Ok guys I'm getting older and not so much in to running 100 mph and thinking about a long track and some Mt riding
Anyone have some advice on track and CC for a newbie
I am surprised that I have to be the one to tell you all this.....
So your gett'n older, but want to NOW go off trail .....now this is the best one I have heard yet this year!
Before I begin....let me just say that I AM old and I do go off trail.....so I KNOW of what I speak...listen up youngster!
First of all try and find a sled that weighs about 125 pounds ALL CARBON FIBER job with a track that is at least 200 inches long....and while it won't ride as nicely as your usual trail sled...when (note I say WHEN) you get the machine stuck....which will be often as you chase the 'learning curve'...you will wish you bought a sled that weighs HALF as much....ever see one of those trailbike type sleds with one ski and a short little track on the back....even THOSE ARE TOO HEAVY when you get them stuck....as every sled made is TOO HEAVY and will require a whole nuther edjamacation in the art of unstickin a sled.
In the absences of finding a 125 pounder for sale out there....you might just want to go in the other direction....something on the order of a used trail groomer with twelve tracks under it should do it...then just go right ahead and get an 8 ton winch for those little surprises that crop up under all that lovely snow....You are going to need it...again...save the manual on the winch...you will find some handy tips out of it...such as what to do when the cable is 20 feet short of a tree trunk and which is the best way to winch when the machine is upside down.
Now...before ever attempting to ride this new wonder machine....I strongly suggest that you hit the local sweat shop gym to get in condition... start around June 1st and only work out for a couple hours....you don't want to drop dead in one of those places.... it stinks so bad in there, they wouldn't even notice you fora few weeks.
Next get some extra heavy warm clothing because if all else fails...you will need it when you "pend" the nite out in the bush!
Of course one of those new fangled gadgets that you push to tell you family that you are about to freeze to death might be nice...in that they can pray for you PRIOR to departure from this planet....and forget about being rescued...because NOBODY not even the National Guard wants to go out in the middle of no mans land to rescue some old clown who thought it would be "nice" to take up off trail riding with a sled that digs a hole thru 8 feet of snow in 2 seconds flat! They would only laugh when that one came over the wire! Nope...your a goner....which reminds me that prior to going...get your affairs in order...heart attack resuscitation in the bush is not going to happen...and if someone does hear your wailing.....they will only come to YOU because THEY are lost too...and hoping YOU can direct them out of the bush.
GET A GPS+++ and as you might have guessed this is not your ordinary GPS as you would be familar with and mounted on your car/truck dashboard....no....this one stands for GOD POSITION SEARCH.....so that when you GET your heart attack, he will know exactly where you are and won't have to wait until spring gett'n you threw the pearly gates....animals might find you otherwise before then....not a pretty thought.
Now I am NOT trying to discourage you from jumpin in to a perfectly great snowmobiling activity...on the contrary, nobody wants to live to collect social security, and frankly....the government would appreciate the fact that you paid IN all those years but won't around to collect a nickle of it...for the rest of us on SS....we thank you for your contributions in advance.....
Now....I know this sounds like I would not do this myself...no sane man would knowingly head to his maker ahead of schedule....so I have found that there is ONE thing you can do to enjoy this OFF TRAIL riding with a LONG tracked sled that only weighs about the same as 9 over weight men in a sack....and I will give you MY secrete for still doing it.
I tell all my younger sledder friends how much F-U-N it is to "go off trail"...notice I say YOUNGER...like in sub 24ish....those guys would charge up a mountain pass with NO chance of turning around...because they can't think that far in advance.
Covet those friends...be sure to invite them along and make THEM carry the shovels and bungee cords and tow ropes.
Then WHEN you get stuck....holler over to them...and tell them that you "had to stop" to "check out this interesting thing in buried deep in the snow."..this one works for several trips...then when they wade over to your sled....mention that the sled needs a bit of a boost so you can get going again.
Unfortunately this won't work for the WHOLE winter....even dumb and young catches on eventually, so you need a healthy pool of "subjects" to work from....rotate thru the batch with some contimplation of the depth of snow...I find wirey guys tend to be more useful than the brawny kind that lift lots of weight but they tend to fade over time...and besides wirey don't usually drink as much of YOUR beer. NEVER EVER solicit guys with short legs...they are basically worthless....we are talking legs no longer than say....Lenny's.....that's why they buy Yamaha's and stick to the trail....they can't even SEE over the windshield and well...enough said about that.
If you simply must go off trail with your 187 inch tracked sled....I suggest that you take a couple things that can be of significant aid in gett'n unstuck...take note here....this is my personal list I am unwrappin here:
4 shovels....plastic is good but be absolutely certain that YOUR shovel is the wimpiest in the batch....distribute the better shovels to your FRIENDS.
I usually carry one or two rather long braided rope of 3/4 diameter....these have a tensil strength of about 20,000 pounds and are quite heavy to carry....distribute these to the others who will be going along...you would have to be nuts to carry one of these yourself....weight is not a good thing when your going off trail.
Consider a come-along....again, suggest others carry this...for the same reasons as above. If anyone balks at haulin it...tell them that it is just a simple insurance policy thing....
Finally, a good first aid kit and a small cooler big enough to carry a six pack of beer....keep this one on YOUR sled...it helps when the youngsters start giving you lip about wading on over to your sled....the "found something neat..." doesn't work forever don't yah know!
And that's about it.....I would keep the sales receipt for the "long tracker" as it will be highly helpful to persuade younger dumber sledders you will be trying to sell that monster off to....at the end of your first season...when you finally figure out that trail sledding has it's aesthetic values that we seniors rather appreciate over time. Oh, and gett'n home by 5pm can do alot for anyone who appreciates a good warm fire and a hot-toddy with the dog curled up next to you as you unwind after a day on the trail.
You will then be an official member of the "BTDT" club.....(been there dun that).
Pst....don't let this all this get out....I do have a few Younger recruits I am work'n on.....hate to lose them to loose lips! Cupish?
