Disappointed in Snowy Range Trip (2/25-2/27/11)

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revx125

New member
I have read many posts on here about how awesome it is to ride out west. I just got back and have to say that I was disappointed in our trip. The disappointment is primarily related to the weather while we were there. White out conditions and getting stuck repeatedly are not my idea of a good time. When you can not see the terrain or the trail, things fall apart very quickly. We arrived last Thursday night, rode Friday, Saturday and Sunday (2/25-2/27). Friday was Ok. Saturday sucked and Sunday started out with blue skies and no wind which did not last for long. Finally, we were able to see the mountains and take some cool photos. On Friday, we rode from the Green Rock Parking Area to Albany lodge and back. Did some off trail riding but the trail itself was pretty rough. On Saturday we tried to to cross over the using O and U and it was just horrible. You could not see 10 feet in front of you. On Sunday, we made it from the Green Rock Parking Area to The Place Bar & Cafe for food. On the way back over, it started snowing and the winds came back. You could barely see the next trail marker crossing Libby Flats. On Sunday night we found out that a group got split up and one of the guys did not make it down off the mountain. The were setting up search and rescue to try and find him on Monday morning. They said the winds were blowing 90 mph up on the mountain. They were blowing so hard in Centennial you did not want to go outside.

I don't think I will be going back any time soon. I think the powder riding and views were incredible but the weather can change on a dime. We only had 4-5 hours of good weather out of 3 days of riding. When you only go on 2-3 trips a year, I do not want to waste a trip dealing with weather conditions that can make the trip completely suck. I will stick to the U.P. where blizzards don't just blow up out of nowhere. I realize the U.P. may not have the powder that the Snowy Range has but at least I will have a good idea that the conditions will be on the trip. I may go back out west but not anytime soon.
 
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RevKev

New member
Bummer about the weather, but that is Mother Nature. Also the Snowys arn't nicknamed the "Blowies" for nothing. Every time I have been there, weather was awesome, last April was epic, 4 feet of Pow fell over night the evening we arrived, the following day was overcast, but the remaining days were Blue bird. I would not give up on the West,l would try a different area, such as Togwotee Pass, the Bighorns, both in Wyoming, Steamboat/ Rabbit ears in Colorado (just to the South of the Snowies) or Montana, or Idaho. We are leaving in 2 days for Island Park Idaho.
 
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snoluver1

Active member
Welcome to the the mountains! Its definitely not for everybody. Sounds like you better stick to the bar hopping in Wi or U.P. If you want a better experience next time, I would suggest hiring a guide. When the weather turns ugly, and you don't know how to deal with it (aka-get into the trees) a guide can be very useful.
 
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revx125

New member
I could care less about bar hoping in WI or the UP. A guide is probably a good idea but the fact of the matter is you really can't get anywhere when the weather turns ugly. All of the trails go up and over the range so you be limited to the area that you park your trailer. I realize some people don't want to get anywhere, they would like to stay completely off trail all the time. It was our first trip out west and I just wanted to experience a little more of the trail system than we were allowed. I enjoy off trail riding but riding the trail gives you a little time to rest before the next off trail experience. You need to rest when you are coming from Illinois (elevation 500 feet) and riding the snowy range (elevation 8500-11000? feet). Not to mention the 1000 mile drive out to Centennial sucked. We passed a fatal accident in Nebraska and were almost killed by a crazy semi crossing the summit between Cheyenne and Laramie. If we go back, I am thinking we will fly into Denver, rent a car, rent mountain sleds and maybe even a guide. I have not given up on western riding but I think people need to realize that it is not all gum drops an lollipops.
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
Timing has a lot to do with with it. We rode in Jan. and it was windy on the Greenrock side of the range and the other side was nice. I guess not knowing where to go once there played a part in your feelings toward the trip too. I can tell you that the west side of the mountain was well as the French Creek area would have been great riding... unless you had insane winds.
 
Admin

Admin

Administrator
Staff member
A tip from a meteorologist. If you don't like wind, stay away from the Blowies (Snowies). They pretty much stick up out of no where and are subjected to the full forces of the wind at that elevation.

If you like mostly trail, with a bit of off trail, look into Grand Lake, CO or Togwotee WY. In the 40+ days I have spent at Togwotee, I have never been turned away by the weather.

Every place can have winds, but some spots are just way more prone to them.

-John
 
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polarisrider1

New member
Revx125, you simple did not go far enough west. I don't care for the non stop wind at the snowies either. At Togwotee I only once had a day with high winds and then we moved into the thick stuff for an hour or so till it passed. 1000 miles? you got off easy. I travel 1200-1600 miles one way riding in a semi or pickup truck most the time, and do it 3-4 times a year. it may not be for you?
 
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snoluver1

Active member
One thing I can say about the snowies is if your a first timer and know nothing about the area, you can surely have a miserable time. I have been riding there for ten years and can honestly say I have never, not once, ever left there disappointed! Low snow, howling wind, blinding blizzards, you name it, never had a bad time. Sure, some specific areas are miserable at times, and some rides have been better than others, but I have always managed to find what I was looking for. Your first mistake for the type of riding you want to do was parking at greenrock. The only way to get anywhere by trail is to go over the top. Libby flats is ALWAYS a crap shoot, even on a clear day. You would have been way better off staying in Albany, Wycola, or Saratoga/Ryan's park. The only reason to stay in Centennial is to get to the best off trail quickly. I don't go out there to ride the trails, so whenever the wind and/or snow gets bad, the first thing I do is duck into the trees. I know the place well enough now that I can navigate my entire ride based on tree riding if need be. If its foggy or cloudy, I know I need to drop in elevation and head toward the west side of the range. This is my point about a guide. The Rocky Mnt's are not a place you want to "just go try it out" without at least going with someone who has been before, or hiring a guide. Its a long way to go and a lot of money spent to have a bad time. Although I was not there, I suspect a guide or another rider with experience with the area could have easily salvaged your miserable time.
 
