· 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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