Togwotee Lodge reservations...

snowbum

snowbum

Member
went out last year and would definately do it again. Guides are great they do not keep you from doing anything. I tipped the guide 20 bucks a day. Sign up for the extreme tour and you will have your hands full. The first day on the extreme tour we rode 55 miles and I was toast. Brooks Lake Lodge is down the trail, very nice but more ching than Tog. Food was good and included. Free shuttle to/from JH airport. Check your bill at check-out. Mine was not what it should have been but they made it right.
 
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Hoosier

Well-known member
Here's another question - what is considered a good tip for just a regular great day of riding, without any crazy stucks or anything? $20 person?
 
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cuzzinolaf

Active member
Everyone has their own idea of a perfect trip. Someone might want to sit at the base of a hill and high mark all day, others might want to carve up every meadow they can find, and others like to play in the trees/deep snow.

I have ridden out west several times and never had a guide; always having a blast. I hear good and bad about having a guide and plan to try it out this year. I spoke with Carter on the phone for 45 minutes over the weekend and he sold me on giving it a shot. I do think every guide is different and that you can have a bad experience with a guide. I also think that if everyone in your group isn't at the same level you won't have as good of an experience. Having never had one I might not know what I’m missing. Each person in our group has a GPS so getting deep into the back country isn’t that bad. I wouldn’t suggest going out on your own without one.

Saying all of this, our trip to Togwotee this year and not staying at the lodge is based on people's budget. I think I'll be able to spend half of what I would if I stay at TML. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it and want to but the rest of my group doesn't and I need to go with majority. I’m getting married next year and need to be sensible LOL.

The trip is what you make it, the group ride with, etc. I'm sure you'll have a blast riding out west no matter where you go or who you're with. I love riding the UP and once heard a guy said he'd never ride the UP after going west. I thought he was nuts but can understand his logic now. I will still ride the UP LOL.

One thing no one has mentioned here are beacons and probes. If anyone is going out for the first time I highly suggest you have them (rent or own) and know how to use them. If you can't get to Mike Duffy's Avy course (Madison and Green Bay) this year I suggest reading as much as you can online and watching videos on Youtube. I saw a video on youtube that really scared me last year. A hill I wouldn't hesitate to play on slid and buried two guys. Granted you shouldn't have two on a hill.... but the fact it slid is what got me. Avalanche prone hills or danger is something that a guide would be a huge help with. My first trip west was to Cooke and I rode with guys who knew this stuff. If it is your first time west you might want to seriously consider a guide for the first few days.

Whatever anyone decides to do will be a blast. Be safe and come back to JD’s site and post pics for us.
 
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techsledder

Member
Cuzz, That's a good point on the Avy training. I caught that Duffy's training in GB on another thread here and I already contacted him last week on it. Our group already plans on taking that course. I had first responder training in the past from the Red Cross and I have always been in the boat, better safe than sorry when comes to back country adventuring.
 
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carter

New member
ALL of us out here in the west who ride in the mountains anywhere say IF YOU DON'T HAVE BEACON, PROBE AND SHOVEL DON'T COME. If you can't afford to buy find a place to rent them. The beacon you wear belongs to me its there to save me. The beacon I wear belongs to you. It's there to save you. I don't want to get into a whole new topic about this but anyone from the flat country who is an avid western rider knows what I'm talking about. They own their own gear and they are as passionate about it as I am. They will chip in on this I'm sure. You DO NOT want to send a friend home in a box because you think you are above having and wearing and learning to use saftey gear. Riding with guides at Tog. you are required to have the gear. We have rentals, beacons and backpacks with the shovels and probes. This is really a no joke thing.
 
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doospunk

Active member
Just "having" or "renting" the gear is not enough. Learn how to use it. Practice with friends at the house, in the yard, etc. Have a plan on how to react in the event an avy occurs, who will direct the group, who will probe, etc. Duffy's course provides great insite to all this.
 
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borderstaff

New member
BCA has a new ABS pack coming out this fall that may be the most affordable one available. The cost will be $499 per pack. It is the next step after training; beacons, shovels and probes. You're life is worth it to be equipped for the worst case scenario.
 
