We found snow!!!!!! but it wasn't .......

[coug66]

...... local snow!

We decided to jump in the truck and drive 8 hours in search of the deep and white.


Trying to find somewhere to ride we ended up looking at Idaho.

Some friends were going to New Meadows Idaho and Mike and I tagged along.

Showed up on Thursday night and stayed in a local bed and breakfast, The heartland Inn. http://www.thehartlandinn.com/


The main house has a beer and wine bar, low cost room with not many amenities but it does have heat, hot tub, water pressure and pizza place across the street.

In the morning we met our local guide Ken at the Granite mountain café. Good food and a couple friendly locals.

We managed to find a snow park just a couple miles out of town and 10 minutes later we were at the snow park.

Snow riding out of the trailer and we proceeded up hill.

It was still early and the snow was a little firm. Climbed various hills and stopped to take in the scenery.


Then up to the lookout to take a quick picture with the 12th man flag.

Weather clearing and snow is getting softer.

Michael wanted to give his turbo Pro a few test runs.

A few side hills < video

Next was the Goose lake hill climb.

Taking a break between climbs

Shannon, an aggressive rider did the high mark came down under speed hit the berm and did a superman over the bars as his sled did a nose dive into the hill.

There was a couple spots we had a great time riding in soft untracked snow. Burned out pines with no underbrush


video http://youtu.be/PF9pZ7NQAuc

Back to the room a quick shower and then into town to the Kahili Club

I was surprised they had a great band Lucky tongue. Classic Rock.

Big fans of Team 57 and this was their home court. After riding in the area we gained even more respect for their skills. Its an amazing place to ride.

If you havn't seen the youtube video....

Progression team 57 video



It was a great trip, it had all the best combinations of small town, cheap accommodation close to a good rocking bar. good food, Friendly locals, a snow park only 4 or 5 miles out of town.


It was a reasonably priced good time road trip and we found snow...

 

[tek9tim]

Yup, Team 57 are some good dudes. Worked with a few of them during my time in central Idaho.

 

[Tony skagen]

Was the snow conditions worth the drive?

 

[coug66]

Yes!!!

Spring go anywhere snow! They said after a fresh dump of powder it can be impossible to climb the steep hills. In one spot I stopped on a soft powder climb through the trees and I could not get restarted. had to be dug out and my buddy Shannon ( lighter weight) took it for a loop and packed an restart spot for me. Once I got restarted I was able to make it to the top of the climb.

lots of good riding, and untracked in many areas before we got there. The snow is sensitive to sun exposure after about noon the snow softened and it was much more fun.

We had a boon docking experience I will never forget, went down into a large draw, down we went looking to connect to a trail out. When we got to the bottom it turned out we were not near a trail and Shannon and Ken went up the valley along the river path to find a way out.

They managed to get us out, I pity the group that sees tracks and tries to follow our tracks in reverse. lots of very steep descent's which will prove very challenging in reverse. If it had been powder we would still be in there.

We were burning 2 stroke oil and getting some sun on our faces.

Great boondocking and some long pull climbs. It was a great time and the atmosphere in New meadows was a nice getaway. Very unassuming friendly people that were there to have a good time. ken our guide grew up in New Haven and his dad Bob owned the bar. The business's there went out of their way to thank us for our patronage. Everyone was asking when we will be back. So the combination of good riding and off mountain fun worked out to be one of the better trips.