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nitroman

New member
Some go west and are infected with the addiction and some just wish it was the UP with better scenery. I agree with John if your looking for more scenery with a bit of off trail Head to Grand Lake or even Steamboat lake!
 
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D.B. Cooper

Member
revx125 said:
I have read many posts on here about how awesome it is to ride out west. I just got back and have to say that I was disappointed in our trip. The disappointment is primarily related to the weather while we were there. White out conditions and getting stuck repeatedly are not my idea of a good time. When you can not see the terrain or the trail, things fall apart very quickly. We arrived last Thursday night, rode Friday, Saturday and Sunday (2/25-2/27). Friday was Ok. Saturday sucked and Sunday started out with blue skies and no wind which did not last for long. Finally, we were able to see the mountains and take some cool photos. On Friday, we rode from the Green Rock Parking Area to Albany lodge and back. Did some off trail riding but the trail itself was pretty rough. On Saturday we tried to to cross over the using O and U and it was just horrible. You could not see 10 feet in front of you. On Sunday, we made it from the Green Rock Parking Area to The Place Bar & Cafe for food. On the way back over, it started snowing and the winds came back. You could barely see the next trail marker crossing Libby Flats. On Sunday night we found out that a group got split up and one of the guys did not make it down off the mountain. The were setting up search and rescue to try and find him on Monday morning. They said the winds were blowing 90 mph up on the mountain. They were blowing so hard in Centennial you did not want to go outside.

I don't think I will be going back any time soon. I think the powder riding and views were incredible but the weather can change on a dime. We only had 4-5 hours of good weather out of 3 days of riding. When you only go on 2-3 trips a year, I do not want to waste a trip dealing with weather conditions that can make the trip completely suck. I will stick to the U.P. where blizzards don't just blow up out of nowhere. I realize the U.P. may not have the powder that the Snowy Range has but at least I will have a good idea that the conditions will be on the trip. I may go back out west but not anytime soon.
Click to expand...

Usually we ride the U.P. and a little of Northern Wisc, average 150-225 miles per day, we go to ride, not drink.

We've trailer-ed (22-25 hour drive straight through) our machines to West Yellowstone in 1988 (6 days riding), 2002 (6 days) , 2004 ( 8 days riding), 2005 (5 days riding) . As much as I like the U.P., if it were up to me, I would ride Yellowstone 2x a year and NEVER ride anywhere else, it's that nice! Nice mix of choices from Powder to groomed trails to seeing the bison up close in the Park, NEVER had a bad day out of all those trips.

We're waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overdue for another trip out West.
 
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backcountryislife

New member
pick your riding location based on the weather.

IF you go to a place where you're stuck with one riding area for a week... if it sucks, you're stuck.

Around here I ride my back yard if the weather is nice (all alpine, 11-13k) I ride places like rabbit ears when it's snowing & windy, because you can just ride right into the trees. Trying to ride the blowies on a whiteout day is a great way to endanger the lives of local search & rescue.

guys who go to these stay there & ride one place all week kinda locations always confuse me, must be a midwest thing that never caught on in my 27 cheesebrained years!

If the name of the place you're heading to ends in "lodge"... you're paying too much & are likely stuck riding one place with too many trails! :D :p

oh, and if you come west to "put on a bunch of miles"... you're doing it wrong. :p
 
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revx125

New member
I appreciate the guidance from everyone here (except Lefty). Some very valid points and words of wisdom. Based on your comments and others on JohnDee.com, I am leaning toward Togwotee and getting a guide. Thank You.
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
revx125 said:
I appreciate the guidance from everyone here (except Lefty). Some very valid points and words of wisdom. Based on your comments and others on JohnDee.com, I am leaning toward Togwotee and getting a guide. Thank You.
Click to expand...

I think Lefty is a guide in Tog... or rides with them. Better make friends now LOL. I'm sure he was just giving you a hard time, don't be too sensitive.
 
Admin

Admin

Administrator
Staff member
While I can't speak for Lefty, I suspect he was just joking. He is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and is a Tog. guide. Perhaps a bit too much Mezcal last night! ;)

I can see where you could have taken it the wrong way.

-John
 
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techsledder

Member
I walked up to and introduced myself to Lefty last week in guide shack at Tog. A real nice genuine dude. I bet he's just joking with ya. While I haven't had him as a guide yet, maybe next year we ride with him?! Liked your personal sled Lefty!

As far as places to ride out there and their conditions... uhh... it's part of the sledding thing in the mountains. Weather can change in a second and you have to be prepared for it. Even out in Togwotee our guide, Carter, changed our ride locations daily and sometimes by the hour based on the weather. Last week, most of the days were flat light and snowing. Crappy for seeing the terrain. Even had some real blustery times where there were white out conditions. Instead of P'n and M'n about it, we adapted... the really snowy/windy times we head to the trees! See that's the fun of out West. A challenge at every turn!
 
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lookin4snow

New member
Like This?

Did it look like this across Libby Flats? Pretty common.
noviz.jpg
 
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Lefty

New member
takin wrong

If your biggest disappointment is weather, well who can we blame? Could be worse, stuck on the couch unable 2 ride!
 
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