For our clients safety, all riders must be current motorcycle riders who own, or have previously owned a motorcycle, and are of intermediate to advanced skill level on dirt.
- Prior motorcycle experience required (Intermediate – Advanced Level)
- 16 years of age minimum (expert level if under 18) with Oregon Snowmobile operator permit, or valid Drivers License
- Ability to use the throttle, clutch, shift, and brakes on a motorcycle
- Must be able to lift 175 lbs by yourself
- Endure hours in cold weather
- Able to follow complex directions (Starting procedure, stopping procedure, route plan, meeting points)
- Able to navigate backcountry terrain, and make decisions based on different snow conditions.
- Positive / Respectful attitude
- Please inform us of any pre-existing medical injuries or conditions
Preferred Experience:
- Experience in winter backcountry snowmobiling, snowboarding, or skiing
- Awareness and knowledge of avalanche terrain, and avalanche tools
Cascade Snow Bike is located in beautiful Bend, Oregon. We operate under special use permits from Deschutes NF to outfit clients at Kapka Butte Snowpark. This area offers stunning views of the Cascade mountain range, some high caliber old growth tree riding, and meadows to explore. You’ll be on top of the line custom built snow machines to see some fantastic backcountry! Our rides typically launch from Kapka Butte Snowpark around 8:00AM. Please show up 1/2 hour prior to scheduled ride time in your gear ready for orientation and any remaining paperwork / damage deposits.
We suggest being an intermediate to expert motorcycle rider, either on the dirt, street, or snow. If you’ve spent significant time on a motorcycle, and are comfortable using the clutch / foot shifter to manage the gears, as well as the throttle and brake, you most likely can ride a snow bike.
Snow Bikes are different than a motorcycle or snowmobile, with handling characteristics unique to themselves. They can be downright awkward, and difficult to handle in poor snow conditions like hardpack, and whooped out trails. With favorable soft snow conditions of 4″ – 18″ they are incredible handling machines, and very easy to maneuver.
If you’ve never ridden a motorcycle with wheels, a snow bike will be very challenging, and potentially dangerous. Therefore, we cannot provide our service to individuals with minimal, or zero motorcycle riding history.
We do an on bike skills assessment, and if you are unable to meet our safety requirements for riding, you will be refunded your reservation fee at a prorated cost.
Snow Bikes are designed for single user operation, riding double with a passenger is not permitted.
We can certainly meet up with your friends at certain points throughout the day. Our tour will be based on snow bike routes, which differ significantly than snowmobile routes. We’ve found combining snowmobiles and snow bikes on the same ride presents travel challenges which detracts from an optimal snow bike experience.
The State of Oregon requires a valid Drivers License, or Oregon State Snowmobile Safety Education Card. If your drivers license is suspended you are not allowed to operate a snow bike.
Gear you need to bring includes:
- Helmet, Moto style, no snowboarding/ski helmets.
- Winter Boots (Snowmobile Boots, Snowboard Boots, or Goretex Moto boots with waterproof socks)
- Goggles 2 pairs (dual lens ski/snowboard style, single lens moto goggles will fog)
- Gloves 2 pairs (thinner pair for riding in, thick/warm pair for when you need them most)
- Warm under-layers / wool socks
- Waterproof jacket, ideally Goretex
- Waterproof pants, ideally Goretex
- Padded riding shorts
- Knee Pads
- Water
- Lunch / Snacks
- Headlamp
- Spare puffy jacket for layering
We inspect each clients gear upon arrival, and will cancel your reservation if your gear is not adequate. CSB supplies each client with spare gloves and goggles. Our goal is for you to have a enjoyable experience which is why we offer key pieces of gear to make your day excellent.
Provided Gear
- A Guide
- Snow bike with extra fuel
- Klim NacPac Backpack
- BCA Link Two Way Radio
- Avalanche Beacon/Shovel/Probe
- 100% Goggles w/low light lens
- Klim Gloves (extra warm, bulky)
- Trailtech Voyager Pro GPS
- Fire Starting Materials
- Basic Tools
- First Aid Kit
We provide a backpack with the necessary backcountry avalanche gear. The backpack includes an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe that are required at all times in the backcountry. The client wears the beacon on their body, and fills the backpack with whatever other supplies they may need for the day. The pack also includes a pair of warm winter gloves in case your gloves become wet or cold.
On the bikes we include extra fuel, some basic tools, fire starting supplies, small first aid kit, and spare snack bars.
