Trip Reports - Bill Burke Training Session
March 19th, 2004 by Solihull Soceity,Moab, Utah - Several years ago my son remarked that he’s thinking about attending a Bill Burke off-road training session. I asked why he would even consider it since he’s been driving for years. What was he going to learn? Well…this is what I learned.
Who is Bill Burke? Let him explain, right from his site, www.bb4wa.com.
“Bill Burke is an internationally recognized 4×4 trainer who teaches back country driving techniques, winching and extrication methods, vehicle preparation and maintenance, land navigation and woods’ skills through classes, private training, trainer courses and back country trips to individuals, families, groups, clubs, vehicle manufacturers and dealers, tour operators, government and all companies that use 4WD vehicles in their operations. Environmental awareness and trail etiquette are taught on every outing.”
“He is a permitted outfitter guide through the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management who plans and leads experiential back country vacation trips for individuals, families, clubs, and businesses.
Bill also travels the globe to consult and to lead back country expeditions, and serves as a technical consultant in the areas of 4-wheeling expertise and environmental concerns to various businesses, the media, 4-wheel drive manufacturers, dealerships and government organizations.”
Bill drives a 1994 D-90 purchased new in Nov 94. 4″ OME suspension, ARB lockers F&R, Superwinch S9-9000lb in ARB bumper. Engine and drive train are stock. Misc protection from RockWare and BB4WA sliders, 285’s on stock rims. Custom rear load space with ARB fridge. Just about 125k miles (working miles not commuting), Rovertym trailing arms, Stock rear bumper with custom rear corner protection.
The Solihull Society’s annual training session was attended by the following:
Ralph Bradt from Bailey, Colorado – 1970 Series IIa 88”; RM parabolic springs; Detroit locker in the rear; stock engine with Weber carb.
Tim Clair from Westminster, Colorado – 1990 Range Rover Classic; 265/75/16 tires; sunroof; CD player; air conditioning;
Craig Davis from Louisville, Colorado – 1996 Discovery; 2 ½” lift; ARB front bumper; Warn XD9000 winch; homemade rock sliders; diff guards; homemade internal storage compartments; BFG 267-75-16 AT’s;
Jacquelyne Davis from Louisville, Colorado – 1996 Discovery; 5 speed; OME HD springs and shocks; BFG 235-85-16 MT’s; diff guards; wilderness rack;
Richard Dekkard with wife Carrie from Erie, Colorado – 1997 Discovery; Powerstroke diesel; 4” lift; ARB lockers front and rear; Warn winch; all kinds of protection;
Jim Hall from Evergreen, Colorado – 1966 Series IIa 88”; RM parabolic springs; Detroit locker in rear; Beaver winch; stock 2.25 engine with Weber carb and manifold; rock sliders; Suffix low range gears;
Keith Tanner from Grand Junction, Colorado – 1967 Series IIa 88”; ex Diamond Exploration truck from northern Canada; Rocky Mountain parabolic springs; rebuilt with a used 1961 frame;
John Alden from Denver, Colorado was a passenger.
Hans Schulze from Denver, Colorado was a passenger.
The Davis’ brought two other passengers. Shadow is a 6 year old black lab with a
stubby tail. She loves dirt-encrusted tennis balls and swimming. Ruger is a two-year-old sable German shepherd. He’s very anxious and hates to be left alone, nervous around strangers at first.
Tim Clair also brought along a four legged passenger, Molly, a 13 yr old French Pointer.
Friday Evening
Jim Hall, Ralph Bradt, and Keith Tanner camped with Bill Burke while Rich and Carrie Dekkard, Craig and Jacque Davis, Tim Clair, and Hans Schulze camped at the KOA.
Having always camped without running water or flushing facilities, the personal hygiene area at the KOA was a pleasant, clean, and warm surprise. There’s something said for not carrying loads of sand and dirt on your body for weeks. The corral style campsites, however, were just acceptable.
