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We finished our "Vacation of the Year" project recently, with 8 quad riders attending the mine staking operation in central Nevada during July. Altogether, 96 square miles were staked in 8 days, in 20 acre increments, with full corners and documents. Each rider did approximately 96 stations per day, at 1/8th mile intervals, which is a 6 mile traverse. Commutes ranged from 4 to 18 miles one-way, so typically a rider put in 30+ miles per day. Commute speeds were 30+ across the flats, but 6 or 5 in the dunes and brushy areas.
Quads varied, with 2 newer Honda Ranchers, 2 newer Polaris Sportsmen (560 and 650 cc), two older Suzukis and two older Polaris 300 cc machines. No machine broke down, but we did have about 30 flat tires total. Each rider carried a 200 pound load of equipment.
Terrain varied from dry salt flats to muddy salt flats, as well as extensive grease wood terrain (super spiky thorns), and though elevation usually varied by only 18 inches, it was often straight up and down, 100 times per 1/8 mile. 4 wd was necessary, particularly after the 5 inch rain which collected on the salt pan.
Due to remoteness of terrain (100+ miles from services), only the newer vehicles were sent into the most difficult areas, with the longer commutes.
Lessons learned:
1) 100+ F temperature days are hot! No shade available anywhere. Riders typically drank about 8 quarts of Gatorade type stuff daily, plus lots of water. Everyone modified set-ups to include a decent sized ice chest. Securing one off the back of the back rack was a good way to go, since the racks were full. Several quads modified sun shade once arrived. One came modified (see photo), and this was the very best set-up of the group. This driver ("the Sheik"), drove in shade, had work space in shade, kept his ice box cooler, could drive at full speed, and had a mister available. Others added small shade to quads in various ways, and all wanted something. Rule learned: get some shade on the quad, even if small.
2) Tornadoes are dangerous. We had several real twisters, with funnels up to the clouds. While dodging dust-devils has been the norm in the past, actual avoidance of a tornado is somewhat more problematic. They can be seen from 30 miles away, but it takes an hour before you really figure out which way the are coming. And you can't run that fast if you should need to. One came through camp and removed a tent, scattering the cots, bags, suitcases across 2 miles of desert after lifting up several hundred feet. Tent was inside out when found. New rule learned: escape 1 hour before arrival.
3) The big engines were nice, but used a lot more gas. Big tires were nice too, but got just as many flats. As I said, we got about 30 total and most were fixed with plugs and foot pumps. Canned fix-a-flat with pressure was useful too. I did not get a single flat, and have the factory stock tires that come on a new Rancher. I crashed thousands of greasewoods just like everyone else, but did try to keep them under the center and not the tires, just like everyone else. Each quad generally used about 2 1/2 gallons gas per day, except the 650 Polaris, which had to carry 2 gallons to complete the work day. Rule learned: carry plug kit and minimum 1 can of flat fixer on each quad, with foot pump. Quads drive with flats pretty good though.
4) The small engines (300 cc, air cooled, foot shifter types) had more difficulty on the soft mud due to engine overheating. Full throttle was about 12 mph in some terrains, and long traverses (12 miles, one way) across the open muddy spaces were aborted due to engine heat.
5) Rain can freeze you. A 5" downpour with 50 mph winds rendered one rider (me) lost and cold, 24 miles from camp. Rain was horizontal and drenching. I made a building from my mining stakes behind my quad and huddled for an hour. The gps stopped (rain) and visibility was zero, with no sun. When I eventually made it back, I sat in a car for 40 minutes with the heat on high. I will never travel in the desert again without warm cloths and rain protection. This situation is more dangerous than the heat, which is generally expected.
6) Rain on salt flats makes instant rivers, lakes, and very complex obstacles. Day 1 of the rain, the mud was thin and slicky, and fun to drive on. The sliding was sort of like boating and predictable. Day 2 after the rain, some mud was thick-mucky and offered the opportunity to get stuck 20 miles from camp and not in a space for easy rescue or pull-out, and hence, dangerous. Avoiding was easy, but going around was not, as it might take several extra miles to do this and the paths were uncertain.
7) There were no rattlesnakes found, in fact, very few life forms existed. Even insects were absent. Absence of other life forms indicates harsh conditions.
8) Dropping your T-shirt in the ice cooler made for about 15 minutes of wetness. I used a towel the same way for my seat, as the black vinyl factory seat covering is unbearably hot, and exactly what you don't need in the heat. Keeping a wet crotch helped. Those with Cabella's cloth seat covers fared better.
9) There were mixed signals in our buddy-system, but in general everyone eventually came to understand better how to give EXACT instructions how to meet up, signal each other, how often to check in, and where to wait if there was a problem. This communication needs to be exact and should not be glossed over between parties traveling together. Our only real mix-ups came from our two college youth that traveled more independently, until 2x4'd on the forehead. They had split up, one leaving back to camp 24 miles, leaving his buddy alone. This required two search groups, one to wait and one to look. You might think this would never happen - but as you see, it can. Every rider should absolutely carry a signal mirror. A gun, for noise, should be considered.
