· SAFETY ·
The following suggestions are intended to make your ATV ride safe
and enjoyable so you will want to return to the Paiute ATV Trail. Your
focus on safety should start before you leave home and continue until
all the equipment is put away.
Before you
start out, let a responsible person know where you are going, what route
you intend to take, and when you intend to return. Make a contingency
plan in case you don't return on time. Also find out what weather to
expect, and be prepared with the proper clothing and equipment. If you
are coming from outside the area, check on trail and weather conditions
by contacting the Forest Service or BLM offices listed below.
While riding always wear a helmet,
gloves, boots, shatter resistant eye protection, long pants, and a
long-sleeved shirt or jacket. Eye protection is necessary because
branches can stick out over the trail to poke even the most wary rider
Also, flying dust, rocks, and insects can get into unprotected eyes. The
other safety clothing is for sudden spills that can be caused by ruts,
rocks, or roots that can throw an ATV off-course and into a spill.
Traveling with headlights on allows
other riders to see you more easily and avoid collisions. Headlights
make it easier for party members to keep an eye on each other.
Don't push yourself beyond your
limits either in the speed or distance you plan to travel. Exceeding
either limit leads to fatigue and loss of control which can cause
accidents. The Paiute ATV Trail is meant for leisurely travel, at least
three days are needed to travel the main loop.
You should plan to carry plenty of
water or other non alcoholic liquid with you. Unless you are used to the
aridity of Utah you can lose more body fluids than you realize, leading
to dehydration and exhaustion. Do not drink water straight from streams.
Giardia, a water-born disease-causing organism, is in the streams and
can ruin a good vacation. If possible drink only from approved and
marked water sources. Otherwise, boil the water or use a filter pump to
remove disease-causing organisms. "Water purification" tablets
are not enough.
Do not drink alcohol and ride. As with autos,
riding an ATV while under the influence can lead to serious accidents.
Lastly, plot your progress on a map.
This will help you keep track of where you are so you don't get lost.
After the trip, the marked-up map will remind you of how long it took to
get between points and will remind you of what you saw. It will make a
great tool for filling out journals or describing your trip to your
friends.
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