The full story is in the Yamaha forum. A woman and her daughter got lost out in the dunes in 110 degrees. It's really something I never considered before. This story kind of shocked me, I worry alot about accidents but heat? WOW.

 

Yes and they wern't even equipped with water!!! I hate reading these things because it makes the sport look bad to other people...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

Isn't that why people always say that it is incredibly dumb to go to glamis in the summer? I've really never heard of anyone doing it, I'd always assumed that someone would but you would have to imagine that they would at least go prepared. That is completely incredible. I guess I'll go take a look see at the original post. <Shiver> it's like, during the cold war and going to a communist country, it just feels wrong - the Yamaha forum.

 

I use GPS to make sure i don't get lost works great...It's easy to get lost driving in new areas where there are alot of trails ..and you have to watch your gas ..We strat with a full tank of gas then when it hits half you either go back or find a gas station which isn't to likely in the middle of the woods

 

Not that it matters but were they on quads or in a buggy or tried walking to the store? God bless them.

 

i had a heat stroke at dumont and i know first hand how potent the sun and heat is, no matter how much water you drink it is still dangerous, that is terrible that this happened to this woman i feel bad for her family and kids.GOD bless her...anyone riding in the heat should always take plenty of water and do NOT under estimate the heat! once you have one heat stroke you will never be the same, trust me, i stood in front of a tire store waitng for new tires for 2 hours a few weeks ago and was getting real dizzy, its not a good feeling...this subject is to be taken very seriously!

 

That story makes me start thinking about a good GMRS or GPS.

 

Something the story neglects to mention is if these people were riding or walking. After being to Glamis a few months ago I can't understand how they got lost from the general store but they did so it's possible.
Ironrod I bought Audiovox GMRS-GPS radios on EBAY for around $54 a piece. They worked pretty good and I found their range was right at 5 miles although if I went into any size of a bowl they lost radio signal.

 

Yep, GMRS two-way radios are line of sight across the horizon to your other radio. But GPS navigations systems look up to satellites. Suffice to say, it still takes knowledge of the equipment to transmit GMRS/FRS radios out of the bottom of a hole, or to get out of the trees to get the GPS navigation to work. This equipment can be a lifesaver, but it’s probably just cheaper to be with those that know the area and carry a good compass. I agree and I don't understand why these people got lost so close to the store. There is probably more to the story than is being told. I will say that the first day I went to Glamis; I too got a little lost. But I knew were the railroad tracks were in relation to the mountain range. I traveled for nearly 45 minutes and ended up 2 miles from my camp on Wash 7. That mistake was made with over 3 years of hunting and 4 years of quad riding. I decided to do the group ride for the next day until I became acclimated with the area. Angrybajaboy was doing the lead for most of our group rides. He was not only extremely familiar with the area; he had a GPS which was pre-programmed with nearly every point of interest. But, if he wasn’t there, it would have taken me a lot longer. I think a GPS receiver/navigator is probably one of the single best piece of equipment someone can buy. But it still does not replace studying the basic layout of an area and a good compass and riding with friends. I will say this; Glamis was fairly empty in relation to the areas I ride like Sand Lake and Florence. I would imagine that it was even emptier in the heat of the summer! Like any tragic situation, there may have been several things that contributed to this death.

I think the following things can help (as others have already expressed)

1) Water
2) Riding with friends
3) Compass and at least a basic drawing or understanding of the area.
4) Quad mechanically sound and familiar with it.
5) Plenty of fuel
6) GMRS/FRS Radios or GPS navagation and knowlege how they work.
7) Dressed properly for the environment

I suppose bad things can happen no matter what. But there are a few things we can do to help bad circumstances from getting worse.

 

I agree that the article doesn't have all the facts. I'd also like to add that when you ride as a group you should never leave people behind. I know alot of guys that turn a group ride into a race and the slowest people get left behind. I also know one clown that we looked for for about 2 hours and found him back at camp. He got bored riding and just took off without telling anyone. I always tell people if they get lost to stay put or go back to the last place they can remember stopping as a group.