Off-Roading Know-How

Part three - Tread Lightly

by David Bowyer

As responsible off-roaders we can, if we are conscientious, help minimise the loss of possible routes by driving only those lanes which do not damage easily. So if you learn of lanes which have either become badly rutted or washed away, give those a miss.

Another year could be drier and the lanes in question could be passable again.

So you have made up your group of three or four vehicles, sorted out sufficient and suitable recovery equipment, checked the maps, discussed your route and carried out a radio check on the CB. The lead vehicle arrives at the entrance to the first lane. Stop and think before driving along it. Has it been driven recently? Perhaps it's too narrow. It could easily be well and truly overgrown.

If it's not easily driveable, send a couple of passengers ahead with the portable CB. They can report on the conditions ahead.

If the track is too narrow, what's the point in damaging the bodywork? If the ruts ahead are too deep, what's the point in damaging the track further and spending several wasted hours in trying to conquer it?

Perhaps the lane in question is across a moorland area. Does the defined track ahead look boggy? If so, walk ahead and possibly think twice. You might be glad you did!

No route anywhere will ever be the same along its entire length, especially in mountainous and moorland areas, so always think ahead. Remember the saying: tread lightly on public and private ground.

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