Hopping in the car and getting off the beaten path is a favourite summer pastime for many North Shore residents, but things can quickly get hairy for drivers who find themselves mired in the backcountry mud without another soul in sight.
To avoid a dire situation such as this, campers and hikers driving to off-the-grid destinations would be wise to do some advance planning. First and foremost, it's important to know what vehicles can handle what types of terrain.
"A four-wheel-drive vehicle is normally a preferable concept when it comes to getting off the paved roads," says Max Langridge of North Shore Off Road, which sells four-wheel-drive parts and accessories and services vehicles.
But B.C.'s diverse landscape means people with city cars can still access some prime rustic locations, says Langridge.
"There's plenty of spots you can get to in a two-wheel-drive vehicle," says Langridge.
"If you're looking for something just a little more difficult, a little farther out there, there's just as many spots that would require four-wheel-drive and there's even spots that would require a relatively extreme four-wheel-drive vehicle."
Car choice is really up to the driver, says Langridge. He has seen plenty of small cars drive into areas he never thought they would be able to access.
"It's the owner's discretion of how hard they want to go on their vehicle to get to where they're trying to go," he says. "If you start getting the vehicle stuck
in weather, mud, or if you start pushing the bumper into rocks, you're probably in a little over your head at that point."
Risks associated with taking an ill-equipped vehicle onto rough ground include body damage and mechanical breakage. But much more serious than dings and dents is the danger of getting stranded.
"Things can get serious pretty quick if you're not planning your ideas out," says Langridge. Other backcountry explorers are usually happy to help out a stuck driver, he says, but deep in the woods there aren't always other people around.
"If you're out there alone and you don't have cellphone reception, you get stuck, you're kind of on your own," he says, adding that carrying a shovel and toe picks in case of emergency is good foresight.
There are plenty of parts and accessories extreme off-roaders might use to outfit their vehicles, but for the novice there are two main tweaks car owners might consider.
Tires with an aggressive offroad tread will help drivers better handle uneven ground, and a mild suspension lift will allow the vehicle to clear large rocks, logs and water.
However, Langridge says drivers should avoid crossing water at all costs.
"Damage to the engine's very easy, but even without damaging the engine a lot of people won't think about the electronics of a vehicle that can be very finicky when they start to get wet."
As a rule of thumb, if a driver must cross water, it should rise no higher than bumper level, he says.
When it comes to personal and passenger safety, seatbelt use is imperative.
"A lot of people think that once they're off the pavement it's not as important (to wear a seatbelt), but it's equally, if not more important once you're on the dirt roads," says Langridge.
Drivers should also watch their speed and be wary of other people using the backcountry, he says.
"A lot of people get on the dirt roads toward the camp site and they forget about the fact that other people might be out there walking or hiking."
With the proper vehicle, safety gear and preparation, a little light summer off-roading can be a fun adventure. It's an activity Langridge enjoys almost every weekend.
"I just like getting out of cellphone reception. I just like being out in the woods. We live in a gorgeous province, there's so much to see, it would take a lifetime to explore every lake or every road in B.C."
CHRISTINE LYON, [email protected]
TIPS:
PLAN YOUR ROUTE AND READ REVIEWS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE AREA.
INFORM SOMEONE NOT GOING WITH YOU WHAT YOUR TRAVEL PLAN IS.
