New Guy....Outdoorsman/

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reconranger

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Sep 23, 2007
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New guy here in the forum. What I am sharing here is really my own requirements...kind of just thinking out loud. Any advice or comments are welcome....

Besides extreme terrain hiking (primarily for physical fitness...can't trail run with these knees!), most of my outdoor activity is done on ATVs (aka quads or four wheelers). I am of the travel light and fast school, so if it isn't aboslutely necessary it doesn't get packed. We ride both the desert on race preped sport quads, and high altitude forested mountains on medium size 4wd utility quads.

The desert is kind of a special situation. Here, the most important piece of survival gear is water! Forget anything else, but don't neglect to have excess water! Beyond that, all I can carry is what will fit in a Camelback Mule. An Emerson CQC-12 Comrade is my constant companion anywhere outdoors, and a small multi-tool are all the edged tools that I carry.

In the woods, it is a different matter. Here I am on a utility quad with racks so I can carry more gear...but still I like to keep it minimum. Here I switch to a larger multi-tool and add in a light Gerber Sport Axe. I don't really feel the need to pack a huge "Rambo" knife. The Emerson is always with me and handles defense (I never use it for chores!), the multi-tool handles everyday cutting chores, and the axe handles chopping.
 
Welcome to the forum. Where are you located? Which quads do you own?
 
reconranger said:
New guy here in the forum. What I am sharing here is really my own requirements...kind of just thinking out loud. Any advice or comments are welcome....

Besides extreme terrain hiking (primarily for physical fitness...can't trail run with these knees!), most of my outdoor activity is done on ATVs (aka quads or four wheelers). I am of the travel light and fast school, so if it isn't aboslutely necessary it doesn't get packed. We ride both the desert on race preped sport quads, and high altitude forested mountains on medium size 4wd utility quads.

The desert is kind of a special situation. Here, the most important piece of survival gear is water! Forget anything else, but don't neglect to have excess water! Beyond that, all I can carry is what will fit in a Camelback Mule. An Emerson CQC-12 Comrade is my constant companion anywhere outdoors, and a small multi-tool are all the edged tools that I carry.

In the woods, it is a different matter. Here I am on a utility quad with racks so I can carry more gear...but still I like to keep it minimum. Here I switch to a larger multi-tool and add in a light Gerber Sport Axe. I don't really feel the need to pack a huge "Rambo" knife. The Emerson is always with me and handles defense (I never use it for chores!), the multi-tool handles everyday cutting chores, and the axe handles chopping.
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Welcome,

A CBmule will fit a fair bit of survival gear. As you will learn many here prefer large blades instead of a hatchet as its more usefull and lighter in many cases. Some prefer a hatchet. Personal choice.

At the end of the day shelter from sun and water are your main priorities.

Skam
 
I didn't attempt to make a list of my other "survival" kit items, just the edged tools seeing this is a knife forum. I do also carry the basic items like fire starter, space blanket, etc.....

What quads? Honda 450R for the open desert, Honda 400EX for trails that aren't super technical, and Honda Rancher 420 for anywhere those two won't go!

We are in So. Calif. and ride the high and low desert in the cool months, and the local mountains and high Sierra in the hot months, plus occasional trips to Oregon and the other southwest states (Arizona, Colorado, Utah).
 
reconranger said:
I didn't attempt to make a list of my other "survival" kit items, just the edged tools seeing this is a knife forum. I do also carry the basic items like fire starter, space blanket, etc.....

What quads? Honda 450R for the open desert, Honda 400EX for trails that aren't super technical, and Honda Rancher 420 for anywhere those two won't go!

We are in So. Calif. and ride the high and low desert in the cool months, and the local mountains and high Sierra in the hot months, plus occasional trips to Oregon and the other southwest states (Arizona, Colorado, Utah).
Click to expand...

You guys dig those Hondas don't ya? hahaha. Those are all pretty good choices. Did you get the rancher with the ES?
 
reconranger said:
The desert is kind of a special situation. Here, the most important piece of survival gear is water! Forget anything else, but don't neglect to have excess water!
Click to expand...

Are you ever able to use existing desert water sources?
I read an article on the net that described a stage coach and
wagon road/trail through the Mojave. Each stop was one
days distance, and had a water source.
Maybe a pick and shovel would be useful if exploring this.
 
First off, I'm not stupid enough to ride the desert in the summer...well not usually. We only ride desert in the cool months, so it's not like we are standing around baking in the hot sun or needing to find shade. Believe me it can freeze and even snow, but usually the winter days are mild and pleasent shirtsleve weather (70's in the days and 50's at night...think about us while you are shoveling snow!). Still, there aren't many water sources, even if you do know where to look!

You might be thinking of the Mojave Road. It was laid out following water sources, and it cuts right through one of our favorite riding spots, Rasor/Afton Canyon. http://intermind.net/~speleo/atv/afton/

Did not get ES, thank God! My foot can shift just fine. If you look in the ATV forums, lots of folks posting with ES specific problems!
 
I put an Armadillo out-n-back rack on my Raptor. Can carry water, fuel and other Misc. items.

Unlike hiking and backpacking, you can be so much farther away from civilization if you should break down, no sense in skimping on a couple extra pounds of gear.
We even bungee cord rain jackets to our handlebars.

There are so many grab bar options and rack options for all quads, it makes sense to have something. Even if dual purpose, racing and trails, on race day, yank the rack and put the grab bar on.
 
SkunkWerX said:
I put an Armadillo out-n-back rack on my Raptor. Can carry water, fuel and other Misc. items.

Unlike hiking and backpacking, you can be so much farther away from civilization if you should break down, no sense in skimping on a couple extra pounds of gear.
We even bungee cord rain jackets to our handlebars.

There are so many grab bar options and rack options for all quads, it makes sense to have something. Even if dual purpose, racing and trails, on race day, yank the rack and put the grab bar on.
Click to expand...

Where have you been skunk, good to see ya.
 
I said Camelback Mule, but I meant HAWG, which is a fair bit bigger. I use the Mule for light day hiking.

I find the HAWG can carry everything I need for a sport quad ride.
 
reconranger said:
First off, I'm not stupid enough to ride the desert in the summer...well not usually. We only ride desert in the cool months, so it's not like we are standing around baking in the hot sun or needing to find shade. Believe me it can freeze and even snow, but usually the winter days are mild and pleasent shirtsleve weather (70's in the days and 50's at night...think about us while you are shoveling snow!). Still, there aren't many water sources, even if you do know where to look!

You might be thinking of the Mojave Road. It was laid out following water sources, and it cuts right through one of our favorite riding spots, Rasor/Afton Canyon. http://intermind.net/~speleo/atv/afton/

Did not get ES, thank God! My foot can shift just fine. If you look in the ATV forums, lots of folks posting with ES specific problems!
Click to expand...

Trust me dude. I know their problems well. I work in a shop and hear about the ES problems nonstop. I always try to steer people to the manual.
 
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