10) Everyone had super fun and would repeat the trip. The pay schedule was fair, but the quads did take a beating, and $50 per day usage fee was a little light for the actual abuse.
I will try to upload some more interesting photos later when they get collected.
Quads varied, with 2 newer Honda Ranchers, 2 newer Polaris Sportsmen (560 and 650 cc), two older Suzukis and two older Polaris 300 cc machines. No machine broke down, but we did have about 30 flat tires total. Each rider carried a 200 pound load of equipment.
Terrain varied from dry salt flats to muddy salt flats, as well as extensive grease wood terrain (super spiky thorns), and though elevation usually varied by only 18 inches, it was often straight up and down, 100 times per 1/8 mile. 4 wd was necessary, particularly after the 5 inch rain which collected on the salt pan.
Due to remoteness of terrain (100+ miles from services), only the newer vehicles were sent into the most difficult areas, with the longer commutes.
Lessons learned:
1) 100+ F temperature days are hot! No shade available anywhere. Riders typically drank about 8 quarts of Gatorade type stuff daily, plus lots of water. Everyone modified set-ups to include a decent sized ice chest. Securing one off the back of the back rack was a good way to go, since the racks were full. Several quads modified sun shade once arrived. One came modified (see photo), and this was the very best set-up of the group. This driver ("the Sheik"), drove in shade, had work space in shade, kept his ice box cooler, could drive at full speed, and had a mister available. Others added small shade to quads in various ways, and all wanted something. Rule learned: get some shade on the quad, even if small.
2) Tornadoes are dangerous. We had several real twisters, with funnels up to the clouds. While dodging dust-devils has been the norm in the past, actual avoidance of a tornado is somewhat more problematic. They can be seen from 30 miles away, but it takes an hour before you really figure out which way the are coming. And you can't run that fast if you should need to. One came through camp and removed a tent, scattering the cots, bags, suitcases across 2 miles of desert after lifting up several hundred feet. Tent was inside out when found. New rule learned: escape 1 hour before arrival.
3) The big engines were nice, but used a lot more gas. Big tires were nice too, but got just as many flats. As I said, we got about 30 total and most were fixed with plugs and foot pumps. Canned fix-a-flat with pressure was useful too. I did not get a single flat, and have the factory stock tires that come on a new Rancher. I crashed thousands of greasewoods just like everyone else, but did try to keep them under the center and not the tires, just like everyone else. Each quad generally used about 2 1/2 gallons gas per day, except the 650 Polaris, which had to carry 2 gallons to complete the work day. Rule learned: carry plug kit and minimum 1 can of flat fixer on each quad, with foot pump. Quads drive with flats pretty good though.
4) The small engines (300 cc, air cooled, foot shifter types) had more difficulty on the soft mud due to engine overheating. Full throttle was about 12 mph in some terrains, and long traverses (12 miles, one way) across the open muddy spaces were aborted due to engine heat.
5) Rain can freeze you. A 5" downpour with 50 mph winds rendered one rider (me) lost and cold, 24 miles from camp. Rain was horizontal and drenching. I made a building from my mining stakes behind my quad and huddled for an hour. The gps stopped (rain) and visibility was zero, with no sun. When I eventually made it back, I sat in a car for 40 minutes with the heat on high. I will never travel in the desert again without warm cloths and rain protection. This situation is more dangerous than the heat, which is generally expected.
6) Rain on salt flats makes instant rivers, lakes, and very complex obstacles. Day 1 of the rain, the mud was thin and slicky, and fun to drive on. The sliding was sort of like boating and predictable. Day 2 after the rain, some mud was thick-mucky and offered the opportunity to get stuck 20 miles from camp and not in a space for easy rescue or pull-out, and hence, dangerous. Avoiding was easy, but going around was not, as it might take several extra miles to do this and the paths were uncertain.
7) There were no rattlesnakes found, in fact, very few life forms existed. Even insects were absent. Absence of other life forms indicates harsh conditions.
8) Dropping your T-shirt in the ice cooler made for about 15 minutes of wetness. I used a towel the same way for my seat, as the black vinyl factory seat covering is unbearably hot, and exactly what you don't need in the heat. Keeping a wet crotch helped. Those with Cabella's cloth seat covers fared better.
9) There were mixed signals in our buddy-system, but in general everyone eventually came to understand better how to give EXACT instructions how to meet up, signal each other, how often to check in, and where to wait if there was a problem. This communication needs to be exact and should not be glossed over between parties traveling together. Our only real mix-ups came from our two college youth that traveled more independently, until 2x4'd on the forehead. They had split up, one leaving back to camp 24 miles, leaving his buddy alone. This required two search groups, one to wait and one to look. You might think this would never happen - but as you see, it can. Every rider should absolutely carry a signal mirror. A gun, for noise, should be considered.
10) Everyone had super fun and would repeat the trip. The pay schedule was fair, but the quads did take a beating, and $50 per day usage fee was a little light for the actual abuse.
I will try to upload some more interesting photos later when they get collected.
