Happy Trails 4wd
Thursday, November 5, 2020
black bear pass roll over
black bear pass reopening
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Uphill Traffic Has the Right of Way
United Four Wheel Drive Associations
· 1701 Westwind Drive #108
· Bakersfield, CA 93301
Website…https://www.facebook.com/united4wd/
FaceBook… https://www.facebook.com/united4wd/
Uphill Traffic Has the Right of Way
By Jerry Smith
Director of Environmental Affairs – United Four Wheel Drive Associations
Some thoughts about “Uphill has the right of way”
The Law
Colorado revised statute. “42-4-711(2) “On narrow mountain highways with turnouts having a grade of six percent or more, ascending vehicles shall have the right-of-way over descending vehicles, except where it is more practicable for the ascending vehicle to return to a turnout."
That this is a law is crazy, but you need to understand lawyers (if that is possible) feel the need to exhibit power over people.”
Why is there a law?
Answer; It is a safety issue.
On any uphill incline on a gravel surface, backing downhill should be your last resort. As you travel backward downhill, the weight of your vehicle shifts toward the rear. Your rear brakes are the secondary brakes on your vehicle—they are designed that way. That is only a small part of this situation though.
The weight transferring to the rear is the major issue. Taking weight off of the front axle reduces the stopping power of your primary brake axle. As you apply more brakes, the front tires will lock and skid on the gravel surface leaving very little stopping ability. For this reason, when backing downhill, you need to keep your speed and momentum very slow and under control.
As you brake under these conditions, there is a tendency for the vehicle to want to turn one way or the other depending on which rear tire has the better traction for the moment. Turning while skidding on a narrow shelf road is NOT recommended. That is why you stay VERY slow while backing.
The Rule/Law
Now, back to the RULE/Law.
When you meet on a hill climb, the first good option is for the downhill traffic to back up to a wide enough place for the uphill traffic to pass SAFELY.
This applies if all things are equal.
When multiple vehicles are traveling together, and they meet fewer vehicles coming from the opposite direction, common sense and courtesy MUST be used.
Avoidance of the Problem
On narrow roads, and ESPECIALLY on steep hills on narrow roads, to lessen this problem in the first place, large groups of vehicles should be spread out so there will be a minimum of 5 or more vehicle lengths between every vehicle.
This way, if the group is stopped (met by opposing traffic), there is a possibility somewhere along the way might be a wide spot that one or more might be able to pull out of the way for others to pass.
There may be times when BOTH directions must give way to the other by having some from each group back to a safe place. This is not a power struggle.
Mental Notes
Wise drivers will make mental notes of where there are wide places as they drive by them for if they need them later. When you are stopped because of on-coming traffic, knowing how far you may need to backup helps when deciding which direction of traffic will be backing up.
The first option is that downhill traffic will back-up. If it makes better sense for the uphill traffic to back down, a good option is for a spotter to be used to guide the backing vehicle(s). Keep the speed very slow and the vehicle(s) very much under control.
Accidents
One other thing needs to be addressed. Under these conditions, it is often necessary to pass the stationary vehicle in extremely close quarters. This is no time to be a bronc buster and blow wildly by. Extreme care must be taken to not trade paint or worse. IF that should happen, the drivers must trade pertinent identification information and insurance contacts. Then, when possible, there should be a report made to the County Sheriff or State Patrol. This is a typical accident report that is required by law. That it happened off-highway is irrelevant.
Monday, August 24, 2020
Death in the Desert
From the Director of Environmental Affairs - United Four Wheel Drive Associations -- Jerry Smith
When we of the organized 4-wheeling community try to educate people who are venturing out into the vast public lands, we do it from the standpoint of trying our best to keep you safe and healthy. It is not an ego trip on our part.
Unfortunately, I can't count Nena Barlow as a friend other than by reputation and from people who know her. I have great respect for the trained professionals of the International 4-Wheel Drive Trainers Association (I4WDTA). Their knowledge, training, and experience is second to none. I've been around Bill Burke (Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America – since 1986, @4WheelingAmerica, BB4wa.com) enough to know that he's probably forgotten more than I'll ever know.
