bamaranger
New member
I had an episode the other day that turned out OK, but had things gone just a little bit worse, I could have been in really big trouble. Not quite sure how it happened, (other than darn quick) but I turned my 4-wheeler/ATV over. Dropped a front wheel off a slight embankment, and the rest of the rig followed, with me aboard. Providence, slight rise in the ground opposite, and a lucky sapling in just the right place, kept the rig from going all the way over and pinning me. As it was, with the rig leaned over at about 100 degrees, I could wrestle my slightly pinned left leg and crawl free. Virtually unhurt, except for what is probably some lightly bruised ribs. I had a chainsaw along, and was able to cut some poles and props, and about an hour later, levering and propping in increments, flopped the rig upright, it cranked, and was able to run it clear, the ATV is unscathed too. One lucky 'feller. But.....
I HAD COMMITTED A CARDINAL SIN BY NOT INFORMING ANYBODY WHERE i WAS GOING NOR HOW LONG I MIGHT BE GONE. Had I been worse hurt, unconscious, lacked a cell signal, etc, it may have been a LONG time before anybody found me. Bamawife was home, but other than telling her I was going to cut an access trail while the weather was nice, I'd left towing the ATV and did not describe my intentions further, nor did I spec out how long I'd be gone. She's used to me being really late. It could easily have been nightfall before she got concerned. Once they found my Bronco, I could have been tracked to the area (it was muddy) and located. But I have seen ATL's/searches, locally, and finding the Bronco alone, especially at night, would have been accomplishment for our small staffed rural SO. Most search functions end up in the VFD hands and are not well conducted, despite good intentions.
It could have been a LOT worse. That ATV weighs well in excess of 500 lbs.
I wasn't hot-dogging, nor was the terrain especially difficult. But I got overturned, badly, in a remote area. I escaped serious injury, and got reminded of an important safety practice. Tell somebody where your going in some detail, and how long you could be.
I HAD COMMITTED A CARDINAL SIN BY NOT INFORMING ANYBODY WHERE i WAS GOING NOR HOW LONG I MIGHT BE GONE. Had I been worse hurt, unconscious, lacked a cell signal, etc, it may have been a LONG time before anybody found me. Bamawife was home, but other than telling her I was going to cut an access trail while the weather was nice, I'd left towing the ATV and did not describe my intentions further, nor did I spec out how long I'd be gone. She's used to me being really late. It could easily have been nightfall before she got concerned. Once they found my Bronco, I could have been tracked to the area (it was muddy) and located. But I have seen ATL's/searches, locally, and finding the Bronco alone, especially at night, would have been accomplishment for our small staffed rural SO. Most search functions end up in the VFD hands and are not well conducted, despite good intentions.
It could have been a LOT worse. That ATV weighs well in excess of 500 lbs.
I wasn't hot-dogging, nor was the terrain especially difficult. But I got overturned, badly, in a remote area. I escaped serious injury, and got reminded of an important safety practice. Tell somebody where your going in some detail, and how long you could be.