Some recent comments in another part of the forum prompted me to write this as something we do not always think about. Here is the text before I deleted it to move it here.
Quote from Checkswreak:
"First off, I'm glad that **** is OK after his deer hit. A number of members have hit deer and we know all too well how fast it happens. Plus, Encinal Canyon, Mulholland, and the other roads in ****'s area would've been all too easy to go off the side and not be found for a long time. "
As an add on as far as safety, and this applies to anywhere in the world, please carry some kind of noise maker, mirror, and/or a bright object on you. Until I retired, I was one of the helicopter pilots for the law enforcement agency that covers that area, along with the "famous" Angeles Crest. Many many times over the years I have searched for people over the side of the road in both cars and motorcycles, and the proverbial lost/overdue hiker (X1000). Some have been found, some not. But the important thing is that you have something that does not match the terrain. A searcher, or even a passerby, will see an unusual object moving, or hear (on the ground) a loud noise. Although it doesn't look like it, the sage brush in most canyons here in California is 6-10 feet tall (reason fires are so bad here), and someone under it is extremely hard to find without help.
99% of the people here that have gone over the side without being seen, are found due to yelling/honking their horn.
Many times over the years I have asked the people that have been rescued why they didn't even waive for help. Most have said that they thought we would see them lying down, or the car. Funny how untrue that is from even 300' in rugged terrain.
So please, carry some of this stuff on YOU. Your bike most likely will not stay with you on the way over.
Mark
Quote from Checkswreak:
"First off, I'm glad that **** is OK after his deer hit. A number of members have hit deer and we know all too well how fast it happens. Plus, Encinal Canyon, Mulholland, and the other roads in ****'s area would've been all too easy to go off the side and not be found for a long time. "
As an add on as far as safety, and this applies to anywhere in the world, please carry some kind of noise maker, mirror, and/or a bright object on you. Until I retired, I was one of the helicopter pilots for the law enforcement agency that covers that area, along with the "famous" Angeles Crest. Many many times over the years I have searched for people over the side of the road in both cars and motorcycles, and the proverbial lost/overdue hiker (X1000). Some have been found, some not. But the important thing is that you have something that does not match the terrain. A searcher, or even a passerby, will see an unusual object moving, or hear (on the ground) a loud noise. Although it doesn't look like it, the sage brush in most canyons here in California is 6-10 feet tall (reason fires are so bad here), and someone under it is extremely hard to find without help.
99% of the people here that have gone over the side without being seen, are found due to yelling/honking their horn.
Many times over the years I have asked the people that have been rescued why they didn't even waive for help. Most have said that they thought we would see them lying down, or the car. Funny how untrue that is from even 300' in rugged terrain.
So please, carry some of this stuff on YOU. Your bike most likely will not stay with you on the way over.
Mark