to ride with, like to keep the groups smaller. Too much going on with large groups.

Nothing better than your S/O being your riding partner! I think I'm ready to go out more than he is. We don't travel anyplace, lots of riding right close to home, so it's hard to justify going someplace else. It is an expensive sport, but when you're out riding, it takes away all the rest of the daily grind of things. Staying close to home allows more riding as we're not having the expenses of traveling someplace.

Looking forward to Grandkids at some point....going to introduce them to riding. Riding with the family creates some incredible memories, and great quality time!

 

[longtrack156]

I started Riding in 1967, family almost always, my kids grew up and my wife didn't care much for it and never went out after 1975.
1975 to 1987 often rode by myself.
No sled for two years then started going out with a group locally for about 10 years.
Often went by myself for the next couple of years then the last few years went with a friend from years gone by.
I think too many riders think we are too old to be invited along.

 

[jthussey]

There all great stories. Its fun reading about such an enjoyable sport that you can do with friends and family. Great thread!

I ride with my brother who lives out in SW montana. We ride around the Big Sky, West Yellowstone area. We also try to make it to Cooke a couple times a winter.

I grew up with a family that loved to travel. We went skiing alot in Big Sky.I always would look around while i was on the mountain and wonder how far a person could snowmobile into that country south of biggy. When I got older, I purchased my first sled and found out how enjoyable it is to ride in the mountains. Snowmobiling is my passion. Its the most addicting hobby ever. Theres just something about being in the mountains!

 

[jthussey]

Here is just a couple pics one with my bro and one with my ma & sis.

 

[Oregongirl]

I've done it all....ridden with family (including grandparents and a toddler), ridden with buddies, ridden with just the girls, stayed close to home, traveled to ride, etc.

It is expensive and time consuming - in terms of travel time - but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's simply my passion.

Our girls are right on the bump - too big to passenger and it's time to get them their own sleds. But as they aren't with us every weekend, it is becoming a cost justification discussion. Two more sleds?? Towing/trailer issues? We are playing it one weekend at a time at this point. At this point, our big sledding get aways are just for the adults.

Good topic!!

 

[dcd]

It is another world here in the ....

...East. I noticed that everyone here seems to be out West-I thought I would let everyone know what it is like here in northwest Pa.! First, have to wait for snow, even living on a Great Lake(Lake Erie). At least January, before enough base to ride, and even then, have to trailer at least 20-30 miles outside of city(Erie) to ride. Usually go into Northwestern New York state, or a little further east into the Allegheny National Forest here in Pa. We, always plan and go for a week into Northern Ontario , Canada, and it is absolutely gorgeous up there in February. It is usually about a 9 hour drive trailering everything. I ride with 2 guys(good friends of my brother's I inherited when he moved to Florida). I, personally, have a special savings just for sledding every winter, or else would not be able to do it. I started riding about 10 yrs ago and got hooked right from the get go, and since I don't know any other girls who ride, or have an interest in riding, I stick with my 2 guy friends. Usually, the people we meet in our travels are more interested in my adventures than my riding companions, since not many girls ride around here. I guess I am more adventuresome than most. However, we noticed in Canada, more of a family thing compared to riding with friends in this area. The trail system here has lower standards than other places we have been, so many in this area may not cover more than 200 miles a season, compared to my little group-we can cover any where from 200-300 miles a day in Canada, or at least in New York. I, personally, think this is a great "sport" and traveling experience. I love the adventure, except for being lost in Ontario for over 6 hours a few years back, and running out of gas last year. I have gotten to see scenery that the average person has never even imagined, or may never see, and make many new friends. Forgot to mention, I am the only one in my immediate family that rides. My stepfather rode years ago, and helps keep my mom calm every time I leave for another trip/adventure.

 

[Environmentalist]

DCD --- I don't have a savings account for sledding, I got a second job! All the money I make is my "toy" fund. It pays for sledding in the winter and boating and Jeepin' in the summer. Considering all the fun I have with my family in the winter and summer, it's worth the extra work I do.

 

[CascadeXP]

Once it starts snowing I look forward to riding with my friends every weekend I can go. But the best times are the 2 or 3 times a winter that I get her and the kids out with me.

There is nothing like sidehilling with my son or daughter sitting on the sled yelling and whooping as we go, and I can't wait until they are old enough to ride on their own.

 

[800switch]

Glad to hear there is someone else who rides in the east......................... and admits it.
Got started in 97 just to get out of the house in the winter.
Got a 2up for me and the wife to ride.
Bought brand new to last us awhile. She didn't think she would like riding one alone. Talked her into trying it in the backyard alone. Her first turn she put it on it's side.I thought oh chit that is the end of that. Finally got to her and she was laughing her a$$ off. Got her her own sled before the end of the year.
Mostly ride with her if she can go out but usually ride alone day or night. Ride trails but get off trail as much as possible here in western New York. Ride out of the back door so trailering is not an issue.

