When did you start sledding in the mountains?

[jpgmtech]

I finally got around to scanning some older sledding photos. A few shots of my mom and dad from Valemount, BC, starting with the winter of 1977. He was sledding in the mountains prior than that, just happened to take a Kodak 110 camera with him this time. I have photos of this vintage from Alan Creek, Canoe, Bell, and Miledge Creek. Dad took me sledding in the mountains in '86 or so. Things have changed big time since those days!

 

[lilduke]

my dad took me to boulder mountain in revelstoke for the first time 1994,,i was 14 and fell in love with back country riding.

Nice pictures btw

 

[jpgmtech]

I have 310 pictures scanned, another couple-hundred or so to go! There are some real gems here from the '70's. I will post more.

 

[teeroy]

I have 310 pictures scanned, another couple-hundred or so to go! There are some real gems here from the '70's. I will post more.

please do! awesome pics! think they argued back then over the TXL vs. the Blizzard? lol...wonder which one was more "flickable"

 

[barleyfarmer]

Awesome pics!!I started in 1994 on a 94 ext mountain cat efi!Back when 136 with 1 inch lugs was a big track!!LOL!!:d

 

[jpgmtech]

A few more. There is some seriously shiny showroom-fresh Moto-Ski action going on in these shots. More to come, including probably the first recorded sidehilling photos ever... LOL. BTW the dry weight on those old Super-Sonics was under 400lbs, lol.

 

[Luke The Drifter]

Very cool pics! Any idea of what time of the season they we're taken in? I've heard some old timers say they didn't even bother try sledding till early spring because the sleds back then couldn't handle the powder.

 

[jpgmtech]

Very cool pics! Any idea of what time of the season they we're taken in? I've heard some old timers say they didn't even bother try sledding till early spring because the sleds back then couldn't handle the powder.

The shots with the Ski-Doo Blizzard were taken in the winter of 1977. The shots with the brilliant orange Moto-Ski sleds were taken in the winter of 1978. Those were brand new 1979 model sleds. They found it easier in the springtime getting up there, definitely, but they were a determined bunch! They had a system worked out to break trail into those areas, sometimes it would take them more than one day to get on top.

 

[Free Rider]

I call BS. Those pics must be photoshopped. There are people on here that say you need at least an 800cc and 156" track to go anywhere in the mountains. lol. Great pics. I remember hitting the hills with my 84 Blizzard 9700 plus back in the mid 90's. Man it was a blast!!!

 

[gibsons]

awesome pics. looking forward to seeing more.

 

[gimmepowder]

Wow! Cool photos.

I feel like such a newb...I started sledding in 2003 and can't even imagine what it must have been like to bust into the alpine on a deep power day on some old iron. I've heard all the stories about spending all day busting trail just to reach the cabin and always thought it was bull, but after looking at these photos I'm starting to wonder. Yeah, we're pretty spoiled now with 150hp+ and 163" x 16" tracks.

Looks like epic fun. Keep the photos coming!

 

[jpgmtech]

Okay, here are some shots of some of sidehilling pre-Burandt, LOL.

"Son, what foot do you want me to put forward??? Kid I've been sidehilling before you were born!!!"

 

[Sledderglen]

First time was in 1978 Christmas. Rode a 1978 Yamaha ET 340. Allen Creek didn`t even get out of sight of the cabin. SARAK HOTEL was the only place nto stay. Other hotels didn`t want us snowmobilers staying there. Coulpe years later MT.Milton was as far as anyone ever went. Up top looking over wondering who would ever go farther. The INDY 500 with plastic paddles broke the back country open. Cycle Works was the hot mountain dealer had some real out of the box thinking.
How times have changed. Was more skill than power back then.I remember following a 9500 Blizard up the hill. He had a stack of belts over his handlebars and would change them out on the way up. Trails were like a Bobsled run 3 ft deep and mogouled up bad ALL THE WAY to the top.
Show more pics

 

[jpgmtech]

And some more, with a couple of shots from Dad's racing days thrown in.

 

[jpgmtech]

First time was in 1978 Christmas. Rode a 1978 Yamaha ET 340. Allen Creek didn`t even get out of sight of the cabin. SARAK HOTEL was the only place nto stay. Other hotels didn`t want us snowmobilers staying there. Coulpe years later MT.Milton was as far as anyone ever went. Up top looking over wondering who would ever go farther. The INDY 500 with plastic paddles broke the back country open. Cycle Works was the hot mountain dealer had some real out of the box thinking.
How times have changed. Was more skill than power back then.I remember following a 9500 Blizard up the hill. He had a stack of belts over his handlebars and would change them out on the way up. Trails were like a Bobsled run 3 ft deep and mogouled up bad ALL THE WAY to the top.
Show more pics

Oh, I remember the SARAK! Chris treated us really well there, but he sold out years ago already. Dad and the boys did drop down the back of Milton and ended up in the Premier range. Sledding was persistance and skill, definitely! Trails were totally brutal, LOL!

 

[MXOldtimer]

OK, just have to chime in. First picture I see is my old 340 Motoski! Still have the suit. Started in 1974, still at it. Was riding for Tract Equipment when Ed and Don were there, followed them to what would become Cycle Works. Some of the stuff we built worked pretty well but a lot of hand grenades as well. Seems like yesterday. Nice pictures, I was too busy riding to take any back then and really didn't give a crap if anybody else knew what we were up to.


Seems like only yesterday. Sigh.

 

[jpgmtech]

Just passed the 400 mark in photos. A few more highlights from the late '70's!

 

[jpgmtech]

OK, just have to chime in. First picture I see is my old 340 Motoski! Still have the suit. Started in 1974, still at it. Was riding for Tract Equipment when Ed and Don were there, followed them to what would become Cycle Works. Some of the stuff we built worked pretty well but a lot of hand grenades as well. Seems like yesterday. Nice pictures, I was too busy riding to take any back then and really didn't give a crap if anybody else knew what we were up to.


Seems like only yesterday. Sigh.

Nice to hear the reminiscing! Dad rode with Ed and Don at some point if I remember right.

 

[overkill131313]

I love the old sleds.....I first hit the hills in the early 80's but was sledding on the flats in the 70's.....I remember when dad used to take me out on the new 640 TNT when I was a kid.... back then it was all skill to get to the cabin......no snow cat to groom the trails here in Sicamous.....we had 2 or 3 Alpine twin tracks that did all the work.....I remember it took sometimes a few days to find the cabin on queest......now it is a 40 min trip going slow lol......helicopter didnt lift sleds out.....I saw a guy side hill an Alpine twin track with a blizzard sideways on the back......now that was talent!

my first sled I took into the hills was an elan 250 twin.....then I moved up to a 81 citation 4500 in 86 I bought a slightly used SS25 that in it day had great power....462 RV engine....plastic ski skins and then I built some plastic paddles out of UHMW channel that I cut in half.....the old plastic paddles used to fold over and brake.....my paddles lasted for years.....

my step dad has told me a few stories of when they started Revy and built the cabin.....340 and 440 TnT's I cant beleive they made it up there......that is when sledding was challenging.....now it is who has the most money to build the fast sled to go not just over the top......but do it at 70 MPH and catch major air at the top.......everyone should jump on a vintage sled to understand how this sport was started.....it is like nasacar was back in the day compared to today......night and day differance!

 

[lilduke]

my firtst trip to revy was on a 380fan cooled sled november8 94(dad took me for my bday) and was a hell of an adventure to get to the cabin...but now im quite happy with my xp tho.....lol