Looking to go out west

indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
Not sure if this is too early but I'm looking to join a group to go out west with this winter. I live in the fox valley area in WI will be riding a 15 Polaris RMK 800, I have a truck and 2 place 12' enclosed trailer. Never been out there before, I'd consider myself an average rider, would be able to keep up with anyone but I also won't be highmarking anyone.

Can reply thru here or PM me.

Thanks,

Scott
 
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Woodtic

Active member
No thanks,I only ride with guys that drive Fords,ride Cats and burn sea& snow. Did I leave anything out.:)
 
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skiseadoo

Member
Scott,

When are you looking to go out west? Between Christmas and New Year? 2 of us are planning to go out during the holidays. Still deciding if we are going to drive or fly. It is nice to have 3-4 guys for when you get stuck! Did you look into Mom's motorsports?

Dan
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
skiseadoo said:
Scott,

When are you looking to go out west? Between Christmas and New Year? 2 of us are planning to go out during the holidays. Still deciding if we are going to drive or fly. It is nice to have 3-4 guys for when you get stuck! Did you look into Mom's motorsports?

Dan
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I did look into moms but if rather just drive my own sled out there less planning involved. I was thinking a new years possibly but I'd be open to anything.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
Indy, let me know in an IM what dates you looking at. Planning on Togwotee and Cooke city again this year. Been to both many times.
 
cooksend

cooksend

Active member
Heading West is truly humbling and a great time if you hook up with the correct crew. Do yourself a favor and get some Avy training and be sure you ride with folks that have the same! Practice with your beacon and don't ride with anyone that doesn't own one or know how to use the one they are wearing.

Also be fair to those you are going with and be straight up with your skill set. Being able to keep up with anyone takes a set of skills most don't have. There truly is humbling terrain everywhere you look and some of the tracks leading up, down and across will leave you amazed!

Other than that ball up, make the plans and have a great time! I certainly can't wait till my next trip!
 
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Woodtic

Active member
indy_500 said:
3 wrongs don't make a right :)
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Ya,I'm just messing with you. I don't own a Ford at this time. I own a few different brand sleds, and the oil thing,well that's up for debate. Make sure you go out there with guys that are on the same page as you. The same wants and expectations out of the trip as you. Good luck....
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
cooksend said:
Heading West is truly humbling and a great time if you hook up with the correct crew. Do yourself a favor and get some Avy training and be sure you ride with folks that have the same! Practice with your beacon and don't ride with anyone that doesn't own one or know how to use the one they are wearing.

Also be fair to those you are going with and be straight up with your skill set. Being able to keep up with anyone takes a set of skills most don't have. There truly is humbling terrain everywhere you look and some of the tracks leading up, down and across will leave you amazed!

Other than that ball up, make the plans and have a great time! I certainly can't wait till my next trip!
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Well obviously I couldn't keep up with a burandt kind of guy but I think it's safe to assume I wouldn't have a problem riding with anyone on here. I guess my point I tried getting across is I highly doubt I would be holding anyone back let's just leave it at that :)
 
cooksend

cooksend

Active member
indy_500 said:
Well obviously I couldn't keep up with a burandt kind of guy but I think it's safe to assume I wouldn't have a problem riding with anyone on here. I guess my point I tried getting across is I highly doubt I would be holding anyone back let's just leave it at that :)
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You know Indy that some of us just like to give you a little grief from time to time!
 
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polarisrider1

New member
cooksend said:
Heading West is truly humbling and a great time if you hook up with the correct crew. Do yourself a favor and get some Avy training and be sure you ride with folks that have the same! Practice with your beacon and don't ride with anyone that doesn't own one or know how to use the one they are wearing.

Also be fair to those you are going with and be straight up with your skill set. Being able to keep up with anyone takes a set of skills most don't have. There truly is humbling terrain everywhere you look and some of the tracks leading up, down and across will leave you amazed!

Other than that ball up, make the plans and have a great time! I certainly can't wait till my next trip!
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Well said.
 
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byrn71

Member
I will say Indy, I don't doubt your ability, but riding outwest is a different game. You can drop into areas and get yourself in to bad situations very quick. As Greg stated make sure you come prepared and truly understand your abilities. Riding outwest is the best place I have ever riden and you will love it. Just be ready and have a great time.
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
indy_500 said:
Well obviously I couldn't keep up with a burandt kind of guy but I think it's safe to assume I wouldn't have a problem riding with anyone on here. I guess my point I tried getting across is I highly doubt I would be holding anyone back let's just leave it at that :)
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Can you side hill? Can you hold a side hill for a long time going to the left or right? Do you hesitate? Do you get stuck a lot in the UP? Do any hills in the UP intimidate you?

I've ridden with people who can get around in the UP and hold their own and they get stuck in some stupid predicaments. If you go out there thinking you wouldn't have a problem riding with anyone here expect to be disappointed. Riding out west is a totally different experience than riding in the UP. You can learn a lot in the UP to get you by out west but you'll also learn things out west that you'll bring home to the UP.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh, and take the Avy class with your crew (ride with no one who hasn't since they're the ones who will be saving your life), rent or buy a beacon and probe, and I suggest riding with at least one person who knows what they're doing. Depending on when you go I might even lend you some stuff for out west.
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
cuzzinolaf said:
Can you side hill? Can you hold a side hill for a long time going to the left or right? Do you hesitate? Do you get stuck a lot in the UP? Do any hills in the UP intimidate you?

