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Best use of a snowcat?
- Thread starter 1boringguy
- Start date
Not that it wasn't, but perhaps also trying to get the attention of those young invincible backcountry skiers in the Sun Valley - Stanley area I suspect. I have a niece who would be one of them. Worked on me anyway. I saw a video of two foot break on a single tap, and then mother nature added another 20 inches that was fairly wet on top of that.
I was disappointed about not going up higher, but a couple things come to mind.
First, when I was getting my pilots license many years ago my instructor made quite a point of the fact that ntsb investigations almost always found a series of events/decisions that lead up to a mishap, rarely just one.
And second from Darwin; "It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself."
So we adapted
I was disappointed about not going up higher, but a couple things come to mind.
First, when I was getting my pilots license many years ago my instructor made quite a point of the fact that ntsb investigations almost always found a series of events/decisions that lead up to a mishap, rarely just one.
And second from Darwin; "It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself."
So we adapted
Speaking of Darwin...
There is a news item on ksl.com about a backcountry skier who was caught in an avalanche earlier today:
"Sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., a 35-year-old man was skiing in the Thomas Fork area of Neffs Canyon above the Olympus Cove area, when he was caught in an avalanche, said Unified Police Sgt. Melody Cutler.
The man, who was skiing alone, suffered a broken leg and an arm injury and was buried up to his waist, she said. He yelled for help for approximately 30 to 45 minutes before his cries were heard by an off-duty Unified Fire Authority EMT who happened to be recreating in the area."
Really? Going back country skiing by yourself? What could possibly go wrong?
There is a news item on ksl.com about a backcountry skier who was caught in an avalanche earlier today:
"Sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., a 35-year-old man was skiing in the Thomas Fork area of Neffs Canyon above the Olympus Cove area, when he was caught in an avalanche, said Unified Police Sgt. Melody Cutler.
The man, who was skiing alone, suffered a broken leg and an arm injury and was buried up to his waist, she said. He yelled for help for approximately 30 to 45 minutes before his cries were heard by an off-duty Unified Fire Authority EMT who happened to be recreating in the area."
Really? Going back country skiing by yourself? What could possibly go wrong?
Thefatsquatch
Active member
Ok, and that’s a fair assessment. But often the best skiing conditions are precisely the worst avy conditions...
chowderman
Well-known member
and, , , , they vote....
If anyone is interested, here's the follow-up story on ksl.com:
www.ksl.com
Skier caught in Neffs Canyon avalanche rescued after grueling 8-hour effort
A man skiing in Neffs Canyon suffered a broken leg after being caught in an avalanche on Wednesday. The man was trapped for 30 to 45 minutes before being found by an off-duty EMT, according to police.
www.ksl.com
iceberg210
New member
Wells Summit today. Stopped at the warming hut and wasn't even hated on 
Awesome looking TuckerWells Summit today. Stopped at the warming hut and wasn't even hated on
Travler,
Kept the 360, built to 408. More on that here; https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/1989-tucker-1644c.86868/
mtmudrunner,
Thanks, just when I think I've about got it, I come up with a few more things, but I'm liking it. This is only the third time out with it since the rebuild, but so far so good.
Kept the 360, built to 408. More on that here; https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/1989-tucker-1644c.86868/
mtmudrunner,
Thanks, just when I think I've about got it, I come up with a few more things, but I'm liking it. This is only the third time out with it since the rebuild, but so far so good.
Maybe not have to deal with a bunch of sign permits/ordinances if sign is part of the vehicle. Kind of like the side of a semi trailer.
Just a side note. This is my niece from Sun Valley that I alluded to earlier, climbing glaciers down in Patagonia at the moment. It's their summer of course. 
Proud of her. Adventure is the frosting on the pop-tart of life, whether you get there with grousers or crampons.
Proud of her. Adventure is the frosting on the pop-tart of life, whether you get there with grousers or crampons.
