Post by: Becky on January 04, 2017, 04:09:29 AM
Post by: bowhunterforever on January 04, 2017, 04:21:57 AM
Post by: jennabug on January 04, 2017, 05:07:28 AM
Post by: Bean Counter on January 04, 2017, 05:26:10 AM
Post by: SniperDanWA on January 04, 2017, 06:39:28 AM
Post by: haugenna on January 04, 2017, 06:46:13 AM
Cool! Enjoy trip. Never been into the park myself, so can't give guidance on that. For the sled, make sure you have good boots and gloves. I'm sure they will have the rest of the gear for you.
I did it last year. It was a cool trip. The outfitter we went with had everything to rent, all I had to bring was base layers.
Lots of bison, a few elk, a coyote, and beautiful scenery. The elk migrated out. The ones we saw were standing in the river begging to be put out of their misery. My guess is a predator of some sort close by.
Post by: Rainier10 on January 04, 2017, 07:21:03 AM
The crows are pretty crafty there. Don't leave any food in the back of your snowmobile. We watched them get into multiple snowmobiles and pull out everything to get to a bag of chips or a sandwich.
Post by: cbond3318 on January 04, 2017, 07:21:43 AM
You should have a trip of a lifetime, bundle up!! :tup:
Post by: Rainier10 on January 04, 2017, 07:33:36 AM
Post by: cbond3318 on January 04, 2017, 07:38:35 AM
Post by: quadrafire on January 04, 2017, 07:42:04 AM
Oh and don't throw snowballs at a Bison, apparently they lose their sense of humor in the cold. :dunno::chuckle:
Post by: luvmystang67 on January 04, 2017, 08:10:07 AM
It was spectacular and very cold.
Almost all of the animals are up around Lamar Valley. You'll see an elk or bison here or there down by the geyser basins, but most critter things prefer Lamar valley. If you get any chance to check out things on your own, the Lone Star Geyser was super cool and remote. All of the hot springs are pretty neat to look at and walk around. If you're going to stay in the park, bring some booze and food in with you if you want it because there's limited (expensive) availability inside the park. There's a "Riverside" Geyser I believe its called that is also super cool. There's an app that has the Geyser schedules on it so you can see when they're supposed to go off. I'd get that if you have time to wait for Geysers. We found cross country skis the best way to get around if you had to be on foot, for what its worth.
There's nobody around (virtually) in the winter. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. We have some amazing photos of wolves, fox, bighorn, bison, elk, geysers, and pools from that trip. You'll have a blast.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 04, 2017, 08:14:33 AM
Post by: luvmystang67 on January 04, 2017, 08:44:34 AM
Post by: luvmystang67 on January 04, 2017, 08:53:05 AM
I even uploaded a geyser video for you guys....
Post by: Becky on January 04, 2017, 10:00:15 AM
It's a combined lodging, sleds, clothes, tour guide type thing. We choose what tours (I guess you HAVE to have a guide into Yellowstone?) or we can do free on our own trips but I don't know how that works.
Main thing I'm worried about is my body sucks at any acclimation to either direction of extreme weather (heat or cold, thank you MS) and I have something called Raynaud's syndrome. Basically an overreaction of my arteries in my fingers and toes, my hands completely seize up at any slight coldness or stress. I really want my own sled and not have to ride with Smossy, I haven't found good gloves yet though so if you know any amazing ones that keep heat best please let me know!
Post by: quadrafire on January 04, 2017, 10:02:59 AM
Post by: dyhardhuntr on January 04, 2017, 10:37:21 AM
Post by: Buzz2401 on January 04, 2017, 10:43:08 AM
Post by: Rainier10 on January 04, 2017, 10:44:46 AM
Probably Mittens with some hotties in them would be your best bet. Put them on top of your toes as well inside your boots. Amazing how that will keep you warm.:yeah: Mittens for sure and hotties for your boots.
Your snowmobile will have heated hand warmers and a thumb warmer on your right throttle thumb. You are better off driving a sled yourself, you will stay warmer driving, you will be closer to the engine with your feet as well and the windshield will keep you warmer. Riding passenger isn't as much work so you get colder, no hand warmers for the passenger, you are more exposed to the elements as a passenger and farther away from the warm engine.
Post by: luvmystang67 on January 04, 2017, 11:21:56 AM
Post by: DaveMonti on January 04, 2017, 12:33:22 PM
SG, are you going out of West Yellowstone or Gardiner?
Post by: Grit dog on January 04, 2017, 10:18:14 PM
Riding thru Yellowstone is phenomenal.
We did it a couple times back right before they closed it to snowmobiling. (Then it was opened back up to limited/guided/restricted access like it is now)
First trip was New Years, rode in East gate mid afternoon, banzai run to West Yellowstone for New Years eve party in West. 100mi ? Run in a few hours, in the dark! Awesome and scary until you come around a corner doing 60 and there's a bison in the road!
Daytime is spectacular. Wildlife, geysers and other thermals.
Have fun. Lucky!
Post by: Rainier10 on January 05, 2017, 09:41:02 AM
Snowmobiling int he park is very limited relative to what it was 20 years ago. The park allows only a limited number of sleds per day, and all must be guided with approved guide services. Guide services are allocated permits. They will take care of you, have good gear and be very aware of the elements and their patrons.It was about 20 years ago that we did it. I got a headache on the way out at night from all the exhaust fumes. They were talking about closing it down soon or switching to 4 stroke snowmobiles only in the park. I think there were snocat tours at the time also. Tracked vehicle that could haul like 15 people at a time.
SG, are you going out of West Yellowstone or Gardiner?