I've not taken a training course myself, but in the 50+ years of 4-wheeling I've lived, and all the technical recoveries I've either lead or was a part of, I've learned a pile of wisdom and know-how. As a student of Nature and of the trails, there are things I've learned that tell me tons of experience is a good teacher.
This story does not have a happy ending unless you take the outcome and learn from it.
Death in the Desert
Expedition Portal Staff / August 16th, 2020
By Nena Barlow
One of the best things you can learn how to do is to learn to assess things subjectively and pay attention to the changing conditions around you. These skills are important anywhere, but especially when your party is the only one within an hour or more. The more remote I am, the less likely I am to take chances with bad weather, bad roads, or just some hair-brained idea to try. This storm on the horizon changed my mind about proceeding farther that day into a remote area with otherwise easy roads.
Last week, one of our guests died. He was found just a half a mile from his Jeep, dead of dehydration and heat-related illness. It was preventable. It was unnecessary. It was the result of bad decisions. I am sharing the details of his story with you, in the hopes that it will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Mr. Jones (not his real name) had never rented from us before, but stated that he had visited and explored the Moab area several times. He reserved the Jeep for a week, and when questioned about his plans, he said he planned to visit Canyonlands National Park, a common destination for our guests, and that he had the necessary permits.
Upon his arrival to our Jeep rental store, the staff questioned him in more detail about his plans. Our goal is to help our guests choose areas that are likely to fit their interests and level of experience so that we can help them to: 1) avoid things that are likely to cost them Jeep damage fees, and 2) stay safe.
Sometimes people lie. Some overestimate their capability. Some UNDER-estimate the severity of current conditions. Mr. Jones did all of these things, and, unfortunately, did not live to learn from his mistakes.
He said he had permits to camp in the Maze District and the White Rim, both in Canyonlands National Park. Both are very remote, with no services, and no cell signal for most of the way. The Maze is infamous for being one of the most remote areas in the country. We told him that it was not a place that we allowed our guests to go alone. He said he was going with a group. He said he had an emergency contact back home whom he planned to contact mid-week, when he would be coming out of the Maze and before he headed out to the White Rim. We did notice that he seemed to have adequate food, water, and other supplies as he loaded up the rental Jeep. That was the last we saw of him, and his last day alive.
When Mr. Jones did not return the Jeep on time, we contacted the park service to verify his permit dates, and inform them of our concern. Since his last night camping permit put him six to eight hours away from town, the discussion was that he likely miscounted his return date and would be in by the following morning. When he did not return the following morning, we again contacted Canyonlands National Park and Grand County Search and Rescue. The location of the Jeep was identified shortly thereafter at the campground where he had a permit for the first night of his trip. This area is an eight-hour drive from Moab, so a helicopter or a jet boat and a hike up from the river is the fastest way to get there. Search and Rescue arrived about 90 minutes later.
But, it didn’t matter how fast they got there.
Mr. Jones was found one-half mile from the Jeep, under a tree, deceased, from apparent dehydration and heat-related illness. He was alone. He had an empty 32-ounce water bottle with him on his apparent hike in 100-degree temperatures. And he had passed away long before it occurred to anyone to even start looking for him.
We learned during all of this that he was, in fact, alone, and not with a group, as he had told us. His emergency contact back home on the east coast was a casual co-worker who had been too distracted with an incoming hurricane to notice that Mr. Jones hadn’t checked in. And we had no reason to start looking for him until his Jeep was late.
The famous Rubicon Trail lies within the Sierra Nevada Mountains between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. Although it doesn’t sound very remote, at an average travel speed of 1 mph over 12 miles to traverse the trail, plus an hour of easy driving on each end to reach anywhere, there is no such thing as a quick change of plans.
Mr. Jones made a series of bad decisions that led to his demise, even though we asked all the questions to try to help him avoid that. His decisions cost him his life, and impacted the lives of all involved in the search for and recovery of him.
These are circumstances that our Search and Rescue teams encounter day after day. Often, SAR team members activate in response to an emergency call and swoop in, preventing tragedy, but at the expense of fatigue and dehydration to themselves. They sign up for this, but still, so many people could avoid these types of emergencies with just a few simple precautions.
What can you do to avoid the result Mr. Jones had?
