Snow Bike Adventure

Utah is full of a variety of outdoor opportunities for every season. Many people flock to here when the weather warms up to visit places like Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Lake Powell, and Bryce Canyon National Park. It's no secret that Utah becomes a beautiful winter playground and paradise when winter rolls around. With license plates claiming "the greatest snow on earth," and encouraging others to "Ski Utah," it was no surprise that we hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002. Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snowmobiling are very popular winter activities when the snow starts to fly. In many places, winter accompanies quiet forests, and empty hills. Here in Utah, the mountains come alive and are full of many different outdoor enthusiasts.

As I drive into Evanston, Wyoming from Interstate 80, I have many different emotions running through my head. I'm excited, nervous, anxious, and completely stoked to try out something new. I arrive on the North Slope of the High Uintas Mountains. The previous week, this area has received 3+ feet of snow and the area is full of trucks, trailers, and the sounds of snowmobiles heading out to the mountains. The last time that I was out on a snowmobile was at least ten years ago, and I'm hoping that I can figure out how to ride a snow bike. We suit up and I jump on a Yamaha YZ450FX with a Polaris Timbersled kit. This bike is an iron horse on snow and I ease off of the clutch and head off into the forest.

My first impression is that I have absolutely no control over this beast! I turn the handle bars and the bike refuses to turn. My instincts kick in, I lean into the turn, and away we go towards our destination, Whitney Reservoir. I have frequented this area many times throughout the spring, summer, and fall, but I have never been here in the winter time. The North Slope is a place where I go to fly fish, and most of my time is spent looking out through meadows and woodlands for a good place to throw my line. I have never looked at these hills and mountains for places to snowmobile or snow bike. Luckily, I have fished on Whitney Reservoir before and that was the place we were recommended to find some nice powder to shred. We ascend a beautifully groomed road until we reach 9500 feet. At this altitude, we find plenty of dry, fresh, and beautiful powder......lots of powder! I tear off into a large trackless powder field and drop off a small hill, kicking the bike into 3rd and 4th gear. My buddy follows behind on an awesome snowmobile, yet his ride lacks the maneuverability of my snow bike, so he stays out of the tight areas that are full trees. I decide to see how this handles on a powder decline and drop my shoulder into a tight turn, carving like I'm riding my snowboard. This thing SHREDS!

After a day on the snow bike, without a doubt, the snow bike kicks the teeth out of riding a snowmobile. The only way that I can really explain it is that the difference is like driving a sports car vs. a van. The snow bike completely exceeded all expectations that I had. The handling was fantastic, the bike was lighter so it never got stuck, and you could take it places where you would never even think to go on a snowmobile. If you ever have the opportunity to take out a snow bike, take it out over a snowmobile any day.

Check out the short video below for a few short highlights from my trip!

Thanks for checking out creekside today!

-Mike