With the advent of another desert peak-bagging season, many of us may have forgotten the serious predicaments we can get ourselves into, if we are not properly prepared. So, each of us should give careful thought to all exigencies of desert experiences, and prepare ourselves thoroughly for our first desert trip, and each one after that.
Depending on the remoteness of the roadhead, the grimness of the area, the extensiveness of the trip and the physical demands likely to be encountered, apply the following safety factors as applicable:
- File trip plan (in writing) with closest relative or concerned friend, specifying in detail where you intend to go, and when you will return.
- Make the trip using auto suitable for the road conditions to be encountered. Long-wheel base, low slung American autos just are not suitable for most of the desert back roads. Much better are small foreign cars, especially VW, pick-up trucks and 4-wheel drive cars.
- Travel to roadhead with two or more cars.
- Make sure car is fully equipped with set of heavy duty tools, heavy duty jack, tow cable or chain, battery jumper cables, two cans motor oil.
- Make up and carry desert kit, including shovel (saw off one-half of long-handled shovel), strips of canvas or carpet, one-foot wide and six feet wide, to extricate car from sand traps.
- Carry two gallons more water than you expect to use.
- At the last town or gas station, top off the gas tank, since the back roads are often much longer than planned, and travel thru loose sank and up steep grades causes much gas guzzling.
- At roadhead try to park car on prominent knoll, turned around facing down-hill.
- Have at least one extra key to be hidden on the car. This should be in an unusual place not easily found. Show your passenger where it is hid.
- Keep whatever is left in the car out of sight. For station wagons use a large cloth spread over the contents.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL
Simone de Miguel
NEW EMBLEMS
Mark Hurst
Joseph Kazlowski
Frank Meyers
21. John Backus June 1976
22. Jack Grams 9/18/76
23. George Hubbard 9/25/76
24. Doug Mantle 9/26176 (tie for 24th)
24. Mike Manchester 9/26/76(tie for 24th)
