They take having fun very seriously.

Tate McCoy of Powell, Ryan Berchtold of Cody and Tim Metzler of Powell, are buddies who have a blast snowmobiling in the backcountry, but safety is No. 1 in their high octane adventures.

They’re a diehard snowmobile team.

“We snowmobile a lot together,” Metzler said.

But, others are welcome to join them, as long as they are well versed in snowmobile safety, carry the proper emergency gear and are cognizant of the dangers of avalanches, Metzler said.

“Watching out for each other,” McCoy said.

No one is left behind. “We don’t leave an area until we have everybody rounded up,” Berchtold said.

Safety first

Avalanche beacons are an absolute necessity, the guys said.

Berchtold will attest to their worth.

He was snowmobiling New Year’s Day 2009 in a creek bottom in Togwotee Pass when an avalanche buried him alive.

Thanks to his beacon, his Powell pals, Josh Lovelady, Metzler and Darren Thomas were able to locate and dig him out in 10 or 15 minutes. But, Berchtold wasn’t breathing. Lovelady performed CPR and revived him, according to a Jan. 13, 2009, Tribune article.

Despite the harrowing event, the guys snowmobiled the next day, Metzler said.

Beacons are a requirement. “We don’t even want to ride with them (others) if they don’t have one,” Metzler said.

“You need to know how to use them too,” Berchtold said.

Berchtold strongly advises snowmobilers, skiers, snowshoers and hikers to take an avalanche awareness course and check conditions before heading to the high country.

An avalanche class will also teach how to read snow conditions and identify areas to avoid. “I take it serious because you don’t want to be digging your friends out,” Metzler added. Learning to read the snow is crucial. For example when the temperature is 34 degrees, a 35-degree angle slope, though not particularly sheer, is the perfect combination for an avalanche.

Snowmobilers also need to bring an avalanche probe — a collapsable stick to search for the rider buried in snow,

McCoy said.

Near summits, he prefers to cruise in timber because it provides some protection against avalanches, Berchtold said.

Snowmobilers must know their location at all times. It is easy to lose all sense of direction in the mountains, Metzler said.

Bring a first aid kit and a good shovel. GPS comes in handy too. Pack food, water and gear necessary to survive a night in the mountains in case a snowmobile breaks down or other calamity strikes, Metzler said.

Metzler packs a Spot GPS transmitter that can notify others that he is OK or to send help pronto, he said. 

All this equipment should be carried by the rider, not on their sled, so the rider can access it quickly rather than trying to retrieve it from his/her snowmobile that could be beyond reach, Metzler said.

“Probably be good to be alcohol free,” Metzler said.

“Make sure you have the right clothing,” Berchtold said.

Buy the best snowmobile clothing. “It’s worth it,” McCoy said.

Always wear a helmet, Metzler said.

Go to www.mtavalanche.com for avalanche information, advisories and avalanche classes in Montana. The Bridger Teton Avalanche Center is at www.jhavalanche.org/index.php. The National Weather Service in Riverton offers a plethora of weather links at www.weather.gov/riw/ or call them at 800-211-1448. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has precipitation updates and other data at www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/nrcs.html.

For the Big Horns, call the Bighorn Natural Forest office in Greybull at 307-765-4435.

Protecting the environment

Steer clear of wildlife. “If they’re in there, we’re going somewhere else,” Metzler said. Still, when his group is snowmobiling in high altitudes, most wildlife are at lower elevations where there is less snow.

Always be courteous to skiers and snowshoers who have the same right to enjoy the backcountry. “It’s theirs too,” Metzler said.

The guys believe in the maxim: “Pack it in, pack it out.”

“We’re in there in the spring time,” McCoy said. “We’re picking up people’s trash.”

Hot spots

Cooke City, Montana, is popular because the trails are easy to find and navigate, McCoy said.

Metzler snowmobiles in Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. He likes the trails around Alpine and Afton. He also enjoys the small town atmosphere of Dubois, he said.

Berchtold said he is fond of Wolf Creek in Colorado.

Fresh powder is very enticing. “To me, you go in and there are no tracks,” Metzler said. “It’s a brand new day. It’s fun.”

“Very,” McCoy said. It’s freedom. On a snowmobile, the rider can go anywhere.

Raring to go

The guys are beyond raring to go. All of them confirmed they own three snowmobiles each.

“Tate’s been (snowmobiling) twice (this year),” Berchtold said.

“Four times,” McCoy corrected.

That was prior to their snowmobile trip over the Thanksgiving holiday.

“I rode 207 days last year,” Berchtold said. That includes six weeks in Chile and 12 days in Russia. “It’s kind of my life,” said the former snowmobile guide.

Safety is No. 1, but accidents do happen, often to the amusement of both rider and friends despite forthcoming snowmobile repair bills, Metzler said.

Metzler already wrecked one of his sleds this season resulting in a bent bumper and broken handlebar. “When somebody crashes, it is always a good time laughing,” he said.

It is difficult to recount the rush when the sled is carving tracks in the powder. “When you’re ripping through the trees... it’s hard to explain,” Berchtold said.

“It’s our drug,” Metzler said.

There is an easy camaraderie in Metzler’s shop fostered by years of riding together and images in their minds of past adventures and many more waiting on the mountain

Snowmobiling with buddies precipitates a close bond when those guys are your lifeline, Metzler said. “There’s so much friendship involved.”

McCoy likes to ride his dirt bike in the summer, but said he much prefers snowmobiling where the sky is literally the limit. “To go wherever I want is pretty appealing,” he said. “It’s freedom.”

Sans snow, Metzler, 55, is leading his mules in the high country. Then when it snows he cranks up his machine. “That’s what I call snowmobiling, my fitness program. It keeps me young,” he said.