Emergency Extractions

[Angela]

We had a rider go down on Friday night - Bartram Lake Trail - ended up with a tib/fib compound fracture to the leg......due to not knowing exactly what the best excess point was to get the rider the emergency personnel wasted valuable time hiking in from the wrong direction which cost them valuable time (in addition, cell service up at that portion of the lake for some reason is very spotty complicating things further.) ......this would be particularly bad on a trails like Modoc, Turkey, even Wine but could even be a problem on a trail like Horn Creek...not sure what the best solution is but now that it has occured might be good to develop a plan of action for when it is needed on various trails - or at least publish the take out points (like forest service road numbers) so people become more familiar with where they are and how close to a particular take out point. Any suggestions?

[ted]

Have the maps that correspond to the specific trail placed at the trailhead (which I believe they are for most trails) and make sure they have the Forest service roads clearly marked. Hopefully by the time emergency services arrive, a member of the group will have been able to find out and recommend the quickest and easiest way in and out.

Also, posting all of the trail maps online and encouraging people to print themselves a copy to carry along during the ride would help in speeding up the process once they have identified their position.

Probably one of the most important things to do is to become familiar with the trails in our area. They aren't that complex and most of the trails have forest service roads located near each of them at a few given points.

We are mountain bike riders, and just like hikers and others who explore the wilderness, we have the responsibility of preparing ourselves for all situations.

One other thing, I'm surprised that after 40+ reviews, no one has posted a reply. Oh well, maybe that means that no one knows how to handle emergencies. Don't we have some trained SORBA Patrol members amongst us?

[seenvic]

tedmonica said:

One other thing, I'm surprised that after 40+ reviews, no one has posted a reply.

Todd,
All good points. The above one, though...you pulling our chain, right?
Ya see, most forums work by most people reading and replying. BUT NOT THIS ONE! On this forum, most people only read and never reply! So the whole concept of sharing info and ideas goes out the window.

[chileanrastabilly]

Don't forget, this is Augusta, Ga!
People like to bitch about not having something, and
when it is offered, they don't support it. Back to more
important things.How about signs @ trail/road crossings, etc.?How are the repairs on the DR Mowers coming along?I'm tired of riding the canal trail and Horn Creek.

Matt

[wooglin]

I replied to this post the day it was made. But I decided it wasn't a very productive reply so I deleted it. And I still haven't come up with anything productive.

["The Black Moth"]

Finally got internet at home so I'll be much more productive (or not?).

I think our trails are the most accessible out of the many trails I've ridden across the US. The responsibility is the rider(s) and crew to know certain take-outs and roads, etc.

I guess an easy-to-read printable map on the internet along with educating the masses would be best to let folks know the responsibilities of mountain biking. Responsibility being the key word here, a training session would be great but who is going to be responsible and take time to participate?

Maybe it's none of my business but how did the rider break his tib/fib? Bridge crossing, hucking off a log? I know the pine straw can be dangerous for your pancreas! Just ask Row Boy!

[ted]

(Please read the following with a sarcastic attitude, it's the best wat to convey my message)

Wow Black Moth, that sounds like a great idea. It also sounds like you are regurgitating everthing that I said. How about we get together and discuss how you can come up with your own ideas.

By the way, moths don't make any noise so keep quiet.

[chileanrastabilly]

Now children, lets settle down! Can't we all just get
along?! What are other clubs in or out of our area
doing about emergency extractions? Maybe we can
learn from them. This is definitely a tricky subject.

[ted]

Sorry Chile,
It's just a little internal feud between friends.
I don't think it's that difficult of an issue. If anything else is to be done other than the suggestions above, then maybe a "procedure" should be drafted and discussed at the next SORBA meeting or a "Safety clinic" needs to be set up for those who need more education.
It pretty much boils down to an individual knowing what to do in a given situation be it rescue or bicycle repair.

[seenvic]

tedmonica said:

Sorry Chile,
If anything else is to be done other than the suggestions above, then maybe a "procedure" should be drafted and discussed at the next SORBA meeting or a "Safety clinic" needs to be set up for those who need more education.
quote]

I love safety meetings, myself ;D

Moth - glad to see you back online at home. What is your email addy?

[chileanrastabilly]

No worries, I know you two are friends. I heard you jawing on the forum after the Bakers Dozen. I think a
safety clinic is a great idea. Sometimes I can't make it
to the meetings. They(meetings) get in the way of me
drinking $2.00 pints of Rogue @ Stillwater on Tuesdays.
Just kidding Paul and Angela. What do others think?
Bill, you type too damn fast. I'm feeling pretty safe
these days myself.
Matt

[seenvic]

Chileanrastabilly said:

Sometimes I can't make it
to the meetings. They(meetings) get in the way of me
drinking $2.00 pints of Rogue @ Stillwater on Tuesdays.
Just kidding Paul and Angela. Matt

$2 PINTS OF ROGUE!!!!! Lets move the meetings to Stillwater Tap Room.

