Top US Backcountry Snowboarding / Snowmobiles
I’m looking for a sweet spot to be able to rent some snowmobiles and throw a snowboard on the back, find some fresh powder I remember when I was in Vail CO last year I kept hearing about a huge resort supposedly bigger then Vail all backcountry for skiing and snowboarding. So that got me thinking there has to be more places like that. I know there is Cat skiing/Snowboarding but I wanna be able to find my own spot on a snowmobile and hit some fresh powder. If anyone knows any spots around the United States
If you dig deep enough, most of the big resort towns will hire out sleds…if you leave a big enough deposit. Don’t bother with the big snomo tour companies as they will only let you go out in their group. You need some local knowledge to find some small, one man operation, who probably hasn’t thought through his liability policy that well. I’ve done what your after in CA, UT and WY, so it is possible.
Word of warning, sledding in powder is super hard. Those suckers take a good 10min to dig out if you get stuck (I get stuck about every 20min :( ).
I don’t know how to say this polite - so please just know that I have thought it through.
You are insane to be thinking of going that far into the back country (that you need a snomo) without some sort of local guide!
Why is he insane? He might not like living? Or perhaps assuming he has everything else in order like having used snomo before and avy training he wants to go have a bit of an explore? Sounds pretty awesome to me and Deano I suspect!
^ LOL
Slightly off topic, but here goes: A couple of years ago I was dead keen to import a sled from the States. My mates are all motorcross heads and not really into boarding; not as much as me anyways. I thought a happy medium would be for them to run me up the top of the hill each run, and they go riding inbetween.
Sleds are a dime a dozen in the States and you can pick up something decent (ratty, but good motor) for about $1K. Shipping, if you can get in with someone’s container, would be about $1.5k. That biggest hurdle was getting it from the dealer (in the mountains) to the docks in LA. That, and the whole requirement for registration thing here in the Nat. Parks in Aus.
I ended getting moved to Darwin for work and lost interest…
Hey Lester,
The other members make some good points. The first consideration is safety; either go with a guided group, or someone who has a lot of experience with sleds and knowledge of the backcountry. Knowledge, preparation and the correct equipment are key to staying safe. Transceiver, shovel and probe at the very least. If you are tempted by the backcountry, definitely take the time to do a backcountry / avalanche course so you can learn the basics about avalanche rescue.
They are pretty hard to handle in powder and they definitely take some getting used to.
That all said, sledding in the backcountry is super fun! I was lucky enough to experience it last season. Take the right precautions, really think about what you’re doing, and you can have an amazing experience out there while staying safe.
You can read about my experience here: https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/3476/P1155/#129420
Let me know if you have any questions.
Deffinately something i want todo
Slightly off topic, but here goes: A couple of years ago I was dead keen to import a sled from the States. My mates are all motorcross heads and not really into boarding; not as much as me anyways. I thought a happy medium would be for them to run me up the top of the hill each run, and they go riding inbetween.
Sleds are a dime a dozen in the States and you can pick up something decent (ratty, but good motor) for about $1K. Shipping, if you can get in with someone’s container, would be about $1.5k. That biggest hurdle was getting it from the dealer (in the mountains) to the docks in LA. That, and the whole requirement for registration thing here in the Nat. Parks in Aus.
I ended getting moved to Darwin for work and lost interest…
What is the rego requirement? My understanding was that unless you were a resort you couldn’t register them at all and they could only be used inside resort boundaries. I thought the greenies/fun police would have had that particular avenue of fun closed off years ago? If you tell me different I am buying a 2nd hand sled and having it shipped tomorrow.
I was going to comment after our convo on Sunday Nthn!
Not only do you need to register (and there are limitations to who can register them - ie resort or lodges) you also need a licence and there are different categories for licenses.
Most basic is for lodges and resort staff and they are only authorised to ride them on designated oversnow vehicle “roads” and then there is another licence for being able to take them anywhere within your resorts boundary (ut no where else). Then there is obviously the one which can be taken anywhere, but i think only the police and SES have that ability.
But I believe there are no such restrictions in VIC.
But i believe there are no such restrictions in VIC.
thats my understanding as well, so nthn you might have to become a mexican and start offering BW sled/shred days 
Thats it, i am moving back to Mexico.
Nthn, send me your bank acc deets!
Just FYI in Vic you can only use a snowmobile in a resort or NP if you are authorised resort staff. Like NSW.
So do you just not need a formal licence like in NSW? but you must need a reason for having one?
Do you need rego?
rego smego…
So do you just not need a formal licence like in NSW? but you must need a reason for having one?
Do you need rego?
Not too sure of the full ins and outs but can find out if you want me to?
I’m heading up the hill this weekend and a friend has a sled. Will ask him.
I do know that unless you are ‘official staff/business/have a need’ you are not allowed to use them in the resorts/NP’s. I’d assume they are required to have rego, not too sure if there’s a requirement for a special licence. Not too sure if the RMB keeps track of who’s got one and who doesn’t either.