Travel to the yurts takes anywhere from an hour to an hour an a half, and can be up to eleven miles on a snow covered county road. Trailhead location depends on road and snow conditions at the end of the Lick Creek Rd.
Avalanche Transceivers should be put on and checked in the parking lot and worn continuously while traveling in the canyon. All travelers should also carry a shovel and a probe with them while traveling and know how to use their gear.
There are several avalanche paths in the canyon that have the ability to hit the road and no stopping is advised in these areas. The first area is on the East side of the road near Slickrock, between the two bridges . The second being the Black Lee slide paths found on the West side of the Canyon between the second bridge and the Black Lee Campground.
It is recommended that all travelers in the snow cat or on a snowmobile wear extra layers for the ride. A pair of insulated coveralls and a down jacket work great, not to mention the fashion statement you’ll make.
All passengers on a snowmobile should wear a helmet.
Please keep your daypack, skis, boots, skins etc… with you while traveling so that you are self contained in case of emergency, after all, this is a backcountry trip.
Payette Powder Guides Packing Suggestions
If you’re traveling with us on an overnight trip, or doing your own thing, here are some ideas to help you pack…… ·Pack your day/ski pack just like normal….snacks, water, etc… ·Bundle your skis and poles together, voile straps work great! ·A large duffel or river style dry bag works best for your sleeping bag, pad, hut shoes, coffee cup, headlamp, etc… ·Plastic totes work great for dry foods and misc. group gear ·Small coolers for meat, produce and dairy ·5 Gallon Jugs for drinking water
We try to keep totes and coolers small and light so that they pack well on our cargo sleds and so that they’re easy to carry the last 50 yards to the yurt. ·Recommended cooler and box size ~ maximum 23” wide
Snowmobiles in parking lot w/ cargo sleds ~ Short walk to the yurts….
The 11 miles of road behind this sign lead to the Lick Creek Summit Yurts…..
If you are a self-catered group, please realize that there is no guarantee that you will be able to snowmobile to the yurts as access is on an unmaintained county road, your group should be prepared to ski in if necessary. You gain elevation gradually but ascend almost 2000’ to reach the summit, and sometimes it may be necessary to ski the final leg, do to deep snow conditions. The snowcat is the best way to travel in deep snow conditions, allowing you to travel hassle free, save your time and energy for skiing, and allows you to bring plenty of warm, dry clothes, and plenty of food and drink, to enjoy at the yurts, when you arrive. When the conditions allow for snowmobile travel, we have five state-of-the-art, four-stroke touring machines, equipped with custom ski racks and baskets for your packs. They also have trailer hitches to haul extra overnight gear on Rocky Mountain cargo sleds.
Dec. 2009......We’ve been busy this fall upgrading our snowmobile fleet…..We have just purchased (3) 2008 Polaris 4-Stroke IQ Touring Snowmobiles to bring our fleet to five of these deluxe rides. Although the LickCreekMountains are not in a National Park, we feel they should be treated as though they are, and we want our guests to have the most comfortable ride out there. They’re in the shop being tuned for the season, then off to Greg at The Machine Shop, for custom racks to carry our skis and backpacks, and hitches to haul our trailers with supplies for overnight trips.
The 2008 Polaris FS IQ® Touring snowmobile with its clean, quiet and efficient Polaris 4-stroke engine has been certified by the U.S. Department of the Interior as having Best Available Technology (BAT), meaning it is approved for use this winter in Yellowstone and Grand TetonNational Parks. Snowmobile use in these National Parks has been closely monitored and subject to stringent operating regulations in recent winters. With its BAT certification, the 2008 Polaris FS IQ Touring joins the growing list of Polaris 4-stroke models approved for riding on the scenic snowmobile routes throughout these parks. “We continually strive to develop engines that are both environmentally friendly and satisfy the performance desires of riders, and the BAT certification demonstrates we have succeeded with the 2008 FS IQ Touring,” said Polaris Snowmobile Division General Manager Scott Swenson. “We are proud to have this model added to the list of Polaris 4-stroke snowmobiles certified for use in these scenic National Parks.” These snowmobiles provide touring riders with exceptional comfort and the sport’s best ride and handling. The sled is built on the innovative Polaris IQ chassis that optimizes suspension performance and delivers a smooth, balanced ride. The FS IQ Touring features the Rider Select™ steering system, which lets the driver select from among five handlebar positions for the greatest comfort and control. Electric start is standard, as is Polaris Electronic Reverse Control (PERC), digital instrumentation, hand and thumb warmers and a pillow-top 2-up seat with an adjustable backrest. There are also hand warmers for the passenger! The sled rides on an IQ 136 Comfort rear suspension with 14” of travel, and the long-travel IQ front suspension provides easy, responsive handling. Source: Polaris Industries Publish on 2008-01-03
What all this means to you is….. we have a reliable way to get you to the skiing in style, as fast and as comfortable as possible!
We have years of experience in the canyon and lots of practice getting in and out…..for instance we always have a chainsaw at our disposal due to frequent down trees following storm cycles, have current snowpack information and familiarity with avalanche paths along the way, and carry rescue equipment and communications should a situation arise. So give us a Call and book you winter adventure today!!!