The goal is to make the experience as plug and play as possible. Show up dressed warm, with helmet, water, food, and the rest should be covered. Please let us know during or after your ride what we can do to make it more convenient / comfortable.
We recommend snowboarding boots, or waterproof moto boots, with wool socks. Try to find some waterproof socks if you are going to wear standard moto boots. If you already have snowmobile specific boots like Klim GTX Adrenalines, you’ll be just fine. Klim released the Havoc GTX snowbike specific boot in 2018, and it will be the de facto standard for backcountry riders going forward.
Goretex outerwear is the best as it will keep you the most comfortable on those classic PNW storm days. Two pairs of goggles is standard protocol as you can switch them out for a dry pair. Bring at least two pairs of warm winter gloves to switch between as the day goes on, moto gloves won’t cut it.
In our bags we typically carry a mid-weight puffy jacket to layer up under our outer shell in case the temps are cold for the tour.
Surely!
Avenza PDF has maps of the Dutchman Flat, Ray Benson, and Newberry Caldera snowmobile trail networks. Please download this if you’d like to have a backup map to reference.
Polaris Ride Command enables you to join a group and see everybody’s location on the map.
We also use a GPS tracking program called GAIA GPS to track our ride for the day. One trick is to put your phone on airplane mode so it doesn’t drain your phones battery life. It’s cold in the backcountry and if your phone dies because it’s cold, take it out it’s case and put it on the bottom side of your forearm in your jacket to warm it up.
No, we will meet you in one of the sno parks we operate out of, including Kapka Sno Park. We have special use permits granted to us from Deschutes National Forest to offer this service & convenience to you. When we meet, we will have the bikes on the snow ready to go. You will get a full safety run down, trip plan, and orientation on the bikes.
If someone is badly injured, you are lost, or in an emergency situation, call the local authorities, so you can get help sent your way, as soon as possible.
Call Cascade Snow Bike on the 2 way radios, or your phone as a backup if it is machine related, or you are separated from your guide.
You should never run out of gas. On your ride, if the main gas tank on the bike is empty it is an indicator your ride is 1/2 way over. Use the spare gas can to fill the bike, turn around and head back to the snopark.
Here are some things we provide on each rental to aid you in the event of an emergency.
- Emergency Bivy/Space blanket
- Fire starting kit
- Extra energy bars
- Basic Tools
- Flares
- Lithium Ion Battery jumping pack, which has a USB port to charge your phone/flashlight
- an iPhone 6 and up charging cable
- general use charging cable
Emergency: 911
Deschutes County Sheriff: (541) 388-6655
We require a $1500 damage deposit for every snow bike rental that goes out, which covers damage incurred by the renter. You are given time prior to your ride to inspect the machine to note any prior issues / damage.
The damage deposit covers damaged parts, $100/hr labor rate, and any downtime resulting in loss of business if client is found responsible for damaging or losing CSB property. If repair costs exceed the $1500 damage deposit, the Client is responsible for complete cost of repair in such an event.
CSB does not provide insurance for equipment, or first / third party liability. YOU are responsible for the safety of yourself, others around you, other peoples equipment, and our equipment. There is no guarantee of safety for the day, please ride responsibly.
The damage deposit will be used in the event where a client damages or loses CSB equipment. Be it fault or no fault of their own, accidents happen, and the deposit will be used in such an event.
Everyone is at a loss in these situations, and it is a combined effort to avoid this kind of scenario from happening. We want our clients to ride and have fun, but ask them to ride well within their ability level, and make conservative decisions about terrain selection. Personal Injury and equipment damage ruins everyones day and is costly for both parties in the end.
We never desire to use the deposit as it typically means something unfortunate has already happened. Please work with us to avoid these situations, and have a safe enjoyable experience. Reckless and disrespectful riding is not tolerated. We will end a tour pre-maturely if this type of behavior is demonstrated to mitigate risk and potential damage to our equipment or other riders.
Some of the parts you could break if you have an accident:
- Brake Lever – $20
- Clutch – $200 – $800
- Plastics (Fenders, Radiator Shrouds, Sidepanels) $25 -$100
- Torn Seat – $250 – $350
- Ski Spindle – $350
- Ski – $650
- Hand guards $175
- Radiator – $220 per side
- Coolant Heated Handlebars – $250
- Headlight – $150
- Exhaust Header – $450
- Track Rails – $400/ea
- Snowbike track – $1600
- Broken Fork Legs – $1500
Damage costs and repair labor will be determined on a case by case basis. Repair labor is based on $100/hr shop rate. We are fair and honest, and expect you to be as well.