Rodeln: Rollenrodel Old Teton Pass Road

Steep grades (some as high as 20% & 30%) and nine wonderfully tight switchbacks drop you 2,018 vertical feet (615 meters) in four miles (6.4 km). If no one is in the way, the distance could be stretched to 4-3/4 miles. What a ride!
The technical challenges are mainly steepness, a variable road surface, hikers, bikers and dogs. Acceleration is quick and deep ripples on the hairpins are not to be taken lightly. You can't fall asleep on this one.
The road is not for the inexperienced, unskilled or faint of heart. If you know what you are doing, I highly recommend it.
The Old Pass Road is on the east side of Teton Pass (Wyoming) and is accessed from the pass summit parking lot and a parking lot at the base off highway 22. If you have to hike it (rather than yo-yo by car) expect 1-1/2 to 2 hours, especially if towing a Torggler S115 plus gear. First run, Nov. 11, 2016.
The Old Teton Pass Rd., built in 1913 and widened in 1928 was replaced by the present highway 22 in the early 1970s. Fortunately, the Old Road still exists, but is not open to vehicular traffic. Wahoo!
Update: Immediately after posting this video I solved and fixed the problem of the deafening (depending on road roughness) high-pitched fender rattle mentioned. Now the only sounds are the wind and the whirr of the wheels...much better.

[@brucereichert6082]

Wow, what a ride! Thanks for sharing, Rob!

[@Turboganz]

You're welcome. I plan on many more.

[@stephenfernald2490]

Great video! I an tell you gotta stay alert.

[@Turboganz]

Yes, you do! The first time down was full of unknowns regarding road surface conditions and watching for people who didn't know how to react. After that, the biggest problem was dogs, completely unpredictable. It's worth it, however, and keeps me tuned.

[@angelacret]

Amazing ride ! No, I would not bring my rollerblades here for a downhill, but for an uphill ride it would be totally worth it ! The scenery is amazing, by the way !

[@Turboganz]

As you can see the Rollenrodel is quite controllable and maneuverable. There is a learning curve, but a really fine gravity sport. I've been trying to spread the word about it and the regular snow Rodel for years. There is much terrain to be explored here in the U.S. If any questions, just ask. Happy blading BTW.

[@Turboganz]

The Rollenrodel (trans: roller sled) uses 84 mm hockey profile, inline skate wheels, 20 of them. Thought that might be of interest.

[@angelacret]

Turboganz I am familiar with inline skating wheels all the way from 84 mm to 110. The larger the wheel, the more comfortable is the ride (less bumpy). Faster, too ! :)

[@Turboganz]

Yes, same principles as for longboarding. There is a practical limit on wheel diameter for the Rollenrodel. The rail holding the wheels could become too long, the center of mass would be raised and handling could be compromised. The idea behind the Rollenrodel is to mimic on-snow performance using the same sled frame as for winter. I mentioned the wheel type because you would have a familiarity with profile, durometer, bearings and other performance-influencing characteristics relevant to wheels. With 20 wheels taking the load, wheel wear is considerably reduced. Right now I'm running 78a. Thinking of trying 84a. Too bad I'm not one of those rich guys that can hop on plane and fly down to give a demo. It would be fun.

[@angelacret]

Turboganz Yes, I would love to take rodel and roller rodel lessons ! I watched all the videos you posted, so I have a "theoretical" idea. I am still trying to figure out the logistics. 1. There is not much snow in Atlanta. Even if there is snow, it melts in 2-3 days.Right now, it is like a tropical country. 2. The roads are really crowded, even during the off-hours. Same goes for park trails. 3. The equipment. I was able to find some flexible flyers, the vintage type, on Amazon. There was only some remote resemblance to the equipment you use. Can you give me details on how to get the proper equipment ? Thank you.

[@Charlesslides]

Terrible pavement, obstacles, and sensationally boring descent, at least compared to the adult runs on the new grade but it’s cool there’s something you can still do.

[@Turboganz]

Despite the pseudonym, it's obvious who you are. Why you insist on attempting to bully and belittle others, with a taste of age-ism, to make yourself feel taller is a puzzle. But, it's a path you have chosen and you must live with it, Grasshopper. We certainly differ in our definition of adult. My adult view is to overcome obstacles with skill, knowledge, strategy, experience and (of course) proper equipment. Challenge brings growth. To always seek the smooth, wide pavement and the smoothly groomed, wide ski slopes is taking the easy, lazy, Homer Simpson approach. I see no spirit of play with that approach. Since we are on Teton Pass, let's compare. The new Pass has 18-20 ft wide lanes. The Old Pass Rd (OPR) had 8 ft wide patched areas at the time of this descent. Gradient of the New Rd. is 10% maximum according to WYDOT. The OPR slopes have 10, 17 and 20 percent grades with a very short 30%. The New Rd has long sweeping turns, The OPR has a collection of delightfully tight hairpins. Not exactly 18-wheeler country. The Rodeler must be skilled at making tight turns without dragging a foot on the pavement. Just look at the two roads on Google Earth. The difference and hence, challenge, is obvious. Heading straight down the fall line at maximum speed can be exhilarating but, "Is that all yuh got?" THAT is boring. It reduces your Rodeling experiences to that of a one-trick-pony and supports the ridiculous American Slide and Scream sledding habit. Your choice. You'll also notice that most of my routes are hiked to gain altitude. No lift rides. No big shiny pickup. This channel began in 2012 to educate the USA about the fun to be had on the Rodel and how versatile it is. It's a direct counter to the American Slide and Scream nonsense. It does not require great expense if ordered directly from the Rodelbau. There are roads to be explored and trails to be conquered. Rodeling is for everyone No Red Bull moments here.