High Mountain Driving – part 2

High Mountain Driving – part 2

By Jerry Smith

Director of Environmental Affairs for the United Four Wheel Drive Associations

Let’s continue with some thoughts about the differences between mountain driving and the other types.

One of the first things on your list is to leave word of where you are going and when to be expected back with a reliable person.  Furnish them with phone number(s) for you.  If it is convenient, show them on a map.  If you don’t show up or call when the time is up, ask them to call the authorities in the area to start looking for you.

Unless you live in or near the mountains, your journey will be a long one.  Unless you want to spend your precious vacation time shopping, spend some time with the packing.

Laying out your gear close to your vehicle is one of the best ways to be sure you have it all.  Put the camping gear in one pile and take inventory.  Imagine being out in the woods and setting up camp.  Is EVERYTHING you’re going to need there??

Use the same technique with clothing.  If there are two or more of you, get the other person(s) involved with their own clothes.  If THEY forget something, it’s not your fault. 

Have the cook go over the foodstuff.  Ask them to plan for a few extra meals for safety.  Make sure they inventory the cookware and the eating utensils. 

Doing all this also gives you an idea of the room requirements for all your gear.  Before starting to pack, think about what you will want out first when setting up camp.  Start packing the least necessary pieces and pack the first thing you’ll want last. 

Next, do a pre-trip check of your vehicle.  Fluids, lights, loose things, tire pressure, top to bottom, and front to rear.  Check it all or have it done by a trusted mechanic.  Fixing everything a week ahead will turn the tension down and give time to order parts if they are needed.

Check the short and long-range weather report for the area you are headed to.  This might trigger a thought about some different clothes.  Don’t trust the weather forecast.  Mountains can be fickle and dump on you just because they can.

Carry maps of the area.  Don’t rely on GPS only.  A good compass is another must.  Mountain roads tend not to be straight.  They go in and out and around and will leave you confused as to what direction you’re going.  Keeping a map handy and knowing roughly where you are on it helps you make decisions as the day goes by.

At intersections, slow to look at each one to KNOW which way is back to camp.  A wrong choice later on an empty fuel tank can be fatal.  If the roads are marked, keeping a log of the numbers or names you follow is a good idea.  I like to put a simple symbol with the direction I turned there too.

Keep a mental note of good-looking camping areas as you drive.  If you have need of one, you’ll know where to find it later.  Look for things like water, firewood, and shelter makings (remember, your tent is set up in camp already).

Of course, you ALWAYS have an ax, bucket, and shovel on your rig, don’t you??  A bow saw is another good tool to carry.  Sometimes a small tree will block your way and cutting it is much easier with a saw than an ax.

While driving around, if you see something that you want a better look at, STOP, then look.  Don’t take your attention from your driving while moving.  We’ve recovered several who didn’t from precarious places off the side of the road.

Water Crossings

Crossing water, especially fast-moving waters, can be very dangerous. My Aussie friends taught me to get out and walk into the stream BEFORE committing the vehicle. I have to admit, I don't do that, but in probably over 400 crossings around the country, I've never lost a vehicle or stalled one.

I have found that you need to look at streaming waters like a surfer. Good surfers learn to "read" the waves and pick the best ones. There are tiny giveaways as to the depth and the bottom composition if you study the waters long enough.

Big rocks in the way tend to have a bulge in the waters just downstream from where they are.  Rocks large enough to cause a small eddy downstream should probably be avoided. It's all about becoming a student of the trails and of Nature. Never stop learning what Nature is telling you in whispers.

Water Crossing Rules

BEFORE entering large bodies of water, especially swift-moving water, there are some things you want to do.

First, unbuckle all seat belts.  You don’t want to struggle with a seat belt if things go wrong.

Second, roll down all windows.  Make egress or rescue easier.

Third, remove clothing that will hinder your ability to swim.

We’ll pick this up again in part 3.