Out West with a 12 and 16 year old. Where to?

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chicagosledder

New member
Looking for advice on taking a 12 and 16 year old out west to ride in the powder. Both have been riding for several years and want to go out west. I was out there once and it is an adventure that I would like to share with them. I looked into Beaver Creek Lodge in Utah and that seems like a nice place. I will be renting and going with my buddy and his 16 year old son. I have the 12 year old who thinks he is Superman so I need to be careful with him. Any input would be appreciated.
 
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homan

Member
When my son was 12 I took him to Togwotee for the first time. I rented a sled for him from a rental company based in Jackson and just put it under my name. Did not tell them that a 12 year old was riding it. They delivered the sled to our cabin at Tog. Most places probably will not rent you a sled for a 12 year old to ride so you have to be sly in how you do it.
I like Togwotee but I am sure there are other good places to go as well.
 
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chicagosledder

New member
I checked around and called Tog and they will only rent a trail sled to him like Homan said. What I did find out is in the state of Utah they will rent to me and they have no problem with him riding in powder as long as he takes there OHV test. The test appears to be the same or very similar to the Michigan test which he took and passed. Thanks for the responses, so I guess if this pops up in the future for other members Utah is the place to go.
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
I recall a few years ago when we rented a 600 Polaris classic in northern wi they had a 16 year old age requirement. I thought that was a little ridiculous. I see no problem in doing as Homan said if you feel it's appropriate for your son. You know his riding capability best of anyone, I for one would never think about spending that kind of money to go out west and making my kid ride a 550 fan trail rmk. That would be miserable for both of you. I had a 700cc sled when I was 13, I was also the same size I am now when I was 13.
 
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600_RMK_144

Active member
Guess my son has a lot of growing up to do between now and then. I wouldn't put him on anything bigger than a 120 right now. A fan in that altitude would be a joke. I do love your comment about being the same size now as you were when you were 13. Good stuff.
 
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Hoosier

Well-known member
The first time we went West (Togwotee area) I was surprised how many families we saw out on the trails on rented sleds - especially down by Brooks Lake Lodge - some of the kids looked to be fairly young, and it was kind of comical seeing a young kid on a mountain sled - there's like 5 feet of sled behind him or her. I think it would be an excellent place to take some younger riders - it's not like you have to go out high marking or get in the steep and deep or if you take one step off the trail, they'll get stuck.

Many of the marked trails are wide-open, and lots of low-risk meadows to play in. Most importantly, you don't have the ricky racers you run into in the UP coming around the corner. I don't see why your kids wouldn't have a blast on a lower hp sled out there - like a 550 RMK or a Phazer. There's a reason they put the fan engines in the mountain sleds. There's just so much land out there you can find all kinds of places to play without worrying about anyone else. Having a longer track would help but I wouldn't worry about HP for them - if anything, a lighter with lower hp may help to bury the sled.

Everyone talks about the cost of riding out West and I've found the day-to-day costs are less, since you just don't go through nearly as much gas and oil as you do burning down trails for 12 hour days.

This would be a trip your kids would never forget.
 
indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
Hoosier said:
Everyone talks about the cost of riding out West and I've found the day-to-day costs are less, since you just don't go through nearly as much gas and oil as you do burning down trails for 12 hour days.
Click to expand...

one of the best parts of offtrail riding! I used to spend more in sled gas pounding 300 miles a day out in a trip up north than I did on the truck gas to get there and the hotel combined. But you usually make up for it in wrecked parts...
 
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Hoosier

Well-known member
indy_500 said:
one of the best parts of offtrail riding! I used to spend more in sled gas pounding 300 miles a day out in a trip up north than I did on the truck gas to get there and the hotel combined. But you usually make up for it in wrecked parts...
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True! But hopefully running more near the trails and in the meadows and small hills, he won't have to deal with any broken parts.
 
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chicagosledder

New member
I was not complaining about the hp of the sled it was the fact that it was a trail sled. I don't feel like digging a 121 track machine out every 5 minutes as opposed to him riding a long track which would be every 15 minutes . LOL I found a place in Utah that will rent to us without an age restriction like Wyoming.
 
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rmkking

New member
They are called RMK's for a reason they are RMK's they have longer tracks and bigger lugs. They are 136 x 1.5 tracks. But either way your digging them out. I have a 12 and 14 yo and I wouldn't take them out west yet. They both ride RMK 500's 136" but I will take them to the Yooper to ride power-lines and logging roads. There is plenty of stuff to keep them busy up there. Plus if you take them out west they will have nothing to look forward to and one is only 12. lol
 
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600_RMK_144

Active member
rmkking said:
They are called RMK's for a reason they are RMK's they have longer tracks and bigger lugs. They are 136 x 1.5 tracks. But either way your digging them out. I have a 12 and 14 yo and I wouldn't take them out west yet. They both ride RMK 500's 136" but I will take them to the Yooper to ride power-lines and logging roads. There is plenty of stuff to keep them busy up there. Plus if you take them out west they will have nothing to look forward to and one is only 12. lol
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Well, the term RMK has morphed a bit from its early days IMO. My father in law has an old Indy 500 that says Rocky Mountain King because of its "extended track." I always laugh when I see it cuz it's like a 129" I believe and the lugs are maybe 3/4" at best? My how times have changed.
 
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chicagosledder

New member
I have not, partly in fact because it seemed like Wy., was stricter to rent and wouldn't allow my 12 year old to ride on is own. I can check into it and see if they are different at the Bear Lodge. Thanks
 
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snowho96

Member
We have went to bear lodge as a family trip. My youngest son was 10 at the time and daughter was 14. We rode our own sleds they will not rent to anybody under 18 i think. It was over spring break and there were lots of families there with younger kids riding their own sleds. We had rented in our name and let the older sons(15,16) ride them.
 
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Wyelde

New member
Might want to consider the Black Hills for the first trip for them. Lots of offtrail, great groomed trails, and half the altitude of Togwotee, Less dangerous, no avalanches, and the snow is normally set up a bit more.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
all I see out there Black hills for rental is f5 and some old *** 3cy srx
have u looked in to grand lake CO . rent a sled from extreme rentals in Denver and haul it up. best price on rentals in the west. http://www.extremesnowmobilerentals.com/index.html

from extreme rental site
Requirements To Rent

-You must be at least 18 with a valid drivers license to rent. (Not To Ride)

-We require a Credit Card damage deposit with every rental. The deposit is $250 for ATVs and Dirtbikes, and $500 for Snowmobiles and Jetskis. We do not except cash, checks, debit cards or bank check cards for this deposit. This deposit has to be done in person by the card holder, it can not be done over the phone.

-Tow vehicle with 2 inch ball and 4 flat light hook ups. Ball mounts and adapters available (free) by request.

- How can I pay for the rental? Cash, debit card, or credit card. No checks.

- Can I take them out of state? Yes, you can take them anywhere you like.

- How long is the deposit held? The deposit is ran through as an Authorization, and usually takes 3 business days to post back on to your card.
 
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600_RMK_144

Active member
Black Hills Off-Road Rentals does have a couple (Yamaha) Mtn. sleds. Don't know what you gotta do to get em, but saw them rented out when we stayed. Highly doubtful you'd talk them into rented to the youngsters.
 
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600_RMK_144

Active member
So true. Trail sled must have weighed 1000lbs. 1 ft off trail we got stuck! Really sucked. Epic snow that trip, but couldn't play at all.
 
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