Post by: DaveMonti on January 05, 2017, 09:56:04 PM
Of course, you had yahoos chasing wildlife, sledding off the roads in places that were illegal, and general poor behavior from only a few, coupled with the pollution, it's probably a good thing that it's so limited these days.
Post by: Dan-o on January 05, 2017, 10:07:13 PM
YOU WILL HAVE SUCH AN AWESOME TIME!!!!!!!!!!
Post by: Skyvalhunter on January 06, 2017, 05:33:24 AM
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on January 06, 2017, 10:09:53 AM
Post by: Becky on January 16, 2017, 01:49:17 PM
We have our dates set!! Sooo excited, and Smossy finally is as well :IBCOOL:.. We are staying in West Yellowstone, the hotel is a Best Western right outside of the park entrance.
Feb 12th: Drive
Feb 13th: Check-In
Feb 14th: Old Faithful Geyser Tour
Feb 15th: Grand Canyon Yellowstone Tour
Feb 16th: Private tour to Mammoth Hot Springs
Feb 17th: Off on our own into the national forest
Feb 18th: Check-Out and start the trip home
It seems as though all the gear is included for the cold weather, we will for sure bring some hotties, is there anything that seems to be missing that we need to bring?
Quote
Snowmobile rental includes: 600cc snowmobile with electric start and reverse, 1 tank of fuel (from our gas pumps only) per rental day, complete set of our high quality outerwear rental clothing (HJC helmet with full face visor, Polar Tech face mask, mittens, one-piece FXR or Cabela’s suit and the warmest Sorrel Caribou boots).
Post by: Becky on January 16, 2017, 02:02:27 PM
As Grit dog said, they closed it to the general public and only allow commercial guided tours. I'm sure there is a ban on 2 strokes as well. Several studies indicated tens of thousands of gallons of unburnt 2 stoke oil and fuel was being dumped into the ecosystem each year by the snowmobiles, and the noise was scaring a lot of animals at a time when they were vulnerable. There were multiple lawsuits from conservation groups to snowmobile manufacturers and businesses around the park. I think the end result of a limited number of daily trips through commercial tour operators using their approved equipment is a pretty good way to manage things. At the peak before the limiting regs, there were 750 to 1000 sleds in the park per day on many of the peak winter season days.
Of course, you had yahoos chasing wildlife, sledding off the roads in places that were illegal, and general poor behavior from only a few, coupled with the pollution, it's probably a good thing that it's so limited these days.
Yea I think you have to have the 4 stroke engines, it reads that way all over the websites anyway.. not specifically saying it's required but it says "Guided Trip into Yellowstone National Park Includes: Guided group tour and upgrade to 4 stroke snowmobile."
Post by: Thumper81 on January 19, 2017, 03:43:47 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on January 19, 2017, 04:57:00 PM
Post by: Grit dog on January 19, 2017, 09:39:34 PM
No worries on the groomers in the park, but if there's decent snow, get some tips on how to get a sled I stuck in different situations or you'll wear yourself out pretty quick if you get a machine or both stuck and don't know how. Seriously. Could turn a fun day into a "took 3 hours to get unstuck twice and made for a shatty day".
Probably 100 u tube videos on it.
Basic tips. If stuck going straight up hill, usually easier to flip the sled over, basically barrel roll it out.
Stuck anywhere else, it's easier to move snow than the machine. Dig out plenty under the front and stomp down a launch pad in front so it doesn't have to "climb" out of the hole as much. Clear a little snow to one side, 2 people, pick up the back end, toss it over onto fresh packed snow. If it's still sketchy, 1 person pull on a ski while the other rides it out. Start off easy, don't just spin out, but once it begins to move, hammer the throttle.
Also, full face helmets with shields pretty much suck, IMO. Fog up a lot quicker.
Moto X helmet with a breath box or a good baclava and goggles + spare pair will keep u going all day.
When you stop if goggles are snow covered, wet, fogged or iced up, put them under the hood right away, NOT on the exhaust. 5-10 min later they will be dry and clear.
Post by: Grit dog on January 19, 2017, 09:40:47 PM
Post by: Becky on February 14, 2017, 12:10:35 PM
Post by: Becky on February 14, 2017, 12:13:59 PM
Post by: DaveMonti on February 14, 2017, 12:17:12 PM
Post by: Rainier10 on February 14, 2017, 01:27:24 PM
Post by: Becky on February 14, 2017, 08:18:48 PM
Post by: cbond3318 on February 14, 2017, 08:22:45 PM
Post by: BULLBLASTER on February 14, 2017, 08:39:37 PM
Post by: SniperDanWA on February 14, 2017, 08:55:02 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on February 14, 2017, 09:17:02 PM
Post by: smittyJ on February 16, 2017, 07:47:50 AM
We did this trip years ago and will probably do it again in the next few years with the keys. Definitely one of my favorite vacations of all time. Scenery was epic, lots of stuff to take photos of.
The crows are pretty crafty there. Don't leave any food in the back of your snowmobile. We watched them get into multiple snowmobiles and pull out everything to get to a bag of chips or a sandwich.
They're really good at getting those heavy zippers open aren't they!
Post by: Becky on February 17, 2017, 05:44:25 AM
Oh and yes, the ravens destroyed a couple people's belongings that weren't in our group. Our guides were really good about making sure we grabbed our things at the long stops.
Post by: Becky on February 17, 2017, 07:07:51 AM
Post by: NOCK NOCK on February 17, 2017, 07:33:38 AM
Looks like ur staying in West Y. That's a fun town too. Looking forward to more pics