Team RIDEHARD Togwotee bound February 6th

06mxzx

New member
Team RIDEHARD booked our trip out to Togwotee for the 2nd year in a row. We will be out there the week of February 6th to rip up the deep stuff with the Summits. Anyone else gonna be out there around then?

www.teamridehard.com
 

blutooth

New member
2 guys from the Kessler Krew will be there 2/2-2/7. Riding on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th...

This is our first time so we didn't know which guide to book. Based on everyone talking around here we booked Carter.
 

nitroman

New member
Is a guide really needed to ride togwotee? Just wondering because everytime someone is going to or asking about Tog it's recomended to them to hire (Carter)a guide. I plan on hitting Tog next season and really don't like the idea of a guide I would rather just depend on my maps,compass,gps, and drunkin mountain goats sense of direction to get me thru the day. In all the years and trips we have gone on we have never hired one so I am just wondering why for Tog it's suggested. When people talk about trips to Rabbit Ears,the Snowies,Steamboat etc. it's rarely suggested to hire a guide but for Tog it always is. What's different about Tog vs other area's that I would need a guide?
 

doospunk

Active member
Is a guide really needed to ride togwotee? Just wondering because everytime someone is going to or asking about Tog it's recomended to them to hire (Carter)a guide. I plan on hitting Tog next season and really don't like the idea of a guide I would rather just depend on my maps,compass,gps, and drunkin mountain goats sense of direction to get me thru the day. In all the years and trips we have gone on we have never hired one so I am just wondering why for Tog it's suggested. When people talk about trips to Rabbit Ears,the Snowies,Steamboat etc. it's rarely suggested to hire a guide but for Tog it always is. What's different about Tog vs other area's that I would need a guide?

I think it's more the experience than anything. IMO - you can do it on your own as well, but you'll miss out on a lot of stuff you'd never find on your own unless you know the terrain. WIth enough guys, the cost of the guide is very reasonable. It's a matter of preference, but with the amount of terrain to cover out there (in the short time your there), most prefer the guide for their knowledge of the area, expertise, and the fact that no one needs to keep tabs on where they are, unexpected change in conditions, time, etc. which really makes for a great experience all around, and no stress. In addition, the guides will teach and push you to do things you typically would not try on your own (if that's your cup of tea.) You see Carter's name alot, because a # of guys on here have used him alot, and he's one of the more tenured guides there. I've not personally ridden with him, but there are other good guides as well. John's crew has used Lefty quite a bit. We had Nate the last time we were out there, and he was excellent as well. Word of mouth will obviously spread when people have a good experience. Just my .02
 

blutooth

New member
For me it was just for a change of pace. We typically ride the Snowies and have usually done so without a guide - we do ride a day or two with each year, and our grasp of the land really grows and we find a ton of new places to ride on following trips that we likely would not have found with a guide.

Togwotee is one of the few places set up to offer a guided snowmobile trip. They have something like 6 or 7 guides riding every day and it was really cost effective - $20/day in the preseason special. You just can't find a group of guides like that other places. For my first time going there and the opportunity to ride with some different riders as well - and maybe learn a thing or two from a guy who spends 150 days a year on a snowmobile, it just made sense.



Is a guide really needed to ride togwotee? Just wondering because everytime someone is going to or asking about Tog it's recomended to them to hire (Carter)a guide. I plan on hitting Tog next season and really don't like the idea of a guide I would rather just depend on my maps,compass,gps, and drunkin mountain goats sense of direction to get me thru the day. In all the years and trips we have gone on we have never hired one so I am just wondering why for Tog it's suggested. When people talk about trips to Rabbit Ears,the Snowies,Steamboat etc. it's rarely suggested to hire a guide but for Tog it always is. What's different about Tog vs other area's that I would need a guide?
 