1. Heed the warnings about hiking in extreme heat or cold. Choose more temperate seasons or times of day. Check the hourly weather forecast.
2. Carry plenty of food and water. A simple rule is 12 ounces of water per mile hiking, plus electrolytes and sugary and salty snacks.
3. Listen to the seasoned rangers and local outfitters who are counseling you on what you should and shouldn’t do.
4. The more remote the location, the more backup you need—multiple vehicles and people are far more likely to be able to handle the myriad of possible issues that arise when you are hours from any outside help. Don’t go alone.
5. Know your own limitations. If you can walk 12 miles (20 kilometers) on good ground before getting tired, cut that in half over rough ground. If you are visiting an elevation more than 1,000 meters higher than you are used to, cut that number in half again. If you are hiking in temperatures below 45ºF (7ºC) or above 85ºF (30ºC), cut that number in half AGAIN. Have you had any recent medical conditions or medication changes? Might need to cut that IN HALF AGAIN. See where I am going with this?
6. Even satellite signal doesn’t guarantee you will reach anyone or that anyone can get to you in time in an emergency. Remote means you need to be prepared to rescue yourself, and take even fewer risky chances.
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There is one more thing Mr. Jones did wrong. If you ever become stranded as in this story,
DO NOT LEAVE THE VEHICLE!! Rescue teams
can find a vehicle far easier than a human body. Whether you have water, food, and other survival gear with you is now up to YOU!!
Stranded on Imogene Pass for 3-Days
The following story provides proof that what we have written about high country weather being very dangerous. You really never know when a deluge of cold rain will come down and fill all dry washes and streams.
Snow storms in late spring or early in the fall can shut down many of the roads and trails we drive in the summer. If you happen to be in the wrong place, you may become part of the white landscape as happened in the story below.
When we tell you to "Go Prepared", it comes from many years of high mountain experience. PLEASE take this advice extremely seriously. Your life may depend on it!!
From the PostIndependent
Serving Glenwood Springs and Garfield County, CO
Floridians stranded for three days on Imogene Pass
September 14, 2003
Heather McGregor
GSPI Managing Editor
In late August, part-time Glenwood Springs residents Don and Nan Seaton took a fun trip in their Land Rover over Ophir and Imogene passes in the San Juan Mountains.
So when their son and Danish daughter-in-law, Daryl and Jane Seaton, came for a visit from Florida last week, Don and Nan encouraged them to take the same excursion.
Caught by a massive cold front and snowstorm that pummeled all of western Colorado, Daryl and Jane spent three days and two nights trapped just below the 13,120-foot summit of Imogene Pass between Telluride and Ouray.
A rescue helicopter pulled them from the mountain midday Thursday and flew them down to Telluride, where Don and Nan were waiting.
“It’s kind of amazing what you can accomplish when you have to,” Daryl Seaton said Saturday, speaking by cell phone while waiting at Denver International Airport to catch a flight back to Florida. “You just look back and go, `Wow.'”
For his mom, the waiting without knowing was the hardest part.
“You want to help, but you can’t,” said Nan Seaton, who had high praise for the search and rescue crews and sheriff’s offices in Telluride and Ouray.
Don and Nan are former owners of the Caravan Inn in Glenwood Springs. They now own the four Sea Wake Resorts on the Gulf coast of Florida and divide their time between Glenwood Springs and Florida. Daryl and Jane, married 23 years, live at Oldsmar, Fla., and manage one of the resorts.
Nan said Daryl and Jane (pronounced ya-NAY) drove to Ouray and then over Ophir Pass to Telluride on Monday, Sept. 8. They called from Telluride Tuesday morning, and said they’d call again when they got down to Ouray that afternoon.
“Then we never heard from them,” Nan said. “So about 7 p.m., we called the sheriff’s offices in Ouray and Telluride.”
A search and rescue crew set out from Ouray that evening, but couldn’t even get halfway up the pass because of blowing and drifting snow. Searchers tried again on Wednesday, coming from both side of the pass. They got very close but couldn’t find the car in the raging blizzard.