I've ridden with people who can get around in the UP and hold their own and they get stuck in some stupid predicaments. If you go out there thinking you wouldn't have a problem riding with anyone here expect to be disappointed. Riding out west is a totally different experience than riding in the UP. You can learn a lot in the UP to get you by out west but you'll also learn things out west that you'll bring home to the UP.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh, and take the Avy class with your crew (ride with no one who hasn't since they're the ones who will be saving your life), rent or buy a beacon and probe, and I suggest riding with at least one person who knows what they're doing. Depending on when you go I might even lend you some stuff for out west.
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Sidehilling to the left great sidehilling to the right not so great. Never been intimidated by a hill, I only get in predicaments when trees are involved. I sidehilled a straight up and down ditch along a 1/2 mile long guardrail east of Bruce crossing on M28 There was about 15 feet between the guardrail and the trees, halfway thru had to squeeze between the guardrail and a huge culvert had roughly 5' to squeeze thru everyone in my group pulled out and hopped on the trail I got to the end of the guardrail turned around to see no one. I did that with trailing arms so I think I'll do ok :) Probably the longest adrenaline rush I've ever had on a sled. To most of my riding buddies when I bring up tekvests, avy classes, beacons, or avy packs the response I always get is "that's f'n stupid" hence why I figured I'd throw it out here on this thread that I'm interested in going if anybody is looking to fill a spot in their group, that is if they're planning a trip this early (maybe it's not too early what do I know). Kind of hard to plan a trip with your friends when you tell them to pick up a set of lighter clutch weights and they ask why and they think they'll just go out there with their current sea level weights and see what it's like first before buying some......
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
If you get into an area you're not sure of (it happens even if you know the general area) sometimes the only way out is a sidehill. The difference with that sidehill and your one along M28 is you might be 10 miles into the bush so if you don't make it and get sucked into the trees you're done. You'll probably be fine but just go out there and prepare to be humbled.

Spend an hour on Youtube searching the words avalanche and snowmobile. Pick a few of the "good" ones and share them with your friends.

Also, Mike Duffy shares this video in his class, watch it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7Pye9f602s

Tekvests, to each his own, but trees and handlebars hurt. The avy class, beacon, probes, shovel, and knowledge will be used to save YOUR life. If they're saying that is "f'n stupid" I'd find some new friends LOL. We might be going between Xmas and New Years to the Western Snowies and might have room. If you're serious I can talk to the guys going and see what is up.
 
cooksend

cooksend

Active member
Hey Indy. I have typed up multiple responses to this post and keep deleting them because I just don't want to come across as some A** that thinks he know how to ride and want's put you in your place but! I would like to think of myself as a decent rider and I know for a fact that I can't keep up with everyone on this forum! Just because I have sidehilled below a guardrail or thrown a hop over doesn't mean I can hang. Also to think that just because this is primarily a Midwest forum you have the skills it takes to ride with these guys is kind of crazy.
My guess is that you are probably the best rider in your group with the most capable sled in your group meaning you are doing things that nobody in your group is doing???
We have never met and I have nothing against you but I would love to have join us for a ride once. Not to try to humble you (because I may not) but to? Well maybe to try to humble you if I have to be honest.

I guess what I mean is what I stated in my first response. Be fair to yourself and everybody that you plan to ride with on a trip out West. Don't start the ride with your ego! Start it with your brain. Our ego's have a tendency to get us into trouble! Depending on where you go out West it is not always tough to get around. However being able to use the terrain that sit's in front of you is the challenge. On the other hand there are riding zones that are amazing and only those with advanced skills and Ba**s the size of small planets are able to venture...
Just keep it real and have a ball. The smile on your face at the end of the day is all that really matters and not if you could hang or who you could hang with. I guess my Grief for today was "Good Grief Indy".

No offense meant Indy!
 
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polarisrider1

New member
cooksend said:
Hey Indy. I have typed up multiple responses to this post and keep deleting them because I just don't want to come across as some A** that thinks he know how to ride and want's put you in your place but! I would like to think of myself as a decent rider and I know for a fact that I can't keep up with everyone on this forum! Just because I have sidehilled below a guardrail or thrown a hop over doesn't mean I can hang. Also to think that just because this is primarily a Midwest forum you have the skills it takes to ride with these guys is kind of crazy.
My guess is that you are probably the best rider in your group with the most capable sled in your group meaning you are doing things that nobody in your group is doing???
We have never met and I have nothing against you but I would love to have join us for a ride once. Not to try to humble you (because I may not) but to? Well maybe to try to humble you if I have to be honest.

I guess what I mean is what I stated in my first response. Be fair to yourself and everybody that you plan to ride with on a trip out West. Don't start the ride with your ego! Start it with your brain. Our ego's have a tendency to get us into trouble! Depending on where you go out West it is not always tough to get around. However being able to use the terrain that sit's in front of you is the challenge. On the other hand there are riding zones that are amazing and only those with advanced skills and Ba**s the size of small planets are able to venture...
Just keep it real and have a ball. The smile on your face at the end of the day is all that really matters and not if you could hang or who you could hang with. I guess my Grief for today was "Good Grief Indy".

No offense meant Indy!
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Fantastic post! Indy my group would love to have you along. Yes to avy training, tekvest, beacon, you know what you need. Olaf has an excellent list he would share. I recommend Moms for many reasons. Always somebody to pair up with like skill set. As far as your flatlander friends are not on the same page as you. There is a lot to be said about guides. Great way to learn with them. The guides size you up quickly and know how far your limits are.
 
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