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Traveling to Remote Areas
It makes sense to plan your trip,
especially when going to a remote area.
Know the terrain and plan your route. You
are much less likely to get bad surprises.
Get accurate maps of trails and terrain.
Try to learn of any blocked or closed
roads.
It's also a good idea to travel with at least
one other vehicle. If something happens
to one of them, the other can help quickly.
Does your vehicle have a winch? If so, be
sure to read the winch instructions. In a
remote area, a winch can be handy if you
get stuck. But you'll want to know how to
use it properly.
Getting Familiar with Off-Road
Driving
It's a good idea to practice in an area
that's safe and close to home before you
go into the wilderness. Off-road driving
does require some new and different
driving skills. Here's what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of
signals. Your eyes, for example, need to
constantly sweep the terrain for
unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to
listen for unusual tire or engine sounds.
With your arms, hands, feet, and body
you'll need to respond to vibrations and
vehicle bounce.
Controlling your vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of the
best ways to control your vehicle is to
control your speed. Here are some things
to keep in mind. At higher speeds:
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you approach things faster and you
have less time to scan the terrain for
obstacles.
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you have less time to react.
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you have more vehicle bounce when
you drive over obstacles.
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you'll need more distance for braking,
especially since you're on an unpaved
surface.
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many
different kinds of terrain. You need to be
familiar with the terrain and its many
different features. Here are some things to
consider.
Surface Conditions. Off-roading can
take you over hard-packed dirt, gravel,
rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow or ice.
Each of these surfaces affects the steering,
acceleration, and braking of your vehicle
in different ways. Depending upon the
kind of surface you are on, you may
experience slipping, sliding, wheel
spinning, delayed acceleration, poor
traction, and longer braking distances.
Surface Obstacles. Unseen or hidden
obstacles can be hazardous. A rock, log,
hole, rut, or bump can startle you if
you're not prepared for them. Often these
obstacles are hidden by grass, bushes,
snow or even the rise and fall of the
terrain itself. Here are some things to
consider:
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Is the path ahead clear?
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Will the surface texture change
abruptly up ahead?
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