polarisrider1

New member
Is a guide really needed to ride togwotee? Just wondering because everytime someone is going to or asking about Tog it's recomended to them to hire (Carter)a guide. I plan on hitting Tog next season and really don't like the idea of a guide I would rather just depend on my maps,compass,gps, and drunkin mountain goats sense of direction to get me thru the day. In all the years and trips we have gone on we have never hired one so I am just wondering why for Tog it's suggested. When people talk about trips to Rabbit Ears,the Snowies,Steamboat etc. it's rarely suggested to hire a guide but for Tog it always is. What's different about Tog vs other area's that I would need a guide?
You may have the wrong thought of what a Guide does out there. Togwotee is such a huge area that without one you will not really ride the "Good stuff". They know what has been beat up and what has not in their riding area. The guides for off trail riding at Tog. want to no more putts around and picture take, with a bunch of lolly gagging whinners than anyone else does. But they will if that is your speed. They are your life line and your guide to fun. Riding Togwotee is not like a guided trip around Wally world unless you want it to be. I have rode with Brent, Nate, Noah, Carter, I think a Chad??, Guys from the Tog. kitchen on their day off, Jason, Matt Binon and maybe a Justin. All good in their own way. Carters name comes up because he likes to teach us Flatlanders how to do it right and not kill ourselves in the process. I suspect that after going to Tog. about six times that I could get us around kinda okay, but I like to go to Dry lake and drag race hill and I still need a guide to get me there. Upper Brooks lake, helicopter hill and across the street from Tog. I can find myself, but so can everyone else. So to answer, Togwotee is millions of acres to get lost, injuried or broke down in. The guides job is to see that none of this happens and you come back with a grin from ear to ear with great stories to tell. The guides do earn their keep, it is not easy herding 6-10 guys with all different riding levels around each day.

As far as Snowies, IP, Cooke well those areas are much smaller and much easier to find your way around. These areas you can get by without a guide. I highly recommend riding with either a guide or highly experienced riders at Cooke since it does have many Avy areas.
 
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cuzzinolaf

Well-known member
Is a guide really needed to ride togwotee? Just wondering because everytime someone is going to or asking about Tog it's recomended to them to hire (Carter)a guide. I plan on hitting Tog next season and really don't like the idea of a guide I would rather just depend on my maps,compass,gps, and drunkin mountain goats sense of direction to get me thru the day. In all the years and trips we have gone on we have never hired one so I am just wondering why for Tog it's suggested. When people talk about trips to Rabbit Ears,the Snowies,Steamboat etc. it's rarely suggested to hire a guide but for Tog it always is. What's different about Tog vs other area's that I would need a guide?

I have said the same thing for years and am finally giving in this March. I'll letcha know.
 

rayds

Member
Nitro- Doospunk is correct. I have been to Tog once a year for 5 years, staying/riding 4 days on the "package" (room, meals, rental sled and guide included). We, my son and I, have ridden with numerous guides, Noah, Justin, Jeff, Brent, and Carter. Each of them will make sure you are having a time of your life, just let them know your wishes (actually Derek will align you with the correct group for your type of riding). The riding with a guide is not a follow the leader type riding. Once you hit the back countryand secret spots each guide knows it is "play time". About the time I think I have seen a lot of the Tog area, these guides will take us into a new area, or at least it looks new to me AND in areas untouched with new powder. Always looking forward to back country riding and not having to be looking back or checking to make GPS is working to make sure we can find our way back. The guides make the trip.
 

carter

New member
More on this topic.....this is not a sales pitch for the lodge......when you book at the lodge on a package deal you get a guide, so its not an extra $ thing...you are all right in your own way, some love us and some not....we have a great crew this year again and if I can't get it done, then Noah, Brent, Lefty, Nathan, Logan and Jack are ther for all to abuse,..........or is that the other way around. Polarisrider1 hit it...big area.........when I started as a tourist it was obvious the size and the length of time it would take to see it all and ride it all. I'm still trying. Come one come all to the greatest show on snow....be a part of the sport no matter where you ride..There are guys on this site who can get specific about the riding and how much each guide has helped the experience. And just so you know we are helpful to all when we aren't guiding you....we know sooner or later you will take a ride with us and then you will know....more later...
 

marty700

Member
Fo me its a safety issue. My group rides all over around the greater Jackson Hole area - some days at Togwotee, some days Grey's River and points south, some days in the Gros Venture (Gro Vaa). Even if you just limited your riding to Togwotee, the area is so vast - with so many terrain changes - that you could easily get lost even if you have a state of the art GPS with extra topographical data installed. Also, knowing how to assess the avalanche risk takes time and is area specific - and is best left to seasoned experts. Other areas have avy risk areas, too - but that factor just adds another layer of risk on to Togwotee.
 

polarisrider1

New member
Ahh!!! yes and Nathan. No way would I have ever have side hilled a flowing (fast) creek for miles crossing the creek and jumping over the seat over and over again to side hill each bank and not end up wet and in the creek stuck all on our way to lunch at Brooks Lake Lodge. Note: a perfectly groomed trail was never more than a couple hundred yards at the most away from us, but heck who needs trails anyways. This type of riding and what we do is so hard to explain until we get you out west and actually doing it. I only had one hard core chain smoking trail rider say, "This is not for me" and I think it was because he could not breath on 3 packs a day at 10,000-12,000 feet.
 
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