 

[hiflight]

When I retired, the Wife and I moved to Northern Idaho. While driving down the road one day, we saw two snowmobile for sale. After a quick phone call the owner arrived and gave me a few pointers. I rode the sled for about 5 minutes in a large field. That was my first ever ride on a snowmobile and I was hooked. My Wife and I ride together during the week when most people are working. Ninty percent of the time its just to two of us. The first ride for the Wife was about a week after the purchase, that was back in 2002.

 

[thefullmonte]

It's good to read that snowmobiling as a family is still a priority for so many people. I didn't start sledding until I was probably 19. It was at the urging of my friend SDCoyote and his wife. So, a lot of my riding has been done with them over the years. My parents weren't against it, but only my father got into it years later. Even now I'm usually the odd man out riding with friends and their family which is still great! It's fun to see their kids enjoying the sport and getting better with every ride.
Living east we do all our riding out west. We really enjoy the Black Hills (closest drive) and West Yellowstone. Both give us some nice variety of restaurants after a fun day of riding.

 

[fassteddie]

i ride with my wife at least one day each weekend. and with the boys the other. she also rides with us once and awhile and keeps up vary well. we use winter for our vacation. spend 3 days riding somewere different in idaho each year on our way to thayne,alpine & afton wyo. we head to new denver b.c after x mas. around home we get some good riding on the back side of stampede pass. there we ride with a pretty good group guys. my wife and i ride with another couple (ephratafarmer and his wife) they are vary good mt riders. i ride with a bunch of the e washington boys been on road trips with them to truckie. ca. reno. councel ida. shasta. lolo. mc call. brandywine ect.... love this sport and all the people involved. (one day i would like to be blessed and ride with the graveler) rode with fordy some years back good fun rider. i have had to ease up in the last few yrs. had open hart in feb 07. looking forward to this year and all that comes along. let it snow and let the fun begin..... ed

 

[roughrider99]

rode with my family my entire life and went on trips everywhere yearly and lots of poker rallys. but in the past 5 years I been mainly riding in BC with my buddies as my family does not like riding out there, i still go to poker rallies and the annual february trip with the family

 

[HOBB-Z]

I ride with my wife, 15yr old girl and 12 yr old boy most of the time. We ride everything between Tonys groove and Alpine but spend most our time between Paris meadows, Bloomington and Wormcreek because its only 15 mins to unload.

When its just the boys we usually ride north of Tonys groove and south of Franklin basin.

 

[xrated]

family and friends don't ride like they use too. me and my buddies would ride all night when we got good snow. we all got married and have kids but they all gave it up.my kids are too young to go out west now. my dad rides a little but only has a 300 tundra for mostly heading to the fish house. i will never give it up. my kids do have a trashed 120 too. my boy will sneak over to grandpas house (just down the road)and still his 300.

That's how me and my brother used to ride. Show up at the lake after a good snow. First one there got the sleds gassed and ready. As soon as the 2nd was there and pissed/geared up we would be out riding until 1-2 in the morning. Run down to Moose Lake for supper and head back. Sure was fun.

Now I have a sled and he doesn't. My cousin still has one, but he won't trailer to ride so I'm on the hunt for new riding pals. Plus the ones I still have only like trails. The kids will be involved as soon as they want to be.

 

[xrated]

It's good to read that snowmobiling as a family is still a priority for so many people. I didn't start sledding until I was probably 19. It was at the urging of my friend SDCoyote and his wife. So, a lot of my riding has been done with them over the years. My parents weren't against it, but only my father got into it years later. Even now I'm usually the odd man out riding with friends and their family which is still great! It's fun to see their kids enjoying the sport and getting better with every ride.
Living east we do all our riding out west. We really enjoy the Black Hills (closest drive) and West Yellowstone. Both give us some nice variety of restaurants after a fun day of riding.

That's how it is with some of the people I waterski with, and dirtbike. I really think it's a neat dimension that gets added to the group, the family and the individuals time. It was awesome skiing with an older friend whose has middle school kids and watching them interact and ski. Now it's great skiing with the same crew, having watched his kids get into HS, and for me to have young kids. I know they think it's pretty neat watching me progress both on the water and in life. Same thing on bikes, I started riding minus kids, with guys who were family men or grandpa's. Now they are watching my kids grow up.

To me that right there is what makes sledding, etc A FAMILY sport. Not only getting out with your family but the family that is created with others through the bond of the sport....it may start out as just buds riding or splitting gas, and then all of a sudden everyone is like family.