Am I gonna have a bad time if I take my LTX out west?

[parepadarappa]

Funny, I came here tonight to ask something similar, this two week warm up here in the yoop has me turbo pissed, so my friends and I have started talking about making a run for Colorado. One of us has already done this a few years back but this will be my first trip out there. I've got plenty of experience riding in the mountains from when I lived in Alaska, but the highest peak in Kodiak was only like 3800' so my flat lander clutching on my SXR was just fine. My real question is where can I find some clutching charts to set up my XTX for the real elevations we'll see. Destination is going to be Granby/Grand Lake area for those interested. Attached is a picture of the old SXR in Alaska just for shits and giggles.

 

[Mtnviper]

For a clutching chart, I've had good luck going to my dealer and having them just photo copy the clutch tuning page out of the service manual. Most dealers are pretty cool about doing this, especially if you end up buying the parts from them.

 

[DigitalFusion]

When? That's the big question. If March or April you'll ride everywhere once things are set-up. Now you'll get buried off trail.

I have been west with a 121". You will be fine in a couple weeks it's called superman snow you will be able to go everywhere. Maybe get a snobungee just in case and stay away from the toilet bowls by big pine trees.

Yes after things start setting up you can drive anywhere. My Dad and I have never owned big mountain sleds so we have always waited until the super man snow comes and just drive over hill and dale all day long.

We are planning to go the last weekend in February (23rd - 27th), I realize that its impossible to predict the future/weather, but are things typically setup by then?

 

[larrypolaris]

I just got back from Albany WY. The snow in the hills and off trail was neck deep+. And we were between 9000-11,000 ft altitude.
You will be fine if you stay on trail and some minor off trail. Anything more then that forget it. You need the long tracks and narrower ski stance for carving, maneuvering, and hill climbing. Just no comparison to riding out west vs the flat lands. And getting stuck at altitude sucks too. Hard to breath.
With the lighter weight two strokes and low wind shields. There are times to get unstuck you just role the sled over to move it or re position it.
Ride your sled for a day or so then rent a mtn sled. You'll enjoy it.

 

[DigitalFusion]

Were you on your LTX or did you rent from the lodge?

 

[larrypolaris]

I rented. Some guys trailered their sleds. All the sleds we rode were mtn 153-155s. Polaris & cats. I rode a 800 cat.

 

[Nytros rule]

Just follow that 155" like you are glued to it. As long as he doesn't do some big climbs you will be fine. Just use your head and not the throttle and have fun. Just a few years ago a 137 was a big track.

As cannondale said not long ago 136 x 1.25 was a mountain sled, guys would have given their left n-t and first born to have my 141 x 1.75 crossover as a mountain sled.
Your bigger issue will be clutching to compensate for loss of HP as you gain altitude.
And learning the skills to ride in that snow.

 

[Clamb]

Funny, I came here tonight to ask something similar, this two week warm up here in the yoop has me turbo pissed, so my friends and I have started talking about making a run for Colorado. One of us has already done this a few years back but this will be my first trip out there. I've got plenty of experience riding in the mountains from when I lived in Alaska, but the highest peak in Kodiak was only like 3800' so my flat lander clutching on my SXR was just fine. My real question is where can I find some clutching charts to set up my XTX for the real elevations we'll see. Destination is going to be Granby/Grand Lake area for those interested. Attached is a picture of the old SXR in Alaska just for shits and giggles.

I rode brek one day and grand lake another between xmas and new year with my xtx and only put some powder pro skis on for float no clutching changes and ran great up to 11000 ft was very impressed I've rented out there before and was just as happy on my own sled