Those that finished setting up camp early were able to observe marriage interaction while performing simple tasks in the wild and.determined that a marriage counselor would have been helpful.
While the Davis’ ate their yuppie food…seeds, grass, mulch…Rich, Carrie, Tim and Hans had a chicken, each. The boys finished their fowl, but Carrie offered some left overs to the dogs.
Then we sat around the propane grill, [no fires allowed in the camp ground], and imbibed in drinks and pleasantries. After discussing amenities that we brought, the French press challenged the espresso machine to a Saturday morning caffeine duel. The late evening scene was Rockwellish. [An “Americana” scene for the Brits that never heard of Norman or never have seen his Saturday Evening Post artwork].
All were had by a good time until the discussions drifted to driving theories, vehicle accessories, energy solutions [Carrie had an unmentionable solution], and politics that lasted much too long. Then the company was only tolerable. [I understand a similar discussion on politics took place at the Burke campsite.]
Saturday
We met at the Moab Valley Inn in the town of Moab, Utah. There was a mix-up on the availability of a conference room and we ended up in their banquet room where we occupied three tables in the rear, overwhelmed by the long dinning tables and chairs that occupied the rest of the hall.
The classroom session covered somewhat the following subjects that were included in his hand out:
Responsible Trail Leading
Trail Leader Trip Considerations
Driving Hazards
Convoy Driving Tips
Basic Trail Communications
Wilderness First Aid
Pre and Post-Trip Vehicle Checklist
Bug-Out Bag Contents
I found the first aid subject informative.
Our classroom in the afternoon was the Strike Ravine trail south of town on the east side of highway 191. This was a get-your-feet-wet endeavor, a confidence builder for novices and a reminder for the experienced. After we dropped some provisions at Bill’s camp and restarted Richards truck, the first teaching ground was a hill climb, with an off camber rise and differential eating boulders that provided Tim a spotting assignment. It also allowed Bill to impart pointers to drivers on how to follow a spotter, and how to traverse a rocky rise. For the novice among us, Bill assumed the spotting and teaching mantel.
In the classroom Bill told us that as trail leaders we should be familiar with the trail we are leading, therefore knowing all the ancillary spurs and all exits in case of vehicle or injury emergencies. Additionally, make it interesting for the participants by knowing the geography and interesting historical sites.
In that vein, Bill stopped at an abandoned silver mine with its dilapidated loading structure and partially caved in cavern. Rusted cart rails were strewn about. Scenic it was with the snow-capped La Sal Mountains in the background while some of us were traipsing in shorts and short-sleeved shirts, kicking up the red dirt.
For those familiar with the area, you know that Strike Ravine runs tangent to Lower Helldorado trail at one point. And yes, it’s closed including the exit trail that heads southwest off of Strike Ravine.
From the end of Lower Helldorado, Strike Ravine heads southeast, uphill towards Upper Helldorado. In the first section we defined three lines with slight variations, ranging in degrees of difficulty. All three were utilized and successfully completed. I would describe Ralph Bradt as Clark Kent, unassuming Forest Ranger by trade, super offroader by hobby. He doesn’t say much but lets his driving do the talking. When Jacquelyne conquered her chosen line, she screamed in victory. Before leaving this section Jacque and Richard took their turn to spot.
One of the interesting exercises was role-playing in order to solicit a reaction from the then trail leader. Roles included the timid, the boastful, the know-it-all, the want-to-be leader, the complainer, the sightseer, and the one late-for-an-appointment. It seemed our group reveled in their roles with enthusiasm.
The day’s session lasted into darkness, during which time Ralph had a chance to spot also. The day ended with critique of the day’s events.
Sunday
Steel Bender Trail, once part of a wagon road, was our classroom for the day and part of the night. Once we got to a clearing near the river, Bill gave us lessons in properly emptying a gun and the proper use of a high lift jack including the use of the high lift for winching purposes.