Meanwhile, Daryl, 43, and Jane, 42, huddled in the Land Rover, a soft-topped 1994 Defender 90 model. Luckily, Nan had stocked the car with blankets, boots, down jackets and hot packs, and Daryl and Jane were wearing wool clothing.
While they were driving up the pass on Tuesday, it started to sprinkle snow. They drove over the summit and got about four minutes down the east side before getting blasted by the storm.
“It was a total white-out, winds blowing 50 to 60 mph,” Daryl said. “I got out and tried to guide the car down the road, when it slid down the hill. That was it. We were done. We were going to wait for them to come get us.”
The couple stuffed underwear and paper towels into the cracks of the soft top and settled in for the night, thinking they would be rescued the next day.
“I can’t explain how bad it was,” Daryl said. “It sounded like a freight train. It would go dead calm for about 30 seconds, then you could hear it coming like a train and it would hit us.”
High winds rocked the car, and they worried that it would be blown off the road. In fact, blowing snow packed in around the Land Rover, but it shook with every gust, he said.
Don and Nan headed over to Ouray Wednesday morning, and hung out at the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office while search and rescue crews made their second attempt at finding the stranded couple.
“I cannot tell you how good they were,” Nan said. “They kept us informed. They said, `Good or bad, we’re going to tell you everything.'”
On the mountain, Daryl and Jane realized their rescue would take longer.
“It never cleared up. It was a grueling day, mentally. The gusts of wind never stopped, and we knew they weren’t coming,” he said.
From the sheriff’s office, Don and Nan could hear about the rough weather conditions searchers were dealing with: high winds, deep snow and visibility of no more than 10 feet. The searchers gave up, and planned to try again Thursday.
On Thursday morning, with the temperature in the Land Rover hovering at 18 degrees, Daryl saw an opening in the storm. But his cell phone battery was dead.
He first tried to charge it up from the car battery, using turn signal wires from the dashboard. Then he took a close look at the battery, and saw that it was a 3.7-volt type. The car’s 12-volt battery wouldn’t work.
“Then I saw my camera. I had just bought a new battery, and it was a 3-volt.”
Using Band-Aids from his parents’ survival kit, he taped the signal wires onto the two batteries, and the cell phone immediately began to charge up.
“We were pretty excited,” Daryl said.
He waited a half hour for it to charge, put on boots and hiked back up to the summit in hopes of getting a signal.
From the car, Jane heard Daryl say, “Dad! Dad!”
At the Ouray sheriff’s office, Nan heard her husband’s cell phone ring. It was Daryl.
Two days of tension and worry dissolved into whoops and tears.
From Telluride, the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office sent a rescue helicopter up to Imogene Pass, while Don and Nan drove around from Ouray.
Because Seaton had a fishing license, there will be no bill for his rescue, said Jennifer Smith, spokeswoman for the San Miguel County sheriff’s office.
Daryl and Jane were taken to the Telluride Medical Center, where Daryl was treated for frostbite and his Jane was treated for exhaustion.
Then the family drove back to Glenwood Springs, where Daryl and Jane recuperated Friday before leaving for Denver Saturday morning. On their way to the airport, they drove through another snowstorm.
The Land Rover is still parked in the snow on Imogene Pass, but the staff at the Glenwood Springs Land Rover Centre is itching for a chance to go retrieve it.
Daryl said San Miguel sheriff’s deputies told him that if the vehicle stays on the pass until next summer, marmots will eat all the soft materials – the soft top, the seats, steering wheel and wires in the engine.
Mvcvccc9iDon is coordinating a plan with the Ouray County Sheriff, Nan said. They think there’s a good chance the weather will lift, and the snow will melt enough to drive the vehicle off the mountain, she said.
“We’ve got to have a break in the weather. But if it’s accessible, we’ll go get it,” said Randy Tuggle, manager of the dealership.
“That vehicle can be driven down on its own. It’s a matter of getting the right equipment up there to make a path, things like snow ladders and tire chains,” he said.
“It’s up to Don and the sheriff’s department,” Tuggle said. “We don’t want to jeopardize anyone’s safety, but the majority of my staff are trained in extreme off-roading and recovery. That’s something the manufacturer does for us. As for volunteers, we are more than willing to attack the task.”
Contact Heather McGregor: 945-8515, ext. 517