----- Original Message -----
From: "boulder_adv_rider"
To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 1:46 AM
Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Evan Tanner (NKLR)
> First and foremost it's a tragedy. However, inexperience and
> mistakes appear to have contributed to his demise. It's a message to
> all. People riding into hostile environments (there are many, not
> just heat-related) need to understand the risks. Some are not clear
> to people with many years of normal riding experience.
>
> Knowing your moto completely and intimately is critical. YOU are the
> head mechanic. You need to know how to be resourceful, everything
> about the bike and when to call it hopeless. Knowing you can
> improvise a solution to getting things going can save your life. But
> you need to understand how things work not just say "my mechanic does
> all that." Unacceptable. If you're the type of person that doesn't
> pay attention to details, you need to take far more precaution, offer
> yourself more redundancy and greater margin for error.
>
> In the Mojave I carry extras like a 25-watt solar panel, a
> compressor, bike pump, patches, Slime, extra tubes, signal flares,
> signal smoke, VHF hand-held radio, etc. I've spent years perfecting
> things...not months. Just getting to know my KLR has taken 10k miles
> and a few years. Survival training is a whole other story. Testing
> yourself and knowing your limits is key. How long/far can you swim
> in 35F water? How long can you go without sleep? Food? Water?
> What native things can you eat where you'll be? Nearest reliable
> sources of water? These are all basic and being stranded out in a
> kill zone is NOT where you want to begin learning. Safety through
> preparedness the military says. My guess is his equipment did not
> include a field survival manual. I recommend all adventure riders
> learn SAS survival skills or equivalent and carry a pocket guide if
> you're not active and up-to-date in training. I have extensive
> medical training, but I even carry that guide, too. Conditions
> sometimes put tremendous pressure on our minds--including the ego--so
> it's important to stay focused, patient, and not become overwhelmed.
> Want to simple test? Learn how to tie 10 really useful [rope]
> knots. Think you know them? Think you can handle doing them under
> pressure? Ok. Test: Go into your bathroom and turn out the
> lights. Find your way into the shower and turn on full cold. Now
> step in and tie all 10 knots. That's what it's like being up 3,000
> feet on El Cap and a rogue winter storm blows in while you're
> climbing it. That's the panic that tries to crater you. You'd be
> amazed how difficult it is to accomplish basic tasks under heavy
> pressure--gasping for air, hands shaking cold it forces desperation
> quickly. Yeah, I'm sure Mr. Tanner felt something similar at some
> point albeit hot, grossly thirsty, nauseous and ultimately incapable
> of functioning properly and completing even the simplest of tasks.
>
> It's very unfortunate for the family and friends of Mr. Tanner and
> himself. I appeal to you all to learn from his tragedy. Personally,
> no equipment failure should ever dictate life or death. Even in
> combat you carry a back-up and call for more. Likewise, plan on your
> KLR quitting at the worst possible time/place. Really, expect it.
> Expect the weather to turn bad. In foreign countries, expect someone
> might try to kidnap you or take you hostage. Mentally if you walk
> through scenarios enough, you can increase your odds of surviving
> such events.
>
> You are right, a backup plan is MANDATORY for high-risk trips like
> this. The fact Mr. Tanner indicated the trip might be do or die is
> the trip you all should be desperately avoiding. You always resolve
> whether or not any trip will end the possibility you will enjoy other
> rides or things in life or leave others to mop up your mess. If you
> can't answer the question honestly and with confidence, then the best
> decision is not going.
>
> It sounds to me like Mr. Tanner made several mistakes, but it doesn't
> take away from the fact he suffered a horrible death and leaves
> others to mop up oceans of tears. Be safe folks. I think this
> tragedy is uncommon but nonetheless leaves a lasting impression how
> delicate life can be and how to avoid tragedies like this in the
> future.
>
> Respectfully,
> Brian
>
> --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Kyle" wrote:
>>
>> I was curious about exactely what happened and I found Evan`s blog.
>> This is what he wrote:
>>
>> I've been gathering my gear for this adventure for over a month,
> not
>> a long time by most standards, but far too long for my impatient
>> nature. Being a minimalist by nature, wanting to carry only the
>> essentials, and being extremely particular, it has been a little
>> difficult to find just the right equipment. I plan on going so deep
>> into the desert, that any failure of my equipment, could cost me my
>> life. I've been doing a great deal of research and study. I want to
>> know all I can about where I'm going, and I want to make sure I
> have
>> the best equipment.
>>
>> One more week. I think one more week, and I'll be ready to go.
>>
>> I had been waiting on some parts I ordered for the bike. Aluminum
>> luggage panniers, crash bars, and other necessities for a real
>> adventure.
>>
>> It's always like Christmas when the Wells Fargo wagon comes to
> town.
>> UPS, I know.
>>
>> My friend Jorge getting to work reading the instructions. I stay
> away
>> from them as much as possible.
>>
>> It seems that aftermarket parts never seem to fit quite right.
> Slowed
>> things down a bit. Got caught finishing up in the dark.
>>
>> A few more small things, and the KLR will be ready for the great
>> desert adventure.
>> ====================================================================
>>
>> When he first got his KLR he kept having battery & starting
> problems.
>> After he installed a new battery he accidently left his key on the
>> parking lights instead of the locking position over night and
> killed
>> his new battery.
>>
>> After he left on his trip he called his friends to say he was
> having
>> bike problems and will have to start walking. A couple of days
> later
>> he was reported as a missing person because he wasn`t answering his
>> phone. His body was found by a Marine helicopter.
>>
>> To me it sounds like another battery problem, or perhaps he didn`t
> do
>> the safety switch bypass mod`s. Or at least beware of the potential
>> problems and how to fix them. Or have enough gas?
>>
>> He definetly wasn`t aware of the problems he could have out in the
>> desert, that`s for sure.
>>
>> A buddy of mine in the Marines died while on manuevers at 29
> Palms,CA
>> (1989) was accidently left behind. He was directing traffic and the
>> last truck forgot to stop and pick him up. Just like Evans he made
>> stupid mistakes that cost him his life. If your going to walk in
> the
>> desert your suppossed to do it at night and hide in shade during
> the
>> day, breath thru your nose and not your mouth. Have something like
>> one gallon of water with you per day. My friend drew an arrow on
> the
>> ground to show which way he walked (he was supposed to stay put and
>> build a signal fire at night) and he walked in the opposite
> direction.
>> (??) They finally found his body one year later and only one mile
>> from the town of Amboy. They (Sheriff Search & Rescue) estimated he
>> only lived for 24 hours with two canteens of water. Bits of
>> clothing,gear, & rifle strewn out for miles from the path he
> walked.
>> Something else that`s strange about the desert. Objects seem closer
>> than they really are becuase of cleaner air and no humidity.
>> Evans should have just made some shade and just waited for a
> rescue.
>> Instead of calling his friends to say he was having bike problems
> he
>> should have called the sheriff.
>> This is just another case of blind ignorance of your situation and
>> surroundings. I just can`t figure out how Evans planned to carry
>> several gallons of water on his bike?
>> I can relate on how nice it would be to go out and do some solo
>> camping like that. But you should always have a back up plan in
>> extreme situations like this.
>> RIP Evans
>>
>
>
>
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