Snowmobile for Ice Climbing

I`m currently looking into getting a snowmobile to cut down on approaches ice climbing. Anyone know anything about these machines? I would need something that can fit 2 person and pull a light sled... all this in powder snow (aka off trails). Any info would be appreciated, I have absolutely no experience with these.

Look into fat bikes too, (bikes with 4 to 5 inch wide tires) that you can run at low PSI on the snow. Unless your approaches are super long, or extremely deep powder these are awesome. Plus you get a workout and don't have to tow a trailer for the snowmobile.

I'd like to see anyone ride a bike through knee-deep powder. Uphill.

if you're riding in deep powder you won't be able to do 2 people and a sled. you will get stuck.

if there are thick tress it will be really tough riding.

if you're just going on trails then any old snowmobile will work. heated handgrips sure are nice.

You'll want something with a narrow ski stance for nimbleness and a wide track for powder flotation.
Something like this
ski-doo.com/ca/showroom/tun…

youtube.com/watch?v=mtgzdtu…

Any chance of getting a ride to The Golden Apple?

Some companies make a dedicated 2 person sled. But, they don't perform great in powder. Definitely shop around and buy used. Snowmobiles are one of those things that depreciate quickly, and many buyers seldom use them. Find something a few years old that's been sitting in some dudes shop.

I've ridden a few RMK's and Yamaha phazes. Those little phazers needed very little maintenance compared to the larger sleds. Of course, they won't perform as well in deep powder. But, they're light weight, and air cooled, which eliminates a whole bunch of potential problems on the trail.

Theriault wrote:all this in powder snow (aka off trails).

yeah lotos of good used option out there, I think the Bombardier Skandic Long Track or the Toundra LT would work.... Power full work sled with wide and long tracks .. lots of used ones out here in Quebec Canada.

Matt Stroebel wrote:Look into fat bikes too, (bikes with 4 to 5 inch wide tires) that you can run at low PSI on the snow. Unless your approaches are super long, or extremely deep powder these are awesome. Plus you get a workout and don't have to tow a trailer for the snowmobile.

this is for 40-100km trips in deep powder snow

rocknice2 wrote: Any chance of getting a ride to The Golden Apple?

That`s one of the plans! hahah
I recently moved to St-Alban QC from NB, if you wanna hit long hard routes this winter PM me I have a few ideas in mind !

hehe, I guess we'll be seeing each others this season!

Edit:
I don't think a fat bike will ever be up to the task, just going to common not so distant cliffs you sink to your waist, with snowshoes on!

Theriault wrote: this is for 40-100km trips in deep powder snow

That would suck on a fatbike. Unless its downhill, both ways.

Breaking trail in deep powder you're probably going to want a mountain sled, not a utility sled (like a Tundra, Skandic, etc). You MIGHT be able to get by with a utility sled if your terrain is mostly flat, but in steeper terrain they ain't gonna cut it and getting out a stuck utility sled is a bitch.

For used mountain sleds, mid to late 2000s Arctic Cats are generally the best value and most reliable IMO. M6s, M7s, M8s. Pretty much anything from 2005 to 2009-ish is pretty solid in terms of the major mechanicals.

On a mountain sled, you'll primarily be riding Canuck (one person on each running board, one person has the throttle the other has the brake). You can ride bitch as well (seated one behind the other) on flatter terrain, but in pow or steeper areas Canuck works better provided both people are moderately skilled. To be honest though, for 40-100km approaches, you will be way more comfortable if you just each have your own sled (even with a utility sled), not to mention that gives you a way to get out if one breaks down.

Forget about towing a sled no matter what you get, that's almost always a recipe for disaster. Put your cargo in a pack or on the tunnel.

adrenalated wrote:Breaking trail in deep powder you're probably going to want a mountain sled, not a utility sled (like a Tundra, Skandic, etc).

It`s the east coast so most of the amazing ice are on the side of huge frozen lakes (Lake Willoughby like) so most of the sleding will be on flatish ground...

As for the sled, your right, there`s not a lot of it anyway, classic ice gear and ski gear with occasional camping gear ... everything is pretty light.

gripped.com/news/northern-q…

these are some of my objectives, the last picture gives a good example of the long (lake) approaches

Theriault wrote:http://gripped.com/news/northern-quebecs-far-monster-ice/ these are some of my objectives, the last picture gives a good example of the long (lake) approaches

That's way more than 100km from St Albans.

rocknice2 wrote: That's way more than 100km from St Albans.

haha part of that will be done by normal plowed 4 lane highways

I've you're sledding across lakes then a utility sled should do the trick. It's still going to blow when you get it stuck (and you will get it stuck, fact of life with snowmobiles) 'cause they're big and heavy...

adrenalated wrote:It's still going to blow when you get it stuck (and you will get it stuck, fact of life with snowmobiles) 'cause they're big and heavy...

I've played a bit with them and in the little little bit I have gotten stuck and yes it sucks when you're alone hahahaha

you'll learn some easy tricks to getting un-stuck pretty quick. My fav is to just roll the damn sled over and out of its own hole. You can spend a lot of time and cause a lot of back strain trying to get a sled out....much easier to just roll it over. (if your in powder. Dont do this in hardpack or your gonna break some stuff)

You dont need or want a utility sled. Your not chopping wood or hauling trees. Unless you can find one cheap. Then it'll do.

Get something with a decent length track. I have a 07 Skidoo MXZ800 adrenaline.. its a trail sled with a 136 and it sucks in powder but rips on trail and in powder with a decent base. 146+ for a mountain or off-trail sled. The front stance wont make much of a difference unless your bushwacking with it. I can get around the tight woods just fine.

Though - with all this said, if all your using it for is to go from the road side across a lake, any old $500 XC sled will do.

What's your budget? I was able to pick up a couple of 2008 SkiDoo Summit Xs last fall for $8000 for both and while it was a good deal I don't think it's unreasonable to expect something similar. My fiance and I got them for similar reasons, to access the alpine easier in the winter primarily for ski touring but also for climbing. Be warned that a lot of people get on sleds and forget to get off of them to walk again. :)

It might be worth checking into ski/snowboard accessed sledding info, you'll find a lot more of a user base there than ice climbing accessed sledding and a lot of the demands are similar. Typically the deeper or steeper the snow is the more likely you are to want one rider on a sled. If it's flat or you're following an established trail then you can get away riding 2-up. We usually shuttle "Canadian style" which means one person on each side of the sled standing up the entire time and steering cooperatively to get up steep tracks for snowboarding. I don't think I'd want to do that for 100km.

Dirt bike based snow bikes make it a lot easier to get up steep terrain but they aren't cheap and it's harder to double with a buddy.

Well after all the research I went with this guy! BRP Ski-doo Tundra Xtreme! think its gonna do the job quite well and more! thanks for every one's help on MP! Ill post a pic when she's all packed up for Ice!

Tundra X