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olsmann

New member
I think all you guys should go out west as much as possible as many weekends as possible! That way us other folks can have the U.P. to ourselves!
happy.gif
 
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carter

New member
I knew this would happen....The guides at Tog. teach technique and the what to do's. The who is in charge thing depends on who see's what. The person who see's the event or is first on the scene has charge. He decides who beacons, probes or digs. Unless he is rattled and then he passes to a caim person. Lets think snow and good thoughts, and let this go for later.THINK SNOW......
 
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doo_dr

New member
Things were so much more simple in 92'. Carter may be able to help with the original owners of the past. You only had to worry if there was going to be enough water and the lodge took care of you. Tog staff would ride with you on their day off. Carter wasn't so confident (LOL). Meals were awesome, With in a few days you knew everyone by first name. Lance could make sleds do amazing things. The simple times still had problems. Your reservation was on file cards and seldom correct (no change in 17 yrs other than technology). Sorry Ben!!! They seldom had spare parts for the rental sleds. Most important is that they had to take the hot tub out of the lodge because it got too much moisture in the rooms. Everybody goes out west for a reason. And those reason are as diverse as everyone on this site. I have made Togwotee my mountain home since 92' beacuse it offers a great package for every kind of "reason". The choice is yours on how you want to vacation. Save a buck PBJ - drive up from Dubios. "I don't need a guide" - Not on the package. "The only thing I want to worry about is putting gas in my sled"- Inclusive package. I'll take that last one back because you still have to be on TML like a hawk to make sure your file card doesn't get screwed up/lost.
Please remember this small story when making your choice. Two years ago our group was going up a valley East of the lodge (Carter may be able help- Simpson Peaks??) and it started to snow to white out conditons. Right about the time we gathered everyone up to start making our way down the mountain and back to the trail, we spotted two guys walking down the valley (4 miles from the trail) They had dropped into a draw that they could not get back out of and had dropped thier sleds into a creek bottom filled with deadfalls. No guide. no beacons, no safety survival gear, no ride plan for friends. Just two confident riders out having fun. When we got them back to the lodge we were the last group in and it didn't stop snowing til the next day. They would have never found there way off the mountain and may not have been found until spring. Do you need a guide? That's your choice(I think you should sign a waiver releasing the park from looking for you). Do you need safety gear and a plan? With out a doubt. I like to let Carter and the guides worry about this kind of stuff. They have seen most places in the mountains during times of concern and we tip them well for their knowledge. FYI to many. Because of the guides, my wife of one year (who is expecting in days) has already made reservations for TML in Feb.
 
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doospunk

Active member
Geeze Pat! What don't you take video of?? haha. Spoke with Jack this morning about Dec., so sounds like things will work. Give a shout when you get a second.
 
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Firecatguy

New member
I will share a little story with you all--
lat year as we were geting ready to head to TML in jan I went to the local dealer, got to talking about our trip with salesman they were having one of those tours leaving the dealer for TML 20+ sleds and people they were going to be out the same time we are. I asked the one guy who he uses for a guide and his response was "WE DONT NEED A GUIDE I BEEN GOING TO TOG FOR 10 YEARS PLUS"
well we got to Tog and on our second day a helicoptor landed across the street-it seems the guy who said "I KNOW WHAT IM DOING" droped into a area that they could not get back out of, so off the search party went. The group did make contact with someone at the lodge said they were ok but could not get back out of the area-SO THEY SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE BACKCOUNTRY and a group of guides went in and got them out.
I will say they looked liked they seen the devil as they were a mess in the am.
 
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doo_dr

New member
"Drive In Mountain Guides" ="Self Serve Funeral Homes". It just doesn't make sense and in my opinion is that it doesn't belong. I have seen local guides that haven't been in the mountains in a week (some guide service from Jackson)that have run into trouble because they were not fimiliar with the changing conditions from the previous week. I don't want people to think this is a sales pitch. Do what you want but remember that you are vacationing in one of the most awesome spots in the country, and it can "Kill You" if you aren't paying attention and planning.
 
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Firecatguy

New member
doospunk--My helmet cam is running at ALL times-so you can run but you cant hide. lol

sounds good--cant wait clock is a tickin

Carter,
seeya in 11 weeks ----group of ten coming your way!!!yeeeehaw
 
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