Moab Accident....1 year later

[Explorer 1]

Moab Disaster.....1 year later

It's been year since my ATV flipped over on me while trying to climb Hell's Gate near Moab Utah.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/53754-Moab-Disaster?highlight=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4ddgPyWT3o

It worked out a few weeks ago to re-visit the accident site. This time my wife came along. It had kind of an eerie feeling to it as I walked around the site and was able to recollect with my son-in-law exactly what happened.

This is the spot!

Two things that were a bit fuzzy were how far I dragged myself down from the overturned ATV and where the helicopter landed that transported me to Grand Junction.

In this picture my wife is standing next to where the ATV landed on top of me. My son-in-law is standing in the foreground where I dragged my body to the small area of sand. In the way back, beyond the trees on the right is where the helicopter landed. (It all made more sense in daylight)

I went ahead and drove Hell's Gate again, but this time in the XJ with a full cage around me.

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1

 

[fifthcircle]

First, glad you are ok now. Second, you drove (er...attempted to) an ATV up the gate!!???!! That's nuts!



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[verticaltrx]

Watched the video and I know that feeling exactly, lucky I made it out unscathed. I rolled my Honda Rancher over backwards in the exact same manner, except it was at the Badlands in IN, and the notch was dirt not rock. Was climbing up the notch straddling it when it lost traction, rear wheel went down in the trench and it stood up and over it went. Luckily the hill was so steep that when it pitched me off it threw me far enough down the hill that I hit the ground and had enough time to take off running. Very unnerving running as fast as you can down a notch with an ATV barrel rolling faster and faster behind you with no way out but down. Luckily I made it to the bottom first. It was a real bad day but nothing in comparison to what yours must have been. Glad everything worked out. :ylsmoke:

 

[roverrocks]

Having done Hell's Gate a couple of times in my Rover and being absolutely terrified the first time, I can't imagine trying it on an ATV either down the steep incline or up the Gate itself. You were either stone stupid crazy or absolutely beyond fearless.

 

[Ford Prefect]

Ditto,

There is no way I would take an ATV up that section. Well Glad it worked out for you. I guess I could see it as being possible, but as much as I know those things flip and flop I just do not care to try it myself. Glad you are ok!

 

[Mr. Leary]

Good to see you back in the game and facing the hill that beat you last year. I know its been a long road for you to recover from that accident. I wish you continued success in your recovery and hope it doesn't hinder your future wanderings.

-Leary

 

[HenryJ]

Thanks for the update! Revisiting the site was probably an emotional experience. You are truly an explorer at heart, I am so glad that you are able to continue that which makes you happy.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Glad you're doing better!

I must say, I was thinking of you and your misfortune last May, when I ran Hells Gate in my XJ.

It was my first time through (first guy in my club to ever run the Gate)

Luckily I had a great spotter, and took my time.

Glad to see you 'Got back on the Horse', so to speak.

:coffeedrink:

 

[Caoboy]

You were either stone stupid crazy or absolutely beyond fearless.

Things like this take a bit of both :bike_rider:

Been in these situations, but if you don't take the chance, you'll never know the outcome!

Glad you are healed Fred!

 

[clcoyle]

Glad to see your back in the Saddle.

 

[Scott Brady]

Good job facing that chapter in your life. I dig the XJ - nice truck

 

[Explorer 1]

Having done Hell's Gate a couple of times in my Rover and being absolutely terrified the first time, I can't imagine trying it on an ATV either down the steep incline or up the Gate itself. You were either stone stupid crazy or absolutely beyond fearless.

I showed my wife this post......she laughed and said I was a bit of both........guess I was "stupid fearless"........nuf said.

Thanks to all the well wishers.

I took another ATV last week up Carrigan Hill, it's a hard sandy climb when it's dry, this time it had about 18" of fresh snow on it. I had to stand on the throttle all the way to keep any forward movement. I have to say that the prior years accident was trolling in the back of my mind while I was climbing. I imagine last years events will remind me every once in a while just how precious and fragile health and life can be. (This is a good thing)

Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1