Young riders at Togwotee?
- Thread starter mikes99ss
- Start date
Lots of reflection on this one
1 does the kid listen?
2 does he have respect for danger?
3 does he have experience and skill?
4 does he understand this is an opportunity?
5 is he a team player?
6 can he dig himself out?
7 does he understand his actions affect everyone else?
8 will he ride within his limitations?
If he can meet those 8 questions then yeah I would include him if not there is always next year.
1 does the kid listen?
2 does he have respect for danger?
3 does he have experience and skill?
4 does he understand this is an opportunity?
5 is he a team player?
6 can he dig himself out?
7 does he understand his actions affect everyone else?
8 will he ride within his limitations?
If he can meet those 8 questions then yeah I would include him if not there is always next year.
srt20
Active member
There is no age limit out there.
IDK about the park, but you cant ride there without a guide on a 15hp 4s sled and staying on the road anyways.
My riding bud used to take his daughter out to the mtns. She would ride with him when she was young, and rode by herself by age 12. He only buys high HP sleds and they dont stay stock anyway. Elevation kills HP.
Tog isnt high Avy danger area. Lots and lots of easy riding areas. Plenty of meadows, and plenty of flat tree'd areas to play. The trees not as tight as the UP or WI.
As long as the kid isnt a total doofus, he should be fine. Just teach him the rules before you go.
IDK about the park, but you cant ride there without a guide on a 15hp 4s sled and staying on the road anyways.
My riding bud used to take his daughter out to the mtns. She would ride with him when she was young, and rode by herself by age 12. He only buys high HP sleds and they dont stay stock anyway. Elevation kills HP.
Tog isnt high Avy danger area. Lots and lots of easy riding areas. Plenty of meadows, and plenty of flat tree'd areas to play. The trees not as tight as the UP or WI.
As long as the kid isnt a total doofus, he should be fine. Just teach him the rules before you go.
mezz
Well-known member
As I stated, a good group of riders as well as good guide, and quite frankly, they are all good, on top of that, your riding group is accessed by the guides. They will fill your expectation based on experience of riding. Such as, your typical areas and riding terrain. Good learning experience. Great area to experience the steep & deep. Just my .02.-Mezz
I wasn't talking about Yellowstone park, but Shoshone national forest, and grand teton national park ,which is what a lot of that area is that you ride on(CDT trail system is there too if wanted to run nice trails from tog to pinedale) and a ton of off trail all along the way!
I said what I said based on federal forest lands in my state have age restrictions and not sure there are any out there as well
I did the Yellowstone park back in the 90's before they had restrictions LOL
and really enjoyed the time in there got to see tons of critters its a nice place to visit if you never been there could be a cool way to kill a day with a kid IMO, even if you got to go slow, think speed limit is MAX of 30 mph so, not terrible, but sure not a free wheeling deal either! just saying!
I took my son to Togwotee for the first time when he was 12. He was experienced in riding in deep snow prior to going. There were no rules with regard to him riding trails. He had his snowmobile safety class in Michigan prior to going.
Tog would not rent a sled for him to ride so I rented one from an outfit in Jackson and they delivered it to Tog for me.
Take the kid as long as he will listen to you and follow instructions.
My son has been back there almost every year since and it is what he absolutely will never forget.
Tog would not rent a sled for him to ride so I rented one from an outfit in Jackson and they delivered it to Tog for me.
Take the kid as long as he will listen to you and follow instructions.
My son has been back there almost every year since and it is what he absolutely will never forget.
snobuilder
Well-known member
My first thought as well no matter if the kid is a perfect citizen or not......LOL
exactly!
