Riding Golden Dec. 29,30,31 Jan.1 - Looking for guides or riding buddies

mattalind

Active member
Joined
Feb 15, 2016
Messages
43
Reaction score
69
Location
Cranberry Portage, MB
The wife and I are coming to Golden over the Xmas/New Year holiday this year. Plan on riding Dec29-Jan1st inclusive. Have ridden Golden a couple times before but definitely don't know the area well enough to be exploring too far on my own. I see Rocky Mountain Riders and Golden Snowmobile Rentals both offer guide services and I'm wondering if one is any better than the other? I used a guide from RMR one time and thought they did a good job with our group but still looking for opinions.

Also, because guides tend to be pretty expensive, I'm wondering if anyone on here would be interested in taking my wife and I out? Or just taking me out because she is not going to want to ride each day....definitely doesn't love the sport as much as I do so I'll be solo at least one of those days (and that's when I'll be able to push it a lot farther for a lot more excitement as she is very much new to mountain riding and doesn't have the skills, confidence or machine - 2017 Ski Doo Renegade 850 137" x 1.75") to venture too far off the groomed trail.

Looking for opinions, or anyone willing to hook up with to show me/us around for a day or two...

Hope it dumps like crazy between now and the end of December
 

C of Red

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
501
Reaction score
918
Location
Calgary, AB
PM me when it gets closer. If I'm not riding in MT, Sic or Revy at New Years I could show you around some.

Quartz is easy to navigate so you wouldn't require a guide in my opinion but need to be cognicent of avi paths. Typically busy so lot of folks around if you have issues. That being said I almost never ride there anymore.
 

tex78

Active VIP Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Messages
17,505
Reaction score
16,871
Location
DA Moose B.C
PM me when it gets closer. If I'm not riding in MT, Sic or Revy at New Years I could show you around some.

Quartz is easy to navigate so you wouldn't require a guide in my opinion but need to be cognicent of avi paths. Typically busy so lot of folks around if you have issues. That being said I almost never ride there anymore.
Don't forget to tell them that no matter how tempted, obey the signs and don't ride in the park around quartz
 

bayman

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
913
Reaction score
725
Location
Calgary
Should be lots of peeps out over Christmas. I suspect I will be out that time myself if I don't head to Castlegar for the week. The sled you mentioned for your wife limits lots of areas IMO. Quartz as mentioned is pretty busy, but does have the warm up cabin. I generally avoid it like the plague, but I am not a fan of crowds. Gorman Lake is the closest, but in my opinion, one of the worst for newbies. Couple of bigger climbs to get into a couple of the areas. Silent Pass used to be my favorite, but also getting overly popular, but descent enough for less experienced riders. I have taken my girls into the Blaeberry and they enjoyed the trail, was freshly groomed a the time. Check back closer to the dates and you should be able to hook up with a group. Sun Peaks is another company that guides out of Golden. If I had to choose which company I would rent a guide from, I would go with GSR, just because Aaron was my instructor when I did my avalanche course. That being said....are you avalanche trained and have the necessary equipment? Lots of unforgiving terrain in Golden.
 

tex78

Active VIP Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Messages
17,505
Reaction score
16,871
Location
DA Moose B.C
Should be lots of peeps out over Christmas. I suspect I will be out that time myself if I don't head to Castlegar for the week. The sled you mentioned for your wife limits lots of areas IMO. Quartz as mentioned is pretty busy, but does have the warm up cabin. I generally avoid it like the plague, but I am not a fan of crowds. Gorman Lake is the closest, but in my opinion, one of the worst for newbies. Couple of bigger climbs to get into a couple of the areas. Silent Pass used to be my favorite, but also getting overly popular, but descent enough for less experienced riders. I have taken my girls into the Blaeberry and they enjoyed the trail, was freshly groomed a the time. Check back closer to the dates and you should be able to hook up with a group. Sun Peaks is another company that guides out of Golden. If I had to choose which company I would rent a guide from, I would go with GSR, just because Aaron was my instructor when I did my avalanche course. That being said....are you avalanche trained and have the necessary equipment? Lots of unforgiving terrain in Golden.
Aaron is a good guy, knows areas great and helps the club out lots



