The SnoBall-2014

Yukon Joe · Nov 4, 2013

^ correct, GPS not required, this is a follow the lead style of run. BUT caution. This style of run is successful when EVERYONE plays by the rule. That being, you must wait at each turnoff for the truck behind you.

The group will space out for many different reasons, driving speed, visibility, skill level, etc. When the trail splits, your you have to make a turn onto another trail, you MUST wait till you see the person behind you before proceeding down that trail. Otherwise, the guy who is trying to follow you will get lost. Now your group is split up, now everyone has to sit tight while the lead and chase trucks get the group back together.

The chase truck's responsibility is to always be the last truck. No man left behind. He will also have the course on a GPS. If the trucks in front of him go off course he will stop everyone till the group is all one team again.

Yukon Joe
www.RUNRAPTORRUN.com

---------- Post added at 11:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 AM ----------

Added note, with 15 trucks in a group, the trucks will space out to about 1.5 - 2 miles. It is easy to get separated when the truck infront of you didn't wait at the turn.

This is one of the reasons a radio is required this year. Last year, we found that when there was an issue with the group, it typically came down to that they didn't have a radio and wasn't getting the proper communication.

Yukon Joe
www.RUNRAPTORRUN.com

WRCRaptor · Nov 4, 2013

When I have had a hand in organizing group runs I always emphasized do not tailgate and you are responsible for the person behind at intersections. The radios help on the confusing intersections and in urban congestion. I try to keep the groups tight in urban congestion and let them spread out a little out of town.

For those of us without the fancy Nav units it is nice to hear the big turn offs and the cautions off road. I always reset the trip meter at trail heads and on the road sections so I can call out cautions by mileage.

Sitdown · Nov 4, 2013

The waiting at the turn off is just another (probably most important and not optional) failsafe. You will get spaced out, radios will fail/etc…

Labraptor can attest to saving our group some "wondering time" :worthy:

I got stuck behind a slow plow truck on a longer leg of non-passing highway. It joined 2 trail sections and I fell quite behind the truck in front of me. At the time I was only sporting a handheld wouxun, and was well out of range to the front trucks to hear the turn approached. Mark was sporting a stronger base radio so I was able to reach back to him, to call on ahead. One failsafe

Sadly the truck in front of me forgot to wait at that next turn off and I began to lead the handful of trucks behind me off course. Luckily I was in contact with Mark behind me, with our route on GPS (another failsafe) who quickly caught our missed turn and corralled our group back on course.

WRCRaptor · Nov 4, 2013

This is a great example of how working togeather is so important. Even the 50w radios can have range issues although they are better then the handheld. I will have both a handheld and a base this year.

Labraptor · Nov 4, 2013

Sitdown said:
The waiting at the turn off is just another (probably most important and not optional) failsafe. You will get spaced out, radios will fail/etc…

Labraptor can attest to saving our group some "wondering time" I got stuck behind a slow plow truck on a longer leg of non-passing highway. It joined 2 trail sections and I fell quite behind the truck in front of me. At the time I was only sporting a handheld wouxun, and was well out of range to the front trucks to hear the turn approached. Mark was sporting a stronger base radio so I was able to reach back to him, to call on ahead. One failsafe

Sadly the truck in front of me forgot to wait at that next turn off and I began to lead the handful of trucks behind me off course. Luckily I was in contact with Mark behind me, with our route on GPS (another failsafe) who quickly caught our missed turn and corralled our group back on course.

Was an interesting time. Stupid plow truck was a pain. That missed turn was the first time Lea Ann actually spoke on the radio. She is checking the gps and telling me that we went the wrong way. I handed her the mic and said don't tell me tell them. We all worked together and the group got back together. Didn't even get captured by the Yeti.
I have a better antenna this year too. No more unwrapping it from around the axle again.

raptor2012 · Nov 4, 2013

Did anybody that went last year encounter weather that would make the drive a lot longer. I am 14.5 hrs away. Curious if I should allow for 20 hrs

RaptorScrew · Nov 4, 2013

raptor2012 said:
Did anybody that went last year encounter weather that would make the drive a lot longer. I am 14.5 hrs away. Curious if I should allow for 20 hrs

You have a Raptor - You should allow 12.5 hrs instead of 14.5...

IRONMAN · Nov 4, 2013

raptor2012 said:
Did anybody that went last year encounter weather that would make the drive a lot longer. I am 14.5 hrs away. Curious if I should allow for 20 hrs

I don't know about 20 hours but that's up to you.
At least give yourself a couple of extra hours if you know ahead of time the weather is going to be bad.
Might not be your driving but you have a lot of other cautious and stupid people I'm sure around you.

Big Blue · Nov 4, 2013

Yukon Joe said:
^ correct, GPS not required, this is a follow the lead style of run. BUT caution. This style of run is successful when EVERYONE plays by the rule. That being, you must wait at each turnoff for the truck behind you.

The group will space out for many different reasons, driving speed, visibility, skill level, etc. When the trail splits, your you have to make a turn onto another trail, you MUST wait till you see the person behind you before proceeding down that trail. Otherwise, the guy who is trying to follow you will get lost. Now your group is split up, now everyone has to sit tight while the lead and chase trucks get the group back together.

The chase truck's responsibility is to always be the last truck. No man left behind. He will also have the course on a GPS. If the trucks in front of him go off course he will stop everyone till the group is all one team again.

Yukon Joe
GREAT LAKES RAPTOR EXCURSIONS

---------- Post added at 11:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 AM ----------

Added note, with 15 trucks in a group, the trucks will space out to about 1.5 - 2 miles. It is easy to get separated when the truck infront of you didn't wait at the turn.

This is one of the reasons a radio is required this year. Last year, we found that when there was an issue with the group, it typically came down to that they didn't have a radio and wasn't getting the proper communication.

Yukon Joe
GREAT LAKES RAPTOR EXCURSIONS

IRONMAN said:
I don't know about 20 hours but that's up to you.
At least give yourself a couple of extra hours if you know ahead of time the weather is going to be bad.
Might not be your driving but you have a lot of other cautious and stupid people I'm sure around you.

Both great pieces of advice!

Regarding Joe's comments; Just remember the Domino Rule. You don't go/turn until you clearly see the truck behind you...like Dominos...

Regarding Roger's comments; much better to be early than late. Remember the 1st night is at the Casino, so if you get there early...there's plenty to do.

Yukon Joe · Nov 4, 2013

Big Blue said:
Both great pieces of advice!

Regarding Joe's comments; Just remember the Domino Rule. You don't go/turn until you clearly see the truck behind you...like Dominos...

Regarding Roger's comments; much better to be early than late. Remember the 1st night is at the Casino, so if you get there early...there's plenty to do.

Maybe some nuggets for your off-roading post.
:wizsmile:

Yukon Joe
www.RUNRAPTORRUN.com

The SnoBall-2014

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Sitdown

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