Snowmobiling, 2015-16 Edition

[Mule]

Know i'm not the only one here with an addiction to playing in "sky cocaine"...
What ya riding, what ya doing, mods, ride photos, etc...

Still on my '12 Pro 800... "old iron" now but it does well.


Clutches are getting some love this year. Still keeps me in improved-stock class, since i'm not doing anything to the motor.

[Mule]

Haydays with the TylersBA crew last month... that's a wild event.
Load up and head out wednesday evening, drive through the night...


Lots of this.


We've got a pretty good spot between the two swap meet quadrants and the food/retailers area. Got everything set up thursday afternoon.


Friday, the swappers arrive...


Sponsor parties, BBQ's, general mayhem in the evenings.


Totally worth camping on-site for the weekend.


Home-sweet-home for a few days.

[Mule]

Two friends of mine, also TBA volunteers, were contacted by a rider from Wisconsin who was deployed in Iraq to design a POW-MIA sled wrap. "No hurry, I won't be stateside till september" .... just in time for Haydays.
Pull the sled into the trailer, do the wrap install...


Hey, so this guy just got home from his 4th tour in Iraq... weekend of 9/11, we should do something for this guy... let's go talk to event staff and a few of our sponsors, see what we can do...


New helmet, some riding gear, a trip to Wyoming this winter, and a parade lap down the drag strip in the opening ceremonies...






Certainly a bigger "Welcome home" party than he was expecting.

[Mule]

Usual show stuff at the tent... blow off a bunch of airbags, beacon demos, etc.
Interesting to see the differences in riding styles out east... "why would I ever need an avalanche airbag? I ride UP and trails out here..." Still a lot of riders that do go west, and they're the ones we're out here for. Yeah, you do need avalanche gear in the mountains.




Finally met up with Steve Brand of Tekrider, showing off his latest creation... he's Canadian army, retired... took one of his old military uniforms and turned it into a Tekvest. Pretty badass. Invited him over to our tent to meet up with Sean and see his sled, have a few beers...


Got to see some fast sleds... 130+mph...


Brian (Friend of mine who started TBA in memory of Tyler; his younger brother who was killed in an avalanche) wrote an article printed in SnowGoer magazine... they used one of my photos from last year.


Sunday evening, got everything packed up and started the 1200-mile trek back home.

[Mule]

Local snowmobile expo this weekend.
Good attendance for our presentation on avalanche safety. Show overall felt a little slower than last year.


More demos, show off new gear. Our situation's fun... since almost all the manufacturers sponsor us knowing we're an education/safety nonprofit and don't sell anything, we can give honest opinions on what works and what doesn't, without the pressure for sales. I don't care what pack you wear or what beacon you have, but I want you in a pack you're comfortable with and wearing a beacon you can use in a rescue. I'll tell you what I like about all of them.




Swap meet out back. Wandered through there, caught up with some friends.


After two days it's nice to hear "Thank you for attending this year's expo, the show is now closed, we'll see you next year..."


Couple more events (Wisconsin fall workshop at the end of the month, Vickery kickoff on Nov 6th), get our trailer snow-ready on the weekends, and keep doing the snow dance...

[RustyPW]

Someone has an addiction. I work with a guy who has 6 of them. And he's looking for more.

[Snowsled]

Still having a rough time getting someone to fix my '14 Pro. I picked it up on Friday, they said it was all fixed, tested and tested again... Started it up Sat morning and another FAIL, had it back to Durango Sat afternoon.

I told them that I do not want that sled back. 15 repair attempts over six months at three dealers. Time for Polaris to HOOK ME UP! I will be attempting to make a trade deal in Durango for an Axys this week. First choice would be a 163x3, second a 155x3 and third a 163 x2.6

I demo'd the '16 Cat last spring. If it wasn't so freaking nose heavy compared the Poo and the Doo on the same ride, I might consider it. I could throw a couple grad into a pipe/can and belt drive but DANG that is getting expensive!

[06wagon]

My "old Iron" 2000 ZL600



I've been wanting to get a newer one (800 Crossfire), but I haven't rode mine for 2 years now....... I used to make it to Michigan about 5 times a year.... But now with the Family, i haven't been up there in 4-5 years.