[ted]

I think $2 Oregon brew is worth breaking the Nacho tradition. A man could get some safety learnin' done under them circumstances.

[Angela]

WOW I completely thought I was being TOTALLY ignored on the emergency extractions post - head to Florida for two days and end up with 12 replies, terrific!

Matt the DR's are being repaired as we speak, parts had to be ordered, etc. Hickory Knob is still a good ride right now and I suspect BKSP is as well.....also the Bartram Lake Trail

Yes as in any sport, climbing Everest, extreme skiing, mountain biking.......the individual has to assume responsibility for themselves and how to get themselves out of trouble but to be perfectly honest......and believe me I am pretty familiar with all our trails........if I broke my leg at a particular spot on the trail....unless it was near one of my "landmarks" I'm not sure if I could tell someone exactly where I was or how far in they would have to travel to rescue me..........

Maybe it's just me.........maybe everyone else out there could say.....I'm 1/4 mile from the FS Road 329 or something like that. It was just food for thought, I was more concerned about whether the emergency personnel would know where to find us more than us knowing where we were. SORBA meetings are typically attended by 15 to 20 folks........I suspect even fewer would attend a safety meeting.........looking to provide some general education about the subject maybe on this website and give contact information to local authorities on the trails, etc. Keep the suggestions coming.

It was in a corner on the pine straw.........a freak accident kind of thing

[Crashed1]

I happend to come across this site and found this post. I am a EMT/Firefighter in Burke County and I also work part time for the service in question here. One thing that could be done is to take a map of the local trails to the station . I believe it is the one in Pollards Corner. This way when the call is made the crew can see where they need to go and the best way to get there.

Rob

[Angela]

Hi Rob -

Good suggestion! Now the question is, who would be the first responders on the Hickory Knob and Baker's Creek Trails........................what about Modoc, Turkey, Wine, and Horn Creek? If we knew who would be the responders we could supply maps and and possibly a contact number or two from some of our National Mountain Bike Patrol members. Add some education to our website so mountain bikers might know about where they are and intersecting Forest Service Road #'s so they could at least give emergency personel a chance at finding them ...........with some work, this might could be a plan.........thanks for the input

[Crashed1]

Thanks. I am not to sure who would be the responding units for the other trails but if you go to the nearest fire dept they should be able to help you out.

I think the fire station going to Lick Fork is also first responders.

Hope this helps.
Rob

[chileanrastabilly]

Angela, thanks for the heads up on the DR mowers.
I tend to forget about the other trails in the area that
need to be ridden as well. -Matt

["The Black Moth"]

One other thing i thought of and this may not be very cost-efficient:
For trails such as Horn Creek, Turkey, Bartram we could put signs with the forestry road #s located as you cross those roads. For instance the (directional) brown signs we already have just place a weatherproof sticker with the road that you are coming across.
Just my $0.04 to help those who have short term memory loss and cannot remember every road they cross. After seeing it multiple times after several rides I believe some folks could keep it in their long term memory. If not then they need to attend a "safety meeting".

[Angela]

To be honest I guess I'm one of those people that have a hard time knowing exactly where I am if not at a major landmark that I recognize..........add in confusion you might feel in an accident bad enough to warrant being "rescued" and I suspect more than one of us might not know their exact location. I also am not super great knowing how far I've traveled on my bike unless I have my computer mounted .........we were doing some bridge assessments on Turkey Creek on Sunday so I was paying attention to some things..FS 617 is the road leading in to the back side of Turkey Creek - 617a is the first right-hand turn that goes to the end of Turkey - go straight and you are on 617b and if you follow it down you end up at about the 3.5+ mile marker on the trail - not sure about the second right (as far as what it is called) but I do know that it comes into the trail at about the 5.5 mile mark.

I'm not sure what the FS road is that ends in the first cul-de-sac on Turkey at about the first mile mark...........I say this and maybe I'm just a lost cause because I've worked plenty of work parties on this trail and rode it quite a bit and my knowledge to get help in would obviously be less than perfect.

I do know what section I am in at Horn Creek (I don't know what the Forest Service roads intersect the trail) - if I could call for help and the emergency workers answered..........could I explain where the section I was down in was located.........doubtful.

We will discuss some of these ideas and maybe more at tomorrow nights meeting........nothing will be perfect but improvements are needed and I think we can do that without extensive cost or work.

Would a non-mountain biking emergency worker have a better idea on how to get to someone..........possibly if he/she had a really good map and the person down could sufficiently describe where they were.....if not I can see a problem.