River Riding

[rundrave]

shouldnt be much longer now!

I know the river is frozen over finally, and I cant imagine it will be much longer with these temps before its safe for riding.

I cant wait!

[bottlerocket]

Yup!  I can't wait.  The only thing that I am scared of is that the river is higher and is flowing alot faster.  So I am going to make sure it is frozen in all spots.

[Thumper700]

My Dad and I went ice fishing today with the 'wheelers and there was a good 7".  If these temps stay down, the river should be good to go before too long.

[DanDan]

We rode around the Trent Dells Egan area on Sunday a few open spots and kind of rough needs more snow but the ice was good!! That same ahole has a fence across the river north of Trent again only in a slightly different place. I head an guy Flandreau hit it and wrecked a brand new sled and his insurance company is going after the landowner.

[rundrave]

usually the guy at least puts some orange flags on the wire, man that could be so dangerous

i saw plenty of tracks off hwy 38/60th street today. gates are still shut but people are riding

hopefully we dont get a ton of snow now, would be nice to get a good base of solid ice first

[DanDan]

We were riding by Dell Rapids on saturday nite and had one guy fall through. Their is a lot of slush on top of the ice and below the snow so you cant see it till your driving in it. We had been riding on it last week all the way to Egan with just a few open spots. 

[Go Faster]

How is the ice on the river now?  Anyone tried it lately?  It's goin to be cold now that we have the snow so I can't imagine that it will take long for good ice.  We may need to blade a path in spots with all of this snow!

[bottlerocket]

I don't want to be the next one through the ice so I am waiting.  I like to ride from SF to Flandruea and want to make sure it is frozen.  I have heard that there are some week spots yet.

[Go Faster]

I just got back from riding and tried to go out on the ice at lake Alvin but kept getting stuck in the slush.  There is a layer of slush about a 6" deep and then 6 inches of ice and a lot of snow over that.  Some sleds were out there too and kept breaking through the snow into the slush layer also.  It might take a while for good ice with all that snow on top even if we get sub zero temps.

I also went out to Wall lake and they have signs posted everywhere saying no ATVs or Snowmobiles.  What's up with that?

[bottlerocket]

the owners out there are pricks.  they don't like the sound and the ripping up of the property.  I seen alot of tracks going through peoples yards a couple years ago.  since then they have not allowed it.

[sdslw]

Have any of you guys been riding on the river near Sioux Falls, Dell Rapids or Baltic?  I really want to ride this weekend, but don't have anywhere else to ride and I am not sure the river is safe with all the snow we have had.  I heard some reports from the Flandreau area that sounds like the snow is pushing the ice down and making the top slushy.

[bottlerocket]

I could not get a hold of anyone that has been on the river yet.  Before the warm spell here there were alot of tracks.  I plan on looking at it and making some calls after work.  I would like to ride Sunday.

[sdslw]

I finally talked to someone that road snowmobile last weekend down near Klondike and said it was fine and he saw a Razr out there.  This guy said there was a little slush in the corners, but nothing he would worry about, even on a quad.  I think we are going to try it on Saturday and ride towards Baltic. 

My brother in-law lives in Dells and said it doesn't look like anyone is riding the river there for a few days.  I am going to try and catch someone at the parking area again today to visit with.  If I do I'll post what they had to say.

[sdslw]

I didn't talk to them, but a Razr and sport quad left the parking area on 60th ST N and headed North today at a little after noon.

[bottlerocket]

Let me know how it goes on sat.  I still try on maybe finding some people to ride on sunday.