A group of guys are wanting to take a trip out west to ride in the deep stuff...... I might actually have to get in shape to survive that trip!!! LOL

[TwinStick]

Funny how life gets in the way, isn't it ?

[RustyPW]

Everytime I go out west. I have trouble sleeping because of the altitude. My stepson lives in Bailey Co. His house is at 9,000ft. When we go there. I looking for the O2 tank. Not use to 8,000ft difference. The older I get, the worst it gets.

[Snowsled]

Even living at 7000feet I get a little woozy if the boys insist on a long day above treeline. That is a 5000 foot difference for me.

My update is that the '14 is fixed and a new in season 163 Axys sled is in the works. Polaris gave me a $2000 coupon for a new sled because of my troubles with the last one. Might take till x-mas but I will get one of those new buggys pretty soon here!

[Mule]

Awwwwriiiiiight.

[Snowsled]

Brought it home last night! Did some inspections and a heat cycle this morning. Adjusted the rear track spring preload a touch, tilted the bars forward a degree, checked track tension. You know, got to know the new ride a little. I hope it is everything they say, sure looks sweet! Starting twice daily snow dance ritual

[Mr.Smith]

FAWK'N SWEET!

[Snowsled]

I saw some pics from Grand Mesa and Wolf Creek... Might have to haul it up on Red Mtn today and have a look see.

[Mule]

Know a few guys that are already riding out that way. Entz had some hood-deep pics on the book of faces last night.

[Snowsled]

Here are mine... I didn't venture too far off the jeep roads, probably a couple feet in most places. It was AWESOME! to be back riding.

[Mule]

Nice!
Still working on the trailer... just about done with roof insulation (got all the big pieces in, just the oddball smaller sections that need to be stuffed), and got a good start on the wiring this weekend.

[Snowsled]

More riding pics...

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Cool pictures. Question- when did you get the new Power Wagon? I was expecting the silver truck.

Never Mind- ignore this. I confused two different members pictures/trucks. I'm an idiot...

[Mule]

Nice!

Cleaned EV's on mine last night... thought to myself, "Wow, these look like they've only got one or two rides on them..."
...then I remembered I had the cylinder off about 3 times last year, replaced the base gasket after Ultimate, then did one day ride and Spring Fling before putting the sled away...

Pump the skid full of grease tonight or whenever I feel like it (i'm at the end of the stick of grease in teh gun right now, *really* don't want to deal with that mess) and it's ready to ride.
Couple more parts on order, fuel jugs, chain/gears, and whenever I get the rest of the Paragon parts in, i'll get that clutch setup done.

Still a few weekends of work on the trailer before that's snow-ready, but we knocked out most of the siding last weekend...

[Mule]

First ride, breakin and shakedown. Knocked out about 75 miles, next weekend we'll finish out breakin on the new sleds.
Mine's running well, some minor trailside clutch adjustments and a few mental notes of what needs adjustment in the garage.... after I get the propane cylinder for my garage heater refilled.
This year's new gear is working great... rocking gray/orange Klim gear this season.




Not quite enough snow to venture too far off-trail... rather not bust up a front-end just yet. Scraped dirt in a few spots, but there's enough snow on the trail to keep the sleds cool.

[Snowsled]

75 miles at night? Are you a transplanted flatlander or something? I guess you ride when you have time to ride....

Went out yesterday, lots of great snow. We still need another 2 foot dumper and then it is game on! We put on about 55 miles, breaking trail on the logging road for 5-10 of those miles!







We tested the t-motion on Toms Ski-Doo. Turns out it isn't rated for use over larger clumps of willows LOL

[Mule]

Skidoos and their ridiculous 500-mile breakins...



Mountain Express... 174 T3, Aerocharger turbo

[Snowsled]

Lots of new Ski-Doo's in my groups too. We have a '15 163, and two '16 T3's a 174 and a 154. Pretty sure mine will be the only new Polaris in the group this season. Polaris has gone to the extended, programmed in break in procedure too now. The first 2.5 hrs the thing is pig rich, fouled the plugs twice in the first ten miles. Beyond that there is an 18hr increased oil period, which I am finally sneaking up on! Runs awesome though, much improved midrange power and feels more responsive too.