Make your own sled/pulk dirtbag style

Thanks, I’ve been thinking about this since my last ski trip. Can’t wait to hear how it worked. Now I just need a hot tent to haul in it :)

There are a number of my of pulk threads if you take the time to search here from easy to elaborate

pulks on BPL

Great little project.  I did one a few years ago in essentially the same style.  One recommendation for you though – cross the poles over each other so when you’re pulling the sled the poles are in an “x” shape (left side of sled attached to right side of your body).  Drill small holes into the center of the poles and run a short piece of cordage through them to hold the poles together in this x pattern.  This will drastically improve how the sled tracks behind you.

Here’s an example photo of a former hiking partner when we were on a February overnighter in Northern Minnesota in 2008.

Thanks for the peek backwards down memory lane Sam.  Have you heard from Chad lately?

In what phase is the moon?  here’s another trip in the wayback machine posted today

Hey Sam thanks for the tip!  Does it matter where you make the “X”?  Should it be closer to the sled?

Also, where did you get that sled?  Looks like it could carry more beer…

I’ll tell everyone how it goes once I get back Sunday.

Sam:  a clarification, were you meaning that the cordage would pass thru holes in both poles where they cross?  I believe that would provide  the best tracking in open country where you are mostly making a straight track.  Having the cordage fixed on one pole and just loosely wrapped around the other works well when on a winding trail or (I imagine) when carving turns on downhill runs.

Sr Al: Measure the width of the outside of the hipbelt when you are wearing it and also the distance between the place the poles attach to the sled.  Lay the poles in a X on the floor with their ends those distances apart … drill the hole where they cross.

Another good point of reference for would be pulk builders, is skipulk.com. They have a pfd on how to build one with a variety of pole connection options. My first homemade pulk had the rope through the PVC, but I found it a little unstable. My second incarnation was the conduit with eye bolts on each end. This worked well and is my current setup. I think I will go with the fiberglass poles next.

Sam has a JetSled it looks like. If you look at the comments in my article, that is what one of my readers suggests and it is what I would use now. Otherwise no difference my article. (I did mention making an “X” wit the poles..makes a difference for sure).

My modest sled works well for moderate terrain without too much single track.

Steeper terrain/tighter single track I prefer to use a pack. Of course, I am on skis as well (have not been on snowshoes in almost a decade :) ), so that can make a difference too.

That cool Paul, I didn’t realize that was your blog.  I really like it!

Thanks for the kind words.  Not everyone makes the connection between PMags and Paul Magnanti. :)

Mags is an old family nickname (at least back to grandfather..) Paul Mags is the logical nickname (back East, many of us seem to have nicknames..at least where/when I grew up!) and I’ve had some variation of a pmags@zzz.com email address for almost twenty years now….

In any case, enjoy the sled. For flat or every moderate terrain (again, esp with a wider trail or FS road or similar) works well.

Success!  I’ll never backpack in the winter without this thing again.  I was able to haul in wood and even hot water.  I packed my bulky down parka, snow pants, and sleeping bag in my backpack, and the rest in the sled.  The bungee cargo net in the third picture was something like $3 at harbor freight.  Here are some pics:

Also, I encountered some unusual conditions on this trip that landed me in a pool of ice water unexpectedly… if anyone is interested please have a look at my post in the “Winter Hiking” forum.   I’d love to hear your opinions/input.

I just came across this thread and wished I had commented sooner.

Years ago, I made a pulk with that very same blue sled (see MAKING A PULK AND NEED TO FIND RIGHT SLED and found that it was very unstable on all but groomed trails.  Because of the dished bottom, when on a hill side in fluffy snow or uneven new trail, it would tend to roll over, even with crossed poles.  I tried a number of things to fix it but to no avail.

I decided to purchase an orange Paris expedition sled and the fiberglass poles as described in the “Ultimate Pulk” or what ever he called it.  It works far better.

YMMV

Tad