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Well I've debated and watched what's coming down the pipe for a couple of years now as far as a good plan b mode of transportation, in the event that Little Capt and I have a problem we can't repair on site, while we're by ourselves about 15 miles from the truck. BFTs post above kind of re-motivated me since we're often out there by ourselves. I like to think we are somewhat prepared to take care of ourselves for a couple days out there if need be, but if we end up snowshoeing out one day before I decide on an alt mode of transportation, I'm going to be thinking to myself the entire way, 'what kind of an idiot'. Some of the options we considered have some good plus, like ease of packing with us, some also have negatives, like have to come from Russia. In the end, we already had a Yamaha ttr 110 with very few hours on it and Timbersled makes a snowbike kit for that size kids bike, and Lil Capt can ride it for several years yet. It's not a powder assassin but it could carry us both back down our tracks a LOT faster than snowshoes. So we went that route for now.
The install was finished yesterday so brought it home last night. Mother Nature provided some snow by morning so that worked out great. Just have to work out how we're going to load/unload and haul it on the cat now.
The install was finished yesterday so brought it home last night. Mother Nature provided some snow by morning so that worked out great. Just have to work out how we're going to load/unload and haul it on the cat now.
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1BG , that’s probably a good start , as you might guess , some of the places I go are way off the grid , I always Carry a Garmin in Reach , and I also Carry a Satellite phone , I always make sure someone I can rely on is aware I am going on another adventure, my 13 year old son goes a lot with me in the summer, we always carry some food and water also as well as our hunting back packs , I also have a trauma first aid kit
just some thoughts
just some thoughts
Travler,
I don't have the sat phone, but I always take the Garmin in reach, a My Medic first aid kit, it's capabilities probably exceed my skills, snowshoes, quite a few tools, battery powered drill impact wrench ect, indoor safe propane heater and cans enough for several days, knife, food, chainsaw, snow shovel, extra winter clothing, roll of plastic, balljoint, electric fuel pump, filters, track parts, and a firearm. And now a snowbike if we're by ourselves. Hopefully that and a cool head would give us a high probably of getting home in good shape. But I keep learning, that's half the fun.
BFT,
Thanks. He's getting to an age where it's fun to see him enjoy doing more and more things.
Window with a view ......... pretty good work space
I considered just using ramps, which will probably work ok on the Patrol as the bed is about a foot lower than my Tucker, and the tracks on the Patrol are easier to climb as you load the bike. Doesn't sound like much, but the difference in angles, reach, ect with 7 foot loading ramps is meaningful.
I recall seeing a Tucker with a bed crane for service work, but it looked pretty utilitarian rather than recreational. But still don't want to add insult to injury by getting hurt by the mode b transportation after the mode a gave me troubles. And any other times it's just hard to look cool with your snowbike laying on top of you while you're loading/unloading it, right.
So here's my first attempt. I'll see how it goes in the field. When not in use the top slides off and stores in the tool box. And when not hauling the snowbike the stake bed sides all slip right back on, will just have a different tool box.
I recall seeing a Tucker with a bed crane for service work, but it looked pretty utilitarian rather than recreational. But still don't want to add insult to injury by getting hurt by the mode b transportation after the mode a gave me troubles. And any other times it's just hard to look cool with your snowbike laying on top of you while you're loading/unloading it, right.
So here's my first attempt. I'll see how it goes in the field. When not in use the top slides off and stores in the tool box. And when not hauling the snowbike the stake bed sides all slip right back on, will just have a different tool box.
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Good use, great photo.
We woke up to about 6-7 inches this morning so we had to take a minute to cruise the neighborhood before it melted.
Yea he loves to go, doesn't matter if it was to the top of Everest, or down the ditch banks.
I always figured Harry Chapin got a little to much correct with Cats In The Cradle, so we always try to make as much 'then' happen as we can.
This song was the total basis for raising my kids. And it worked out great. "Raise your kids and spoil your grandkids. The alternative is to spoil your kids, and you know how the rest goes."