Grant Hoar
New member
Xsledder and I just returned from three great days in the Black Hills. Drove out Thursday from NW Chicago suburbs, stayed at Spearfish Canyon Lodge, and returned today.
The central hills had gotten 12 to 18 inches of fresh last week, so our timing was great.
Spent three days trail riding, playing in meadows, climbing some hills, sidehilling, and tree riding. Found enough snow to challenge our 141's and our riding skills, and as planned we managed to get them both stuck several times, but nothing that the two of us couldn't get out.
370 miles total for trails and off-trail, including on some of the greatest trails you could ask for, which were groomed every night. How good were they - at Sunday trail 12B had been groomed the night before and was set up and untouched when we got there (AT NOON). Several times we were not the first ones making tracks on the trails, but the only thing before us were hooved animals! Some perfect, some burned out by Sunday, but overall a 9 out of 10.
Incredible scenery from the lookouts, and incredible opportunities for off trail. Played around in one meadow north of Buckhorn that had to have been two miles long of knee to nuts deep powder. Left one trail, followed meadows through to closed forest roads, and connected back to another trail at one time. Could have used a bit more base to cover up the stump and log land mines when in the trees, but thankfully, nothing was bent or broken.
It was -13 Friday morning, but the bad news is that by Sunday afternoon it was 45 and sunny. Spots were getting thin, and some hills we played on Saturday were brown Sunday, but in looking around really good spots could be found. Sunday afternoon we found one north facing hill with three feet of untouched powder on it when we arrived. (not so untouched when we left)
Should be good for couple more days, but the forecast starting Thursday looks ugly.
Next time out plan on being prepared with a better forest service road map and GPS. Definitely glad we went
The central hills had gotten 12 to 18 inches of fresh last week, so our timing was great.
Spent three days trail riding, playing in meadows, climbing some hills, sidehilling, and tree riding. Found enough snow to challenge our 141's and our riding skills, and as planned we managed to get them both stuck several times, but nothing that the two of us couldn't get out.
370 miles total for trails and off-trail, including on some of the greatest trails you could ask for, which were groomed every night. How good were they - at Sunday trail 12B had been groomed the night before and was set up and untouched when we got there (AT NOON). Several times we were not the first ones making tracks on the trails, but the only thing before us were hooved animals! Some perfect, some burned out by Sunday, but overall a 9 out of 10.
Incredible scenery from the lookouts, and incredible opportunities for off trail. Played around in one meadow north of Buckhorn that had to have been two miles long of knee to nuts deep powder. Left one trail, followed meadows through to closed forest roads, and connected back to another trail at one time. Could have used a bit more base to cover up the stump and log land mines when in the trees, but thankfully, nothing was bent or broken.
It was -13 Friday morning, but the bad news is that by Sunday afternoon it was 45 and sunny. Spots were getting thin, and some hills we played on Saturday were brown Sunday, but in looking around really good spots could be found. Sunday afternoon we found one north facing hill with three feet of untouched powder on it when we arrived. (not so untouched when we left)
Should be good for couple more days, but the forecast starting Thursday looks ugly.
Next time out plan on being prepared with a better forest service road map and GPS. Definitely glad we went