The best skiing and snowboarding take place in the backcountry. These areas are more accessible by using a snowmobile. If you have seen a Warren Miller ski movie recently, it is most likely that they reached the snow areas by either snowmobile, helicopter, or snowcat. Skiers and snowboarders head to backcountry to get away from the noise and crowd of ski hills to get solitude and fresh air in the backcountry and to pursue their passion of finding untouched powder. The older two-stroke snowmobiles were polluting and loud. Nowadays, with the advent of more quieter and efficient four-stroke engines, these environmental footprints have been substantially reduced. Moreover, the success of these snowmobiles is likely attributed to their aggressive appearance, sturdy engines and specifically to their ability to climb previously unreachable terrains.
According to Snowsports Industries America, the number of people who participate in backcountry skiing has almost tripled in the last ten years. It is by far the most rapidly growing aspect of skiing. Every leading snowmobile brand manufactures backcountry gear. Let us take a look at a few of the best snowmobile for backcountry skiing by these major snowmobile brands.
Ski-Doo Summit X 850
The Summit X 850 by Ski-Doo offers a great competent combination by featuring the 4th generation platform along with 850CCE-TEC 2-stroke engine, which delivers extraordinary performance and exquisite driving experience. It comes with a track length of 154, 165, and now available in 175 inches as well. Summit X 850 features the SHOT System which stores energy, giving the rider to quickly start-up the engine after a complete stop unaccompanied by the usual weight constraint which was seen with the ordinary start-up systems saving almost 20 lbs. in this process, while also gaining from an alternate start-up system. One of the most salient features of this snowmobile is its ergonomic design which is geared according to the rider’s requirements. This Ski-Doo Summit X 850 is perfect for backcountry skiing and its driving experience is very intuitive with the rider feeling a sense of complicity by the machine.
Arctic Cat Alpha One
Arctic Cat Alpha One is one of the most well balanced and easiest to ride snowmobile for backcountry skiing. It comes with single-beam rear suspension which is stable and easy to handle and works perfectly with front suspension making it one of the most responsive rider-to-chassis sleds. It has reduced vehicle weight, track inertia and track rotating mass which are all dialed into the Ascender chassis. Also, it requires less energy to turn into an aggressive rider and that too in a controlled manner. The Alpha One’s skid frame follows the principle that a deep snow skid does not require two rails. As a replacement, there is a single, rigid rail that runs down the center of the track which allows more turning flexibility from the track, better sidehilling, quicker pivots, and reduced weight, still providing all the best what a mountain snowmobile does in powder.
Polaris Pro-RMK 800
Polaris offers RMK mountain snowmobiles paired with an excellent AXYS frame. This AXYS frame provides a good advantage to the sled by providing rigidity, making them lightweight and specifically it offers the general balance to the snowmobile making it perfect for backcountry skiing. This Pro-RMK 800 is an exceptional vehicle offered by Polaris which features a strong 800CC cleanfire 2-stroke engine and comes in wide options of track lengths like 155, 163 and 174 inches. It has a well-calibrated and adjustable suspension that is designed literally to swallow the snow. It comes in different colors as well and provides an astounding driving experience by being one of the lightest sleds in the market. A conclusion is a machine that is excellent for mountain riding since its name is in fact, RMK or Rocky Mountain King.
Yamaha Sidewinder M-TX
Yamaha Sidewinder M-TX is different from other machines since it comes with a 4-stroke engine, heavier weight, and generous dimensions. Nevertheless, this vehicle rides greatly because of the combination of a 200 HP engine and a 130 lbs/ft. torque offering the necessary energy to reach the mountain peak at full force. Yamaha has been expanding its backcountry snowmobile models and arrangements to satisfy their customer needs. Additionally, it is possible to buy an aggressive 162 inches long that have 3 inches paddles, which provide you traction necessary for Sidewinder’s power to transmit on the terrain and propel the vehicle convincingly. Yamaha Sidewinder M-TX comes with remarkable mechanics that can never fail even on high altitudes. This is a noteworthy advantage over the 2-stroke engines. Yamaha snowmobiles are in an ideal situation with large amounts of snow in open terrains. However, with its heavyweight and larger size, quick maneuverability can become a tiring task in tight paths.
