It can happen anytime, anywhere and on any ride. Your day will begin as usual-with a nice, relaxing ride on a new trail-but somewhere along the line things go wrong. Maybe your buddies start racing back to the truck, leaving you to guess your way back. Or it could be your old piston rings, which have been complaining for a while, finally give up the ghost. Whatever the case may be, a day on the trail can quickly take a turn for the worse, possibly leaving you in an emergency situation with nothing but your gear, quad and natural ingenuity to get you out. There is partial truth to the notion that a scenario such as this is far-fetched, because the majority of trail rides will be smooth, somewhat mistake-free affairs. But every so often, a series of events will unfold, forcing an unsuspecting rider to rely on himself to survive the situation. The question is: What would you do if you were that rider?
Being in a survival situation is something we have all thought about at some point but never really paid any attention to. The notion that we could be utterly alone with apparently no aid is a seemingly ridiculous one, especially considering the cacophony of cell phone rings and car horns filling our daily lives. But the harsh reality is you are only a flat tire, dry gas tank or twisted ankle away from being in a trailside survival situation. Add to the equation a mixture of oblivious buddies and poor planning, and you can quickly find yourself in a very sticky spot. But with the correct attitude, preparedness and priorities, you can deal with anything, employing the same confidence and poise you would have when changing a fouled spark plug.
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the best approach to survival techniques. There is no carved-in-stone, official set of priorities to follow when lost; everyone has a preferred way to do things. What we have attempted to do here is compile a list of the most generally accepted survival tips, all of which will be helpful should you find yourself in such a situation. Pay attention; otherwise, you could someday find yourself shivering under a dark tree somewhere wishing you had!
Prior Planning
Jump headfirst into a new set of trails with only a few tear offs to keep you company, and you are practically begging for an emergency to happen. Thus, prior planning is a must to make any ride safer. Knowing your ATV's fuel range, having a basic supply of tools and being aware of the area you are in will all serve to keep you sleeping in your own bed after a ride. But this is far from all. Before going on any trail ride, it is crucial to let some responsible person know where you will be riding. Give them a marked map that matches the one that you will be carrying and arrange a set time when you will be back. Then stick to this plan like its gospel. Doing this means when that engine blows up 30 miles into the woods, a search team will know where to find you. Seriously. Likewise, it is important to coordinate with your riding partners what the plan will be for the day. Obviously, setting the fastest trail time is not always the best thing for a group ride, so be mindful of every rider and try to plan ahead, using techniques such as stopping at each intersection and allowing for proper maintenance and rest breaks. And if you do get lost, agree to stay in one place near the trail. There is no need to be a hero and try to walk out, possibly making your circumstances much worse!