I always backpack my tent and gear to Winter hike and camp. I remember my first 14’er Quandry when I seen a guy pulling a sled and now reading a post about someone pulling a sled to Winter camp.
As I’m now intrigued enough to think about getting a sled. What are the pros and cons? Differences between backpacking and sledding?
Are sleds easier to pull your gear than carrying on your back?
Are there different types of sleds? Require any additional gear I would need to purchase to use one? Any recommendations on one if I decide to make a sled purchase?
Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
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Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
I should be on a mountain
Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
i dont think there is any part of the state that is remote enough that warrants the use of a sled, if you see people using a sled they are probably training for denali or have back problems
Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
Sleds work great for winter climbs like Pikes via Crags (my pic included), Holy Cross, Maroon Bells and Brainard Lake. They suck for everything else because of deadfall. I made my own with a $5 sled, climbing harness (removed leg loops) and hardware I bought at Lowe's and tug it either with my fat bike or skis. If you want something that is made for sledding try this company:
https://skipulk.com/products/pulks/
https://skipulk.com/products/pulks/
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Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
Dragging a sled on the ground is less work than trying to stay upright on snow with a full pack. this is true whether or not you have back problems, and no matter how remote (or not remote) an area you're traveling in. If you're sure you'll have decent snow cover and a minimum of deadfall and other obstacles, they're a great way to go in winter. Improvised harnesses work, but a harness designed for pulling sleds is much more comfortable. I tried a setup from skipulk.com and I really like it.
mark
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Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
I had to learn how to use a sled for HAMS (high altitude mountaineering school), but other than for training, I actually only used one a few times for peaks. They're super helpful for carrying a lot of gear - one time, we towed in a small barbecue to cook frozen chicken fillets and Twinkies on. Barbecued Twinkies are so good! (This was before I went vegan, obvs. But you can haul in a whole bag of frozen meat in the winter and cook it on the grill. Wouldn't want to do that with a backpack.)
If you're on a flat area or slope, they're fine with just one person hauling, but if you're on a ridge, you need a second person to tie into the back and keep the sled from getting away from you. I recommend practicing a bit before you head out. Google it and there's probably some videos out there on how to do this. It's also covered on pages 471-473 in The Freedom of the Hills, 8th edition.
Here's a trip report from a long time ago when we used a sled for Madonna Dome and an attempt at Bald A. We had to park at the winter closure. https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=4198
If you're on a flat area or slope, they're fine with just one person hauling, but if you're on a ridge, you need a second person to tie into the back and keep the sled from getting away from you. I recommend practicing a bit before you head out. Google it and there's probably some videos out there on how to do this. It's also covered on pages 471-473 in The Freedom of the Hills, 8th edition.
Here's a trip report from a long time ago when we used a sled for Madonna Dome and an attempt at Bald A. We had to park at the winter closure. https://www.14ers.com/php14ers/tripreport.php?trip=4198
Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
We used a sled once on a 10th hut, forget which. One but we were able to put several cases of beer on it, it worked well because those trails are all packed down by skis and snow machines, I wouldn’t want to use one on any other type of trail.
We just used a kids sled and our climbing harness and it worked well enough, it’s fun to try and suss out so give it a whirl
We just used a kids sled and our climbing harness and it worked well enough, it’s fun to try and suss out so give it a whirl
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Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
Thanks everyone!
markf what is your setup?markf wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2025 8:39 am Dragging a sled on the ground is less work than trying to stay upright on snow with a full pack. this is true whether or not you have back problems, and no matter how remote (or not remote) an area you're traveling in. If you're sure you'll have decent snow cover and a minimum of deadfall and other obstacles, they're a great way to go in winter. Improvised harnesses work, but a harness designed for pulling sleds is much more comfortable. I tried a setup from skipulk.com and I really like it.
I should be on a mountain
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Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
Best used on flatter or moderate sloped terrain found either on long flatter approaches or above treeline, with few or no trees/scrub and no cliffs or ledge systems. In places where the route goes through thick forest or tight windy terrain or with ledges and any size trees wouldn't be a good idea or even possible.
Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
Paris sled, Skipulk full harness, Skipulk fibergrass poles, Skipulk removable fins, REI 140 L Roadtripper duffel bag. I tried towing with just rope, then I went to a couple 6' lengths of PVC pipe and an old climbing harness. The stuff that Skipulk.com makes is much more pleasant to use than my homemade attempts. nyker is right, there are some distinct limitations to the terrain and conditions that sleds work well on, but when those conditions exist sleds are a much better way to travel than carrying a pack.CheapCigarMan wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2025 12:57 pm Thanks everyone!
markf what is your setup?markf wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2025 8:39 am Dragging a sled on the ground is less work than trying to stay upright on snow with a full pack. this is true whether or not you have back problems, and no matter how remote (or not remote) an area you're traveling in. If you're sure you'll have decent snow cover and a minimum of deadfall and other obstacles, they're a great way to go in winter. Improvised harnesses work, but a harness designed for pulling sleds is much more comfortable. I tried a setup from skipulk.com and I really like it.
mark
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Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
I built my pulk using these directions: https://fortunebay.org/how-to-make-a-pulk-on-the-cheap/
I use it on the occasional snowshoe hut trip: https://adventr.co/2020/01/the-mountain ... tain-pass/
I use it on the occasional snowshoe hut trip: https://adventr.co/2020/01/the-mountain ... tain-pass/
Randy Langstraat | ADVENTR.co
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Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
I like to use a pulk during winter to do backcountry camping. The major advantages I see are the ability to load additional gear that might be bulky, but not necessarily heavy ie if I'm wanting some real comfortable sleeping, I can load the exped megamat. It's not particularly heavy, but too bulky to put on my back and carry. It drags along in the pulk just fine.
I've also found that me pulling the pulk, while my dog pulls me, takes a lot of the work out of it
Also, trails that are for 4x4ing during summer but covered in snow during winter tend to work well, as there's usually lots of nice flat space, no trees, and less incline to go up.
I've also found that me pulling the pulk, while my dog pulls me, takes a lot of the work out of it

Also, trails that are for 4x4ing during summer but covered in snow during winter tend to work well, as there's usually lots of nice flat space, no trees, and less incline to go up.
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Re: Sleds and Winter hiking / camping
"Pulks." I retired from 10th Special Forces 20 years ago. We somewhat used them back in the day and I was never a fan. In the winter we primarily moved on our AT skis with the occasional skijoring behind our snowmobiles (uphill). Our commo guys with all of their radio gear and the guys that couldn't ski downhill very well favored them. The one place where I did use a pulk and it worked well for me was in Norway. Ideal gentle terrain there. Colorado or similar terrain with AT skis I preferred carrying the load on my back...