Bill feels as trail leader you may encounter people with guns and you may request that the weapon be safe. He demonstrated the proper clearing of a gun, and safety factors involved.
The high lift class included two hints for any problems–patience, plan, practice and work smart, not hard.
He utilized various fittings now manufactured to ease the winching process on Land Rover vehicles. He demonstrated the safe stance when lifting to prevent the handle from snapping up, possibly causing major injury, and where the handle should be placed when not in active use. Some not familiar with the lift, had an opportunity to use the equipment.
The high lift as a winch was especially educational to most of us. Bill demonstrated how to rig the high lift using recovery straps, chains and an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fiber called Amsteel Blue. If the line is too long, loop it through itself to shorten it. Once connected to a fixed object, start jacking the horizontal high lift.
The rest of the day included more role playing, spotting and experiencing the ability of the vehicle to perform the unexpected. Mountain bikers were amused and surprised at the ability of the unpretentious looking vehicles.
The day ended with the day’s critique.
Monday
The last day was another fascinating adventure made interesting by Bill Burke’s knowledge of the area, spiced with historic and geographic points of interest. It was a full day that included an outdoor classroom session.
We started at the celebrated Dewey Bridge, then followed the Estrada Bluffs Road, which also forms part of the Kokopelli Bike Trail. After 1.2 miles, Bill headed northeast toward the Delores River, which we crossed twice.
At the first crossing, we had to travel up river about 30 yards and then turn right. Richard reversed quickly after missing the turn and experienced hood high water on the driver’s side. Once on the other side, Bill demonstrated how certain kerplunk sounds, made by throwing rocks into the river, could give an indication of the river’s depth. Shadow, the Davis’ black lab, also found interest in Bill’s motions. Yep, Shadow flew out of the vehicle and dove into the river, attempting to retrieve the “toy”. She loves to retrieve, especially water thrown items.
The second crossing required a longer trek up river, which was dramatized by the rocky rise on both sides. While this crossing was uneventful, Ralph’s Series II sputtered to a halt on the other side. Evidently trained not to die while in the river, it was revived with the gentle coaxing of its owner.
After an orientation stop and a photography stop, the next attention grabber was Rose Garden Hill, a downhill section of trail made up of boulders, loose rock and dirt, that required deft maneuvering to avoid undercarriage damage and to avoid sliding uncontrollably. This gave participants another chance to practice spotting.
At 4pm, Bill found an outdoor classroom setting that was going to be the site of a demonstration of proper winching techniques. He surprised most of us when he instructed us to run out most of the line when winching, and to double up the line when possible to lessen the load on the winch. Bill also asked if we knew the load limit of our D ring shackles and did we know the tensile strength of our recovery straps. Do our chains have a grab hook or a slip hook? We all drove away with some new bit of information.
To get back to highway 128, Bill led us along Cottonwood Canyon Trail that connected to Fisher Valley Road that connected to Onion Creek Road. Many western movies incorporated scenes from nearby areas and climbers utilize the ragged terrain to satiate their hunger for height. For a 360 degree view go to http://redcliffslodge.com/local-secrets/onion-creek.htm.
Since the area has been fairly arid, we were able to drive through Onion Creek Narrows, an awe inspiring, nature cut chasm, with Dali-ish formations colored in devilish red pigments that converted all participants into paparazzi. No one minded the meandering water flow and soft, wet dirt when prancing in the gorge to find the perfect picture.
Goodbyes and Summary
Ralph Bradt, Jim Hall, John Alden and Keith Tanner were packed and ready to return home from the end of Onion Creek Trail. Bill Burke gave the last analysis and summarized the training session. He also presented Jacquelyne Davis with the grand prize for persistency, insistency, and eventually, consistency. It was a Warn recovery gear package, and she was thrilled.
In an evaluation filled out after their return, the participants gave Bill high marks for the items covered and commended him for his teaching ability in the outdoors, and his enthusiasm. All rated the training session highly.
Resources
View Photo Gallery