Was planning an early/mid March trip and it looks like it's falling apart on schedules. Was wondering if it's realistic to ride someplace like the Snowies in mid-April. I assume any rentals would be done by then but we can drag our trail sleds out there. Did it once before mid-season quite a few years ago so not concerned about sleds. I assume the snow would still be there - we might have to trail up to it - but thought I'd check to see what we'd be getting into.
Centennial/Snowies - how late in the season can you typically ride?
- Thread starter Hoosier
- Start date
Yeah, I figured we'd have to do clutching at least. Last time out I had a carb sled so did jets and clutch weights.
indy_500
Well-known member
On a normal year you can easily ride into May. This year, I wouldn’t doubt June... they have some of the deepest snow in the US right now (over 10 feet on the northwest side) and it been dumping every other day for the past 2 weeks. With that said there is usually a date set, which I believe is mid April, where they open up and plow out the highway and officially stop grooming. If you’re looking for a mid-March trip you will be more than fine. With that said, I experienced poor trails, and I’ve heard nothing but complaints on Facebook all year about poor grooming. I don’t know the specifics but it was a combination of new people responsible for grooming, and a broken groomer on the west side. Just thought I’d throw that out there. The trails I rode a month ago were the worst trails I’ve ridden in my life. 3 foot whoops for 10 miles across the range.
The sound of your last sentence indy, just plain sucks. New grooming people, trails already being in poor condition, and now a ton of new snow, won't help matters, as the deep moguls won't get cut, just covered over. But a long riding season left to be out there.
Appreciate the insider info. Any good place to check how long they plan to groom or when they plan to open up the highway? Who knows they could get their grooming in order as the season goes on. We're not that picky but wouldn't want to deal with 3 foot moguls for miles on end. We're a bit limited on where else we'd want to go out there due to distance and riding trail sleds. Been out there once before and had a great time so had that in mind. Schedules won't line up until the 2nd week of April so I wouldn't be expecting great conditions, just someplace to have fun for awhile
600_RMK_144
Active member
My first time ever out West (2013 or 2014) was in April. It was very odd loading up in Iowa with green grass and almost "warm" temps. But the guys I was going with had been out in April multiple times and said it would be fine. Sure enough, they got a big dump the night prior to our first day of riding. Pretty sure it was the last big storm they received and it was pretty well setup by the time we left a few days later, but it was awesome riding. Things I remember (and Indy already touched on)... No grooming that late in the season, they had stopped the week prior (but trail markers were still visible). We were also the "last" group Mountain Meadows was accepting for the winter season. They were shutting down after we left. Drifts leading up to their cabins were taller than the trailer by a long shot and they had to meet us down about 1/4 mile and haul our gear up the rest of the way. We had to duck down on our sleds going under the phone wires (which typically were above the roads). Yeah, there was PLENTY of snow!!!!!!
srt20
Active member
Mountain Meadows doesn't rent sleds. Very rarely are the trails in good shape at the snowies. IDK about down towards Albany, I dont go down there much, but up top its usually rough to bad. If you get away from the highway and the safety hut the trails get smoother.
Only trail riding I do out there is to get to play areas, but I dont think there is much for trails there. Maybe 100 or so miles?
Lots of snow there, was there 2 weeks ago. But the trail across the top, N maybe, will likely have some thin or bare areas if it gets warm. Its in the alpine and the wind blows all the snow off.
Only trail riding I do out there is to get to play areas, but I dont think there is much for trails there. Maybe 100 or so miles?
Lots of snow there, was there 2 weeks ago. But the trail across the top, N maybe, will likely have some thin or bare areas if it gets warm. Its in the alpine and the wind blows all the snow off.
More good info. I called around a bit, and it sounds like most rentals end around last week of March. I don't have issues dragging the trail sleds, and that late in the year I'd guess we could get into enough stuff to play in. Last time we went was in late Feb/early March, but it's been awhile. Going to try see when they quit grooming.
indy_500
Well-known member
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I would call Old Corral in Centennial or Albany lodge about grooming information. I know the last couple storms have been hitting down by Albany a little more as well, which was super thin that direction a month ago (so I’d heard, we did all of our riding by the quealy hut).
bearrassler
Well-known member
This has nothing to do with the OP'S questions as I have never ridden in the Snowies, but I took a trip out to Revelstoke back in 1992 in mid April, we had heard of all the snow out there and made reservations at a place called Peaks Lodge, they told us they ride into early July most years so come on out. We drove the 18 hours to get there plus we had some trouble at the border so we pulled into town late morning, the grass was green, the trees had leaves on them. We saw people towing boats around town. We checked in and asked where the snow was. They told us to go up this gravel road to km marker 4 and we could park there, unload, and ride from there. We drove there and there was a couple of vehicles with trailers but no snow, only gravel and small rocks. Right after we got there a couple of guys pull up on sleds and we asked them where the snow was. They said to unload and ride up the gravel and after the first curve we would run into snow. They were right and we had a great 4 days of riding but were nervous at first.
Sounds good. We stayed at Old Corral last time.
Chris at Mountain Meadows, did have some videos of he, and others riding on the 4th of July one year. I can't remember the year that happened? Early 2000's?