T
Tracker
Guest
mike I have guided many western tours of 15 to 20 and I can give you this advice.....he will be fine and is a god send to dig outs....heres what advice I would give him....most avalanches are on the north east face so be careful and inspect slope before attacking....never hit the cornice dead center no matter how soft or enticing it looks....never EVER go below the last road....EVER...turn around if you think its the last switchback as usually there is a 1000 foot drop into a river or plain....never attack a slope if its unmarked all winter....the locals and guides know why you don't so ask before if possible...it usually turns out bad....going down the trail that is decending and has switchbacks don't go over 70 mph as there is a 90 degree bend at the bottom of the switchback with no signs or arrows and can be a 3000 foot drop off the edge....go slow and don't stop and be easy on the throttle going thru or around buffalo on the trail....never go near a moose of buffalo to look at them while riding the plains or flat lands.....slide sideways if you find yourself on a steeper incline than planned when going down....this will build up a snow pile under you and your sled that will bring you to a stop on a huge mound so you can easily get back on balance or figure out a way down that's easier terrain....one of THE MOST IMPORTANT and this is for every person....your entire group needs walkie talkies that have significant range for when ya get separated in a play area and your stuck between 2 trees or hidden by a boulder the size of a 3 story house...there is no service and walkie talkies are a must have....my suggestions sound bad and negative but CAN AND WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE AND HIS and will make your trip so much more enjoyable not worrying....o...one more tip....call the club or trail system or area you will be targeting and get them to send you trail maps RIGHT NOW and you study them for 6 months before hand....example bitterroot range maps....and instead of tog for first run I would do the bitterroots IMO....we always rode outta LOLO HOT SPRINGS and the cat dealer in town will deliver sleds for rental if needed....hot spring still might rent but not sure you have to check,....and an ARCTIC CAT EFI system out performs all others IMO and does not need extra plugs along for fouling in the altitude....if using other manus sleds I always carried a BOX of plugs for that machine...you 'll see why and you'll get a lot of guys telling me this aint so but I have rode them all and it is what it is....he's gonna be fine and have fun....but be careful also....I always told them.... listen 8 guys died on this trail so far....lets go have fun....and that gets them bucked down a notch right off the get go so ricky bobby doesn't get unleashed until they had some practice....LOL....hope this helps
T
Tracker
Guest
I use something like this...click on bitterroot or lolopass/Missoula and arrow on down for avy and trails and whatnot...but you can pick YOUR target area and do the same
https://mtfwp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=501efcb1c0b54bb880ac1bf2f14c7e5a
the club is Missoula snowgoers
http://missoulasnowgoers.org/trail-report/
I get something like this delivered to me house and study play areas and cliffs and rivers and literally every square inch...then I ride like the wind...ha
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5405851.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3852286.pdf
these 2 pdfs look for K to L on this map https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5405851.pdf and nfsr 343 on this map
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3852286.pdf that's FISH CREEK ROAD....hands down THE BEST snowmobiling in the world...its a highway only open to sleds and not plowed that rises from 3000 feet to 9000...man o man o man what a ride and that's just to get to the play areas...head to ranger station at lolopass and cross the road....that mountain in the distance...the really tall one that if you ask everyone and rangers will say don't go there.....go there....its "Rushville"...and what I call....MOUNT FUJI...it am gonna be goodski...well these are just examples and ideas...hope this helps
https://mtfwp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=501efcb1c0b54bb880ac1bf2f14c7e5a
the club is Missoula snowgoers
http://missoulasnowgoers.org/trail-report/
I get something like this delivered to me house and study play areas and cliffs and rivers and literally every square inch...then I ride like the wind...ha
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5405851.pdf
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3852286.pdf
these 2 pdfs look for K to L on this map https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5405851.pdf and nfsr 343 on this map
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3852286.pdf that's FISH CREEK ROAD....hands down THE BEST snowmobiling in the world...its a highway only open to sleds and not plowed that rises from 3000 feet to 9000...man o man o man what a ride and that's just to get to the play areas...head to ranger station at lolopass and cross the road....that mountain in the distance...the really tall one that if you ask everyone and rangers will say don't go there.....go there....its "Rushville"...and what I call....MOUNT FUJI...it am gonna be goodski...well these are just examples and ideas...hope this helps
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T
Tracker
Guest
when your at ranger station it should look like this...to the right is parking lot and ranger station and mount Fuji....to left is the bigfoot hunting area and wilderness and IDAHO....left is a blast but you better not do that on first day....the bunny hills are that way....LMAO
http://johndee.com/webcams/northwoods-cam-network/ (western cams)(third on down from top Idaho line)
here
http://birice.vaisala.com/photos/02D0637D_06BCBC1E_cam1.jpg
hacksaw....remember buster (red adairs buddy) taking us to the bunny hills that first time?.....after I surveyed the hill and everyone on it....the only word that came to mind was....CARNAGE.....ROTFLMAO
http://johndee.com/webcams/northwoods-cam-network/ (western cams)(third on down from top Idaho line)
here
http://birice.vaisala.com/photos/02D0637D_06BCBC1E_cam1.jpg
hacksaw....remember buster (red adairs buddy) taking us to the bunny hills that first time?.....after I surveyed the hill and everyone on it....the only word that came to mind was....CARNAGE.....ROTFLMAO
I've been telling my 16 yr old son for two yrs I'd take him out west with me if he can maintain a 3.0 GPA in school. Each yr he tells me to book the tickets, its a done deal. And each yr abut a month into the new yr he's decided the work isn't worth it. He's even told me I can't offer him enough to get him to care about his grades. I'm worried about his future. My daughter, on the other hand, is carrying the 4.1 GPA, got a 35 on her ACT (out of 36) and has her heart set on going to Columbia or MIT to study engineering or math. How two kids can be so different I don't understand.