Also mabe check out nobodyridesalone revy sicamous on Facebook, may find couple or someone to ride with
 

mattalind

Active member
Joined
Feb 15, 2016
Messages
43
Reaction score
69
Location
Cranberry Portage, MB
Should be lots of peeps out over Christmas. I suspect I will be out that time myself if I don't head to Castlegar for the week. The sled you mentioned for your wife limits lots of areas IMO. Quartz as mentioned is pretty busy, but does have the warm up cabin. I generally avoid it like the plague, but I am not a fan of crowds. Gorman Lake is the closest, but in my opinion, one of the worst for newbies. Couple of bigger climbs to get into a couple of the areas. Silent Pass used to be my favorite, but also getting overly popular, but descent enough for less experienced riders. I have taken my girls into the Blaeberry and they enjoyed the trail, was freshly groomed a the time. Check back closer to the dates and you should be able to hook up with a group. Sun Peaks is another company that guides out of Golden. If I had to choose which company I would rent a guide from, I would go with GSR, just because Aaron was my instructor when I did my avalanche course. That being said....are you avalanche trained and have the necessary equipment? Lots of unforgiving terrain in Golden.


My wife's sled is no doubt limited when we take it West....gotta stick close to the trail with her but if we could find some powder filled meadows that would be perfect for her to learn how to carve. I always carry full avy gear and I've been to Golden before. I'm thinking Westbench one day with the wife, one day in Gorman when I'm without her, I've been there a few times now and I love the area, very big and very scenic.
 

mattalind

Active member
Joined
Feb 15, 2016
Messages
43
Reaction score
69
Location
Cranberry Portage, MB
update to my plans:

In Golden riding the following:

Dec29 - ride with my wife. Would have to be pretty tame riding, very little off-trail as her sled (2017 850 Renegade 137 x 1.75") and skill set are both limited

Dec30 - riding solo. I want to see steep/deep/trees/etc. I'm not extreme but I do have some skill and want to push it as far as I can this day. My sled is 2017 850 Summit 165 x 3"

Jan. 1st - riding with my 64 year old dad. He's a veteran rider of 50 years so the riding I'm looking for is between what I'd do on my own and what I'd do with my gf. Off-trail preferred but nothing too technical for him.

If anyone in the area is willing to partner up on any of the 3 days listed above I am always happy to pull on skis, buy some beers and supper afterwards to say thank you. Now, hopefully it snows snows snows then bluebirds from Dec29-Jan2.
 

Mach1

Active VIP Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2015
Messages
932
Reaction score
765
Location
Kimberley
The wife and I are coming to Golden over the Xmas/New Year holiday this year. Plan on riding Dec29-Jan1st inclusive. Have ridden Golden a couple times before but definitely don't know the area well enough to be exploring too far on my own. I see Rocky Mountain Riders and Golden Snowmobile Rentals both offer guide services and I'm wondering if one is any better than the other? I used a guide from RMR one time and thought they did a good job with our group but still looking for opinions.

Also, because guides tend to be pretty expensive, I'm wondering if anyone on here would be interested in taking my wife and I out? Or just taking me out because she is not going to want to ride each day....definitely doesn't love the sport as much as I do so I'll be solo at least one of those days (and that's when I'll be able to push it a lot farther for a lot more excitement as she is very much new to mountain riding and doesn't have the skills, confidence or machine - 2017 Ski Doo Renegade 850 137" x 1.75") to venture too far off the groomed trail.

Looking for opinions, or anyone willing to hook up with to show me/us around for a day or two...

Hope it dumps like crazy between now and the end of December

buddy and I will be riding golden 27 to 31 if can't get rooms in revi, and if my sled ready to pick up tomorrow at dealer, will know tomorrow at noon, we love and know golden well, keep you posted, chat soon
 

bayman

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
913
Reaction score
725
Location
Calgary
I will be out as well at some point. i will try and make the 30th work. i know the area fairly well but will try and get JMCX come along, he has bee riding Golden for 20 yrs.
 

C of Red

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
501
Reaction score
918
Location
Calgary, AB
I'll be out as well for a couple of those days and will be looking for someone to ride with. Know Quartz, Silent and Gorman very well.
 

kanedog

Active VIP Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
3,141
Reaction score
8,615
Location
Kanedog 2015-2019, thanks for the good times S&M!
We can sled with you big fella. We just need gas, a few spare belts per day for our skidoo 850, 4 litres of oil per day and you need pick us up at Revelstoke. We like beer and cooking weiners on our thing can.
See ya soon sexy!
 

tko sled ed

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2008
Messages
2,769
Reaction score
2,908
Location
Parkland county
Website
www.foxmaplehomes.com
Due to the snowfall warning for Golden me and my son will be there to ride silent pass Saturday ,Sunday would like to have a couple more guys in the group we both ride 17 850 165 3”
It would be great if anyone else is with their kids mine is 15 he can pretty much take the sled anywhere so won’t hold up the group if anything he’s an ok ski puller
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom