Scott PrestonScott Preston: I’ve been off-roading in a Land Rover since the early ‘90s. Some very skilled drivers have shared their knowledge with me, but I did not realize how much I had yet to learn until I participated in the ANARC Off-Road Stewards Training in Tularosa, NM, last March.
Chris Cole (Safe-Xtract) and Bill Burke (BB4WA) led a team of instructors who trained the 34 trainers from 14 ANARC member clubs from Maine to Ontario, California to Oregon. The five-day intensive classroom and field trainings included: vehicle preparation, off-roading driving skills, recovery techniques, wilderness first aid and trail leadership/etiquette.
When the Downeast Land Rover Club offered the Stewards Training opportunity, I joined fellow club member Barry Vye Jones, Kennebunk, ME, as volunteers to take the training. The instructors encouraged us to bring our own vehicles, but neither Barry (’94 Defender 130) nor I (multiple-year Defender 90) had the additional time to make the 2,500-mile, 37-hour drive.
I wanted to attend this event with my open mind and come away from it with an understanding of all the things I’ve been doing right or wrong for years, gaining a better understanding of how to conduct myself on trail in a manner that protects an activity that I love and cherish, and would enable me to pass it along to the next generation.
We opened on a Wednesday night to a generous welcome and an “icebreaker” activity. Bob Steele, Bon Air, VA, and ANARC’s Treasurer, called it, “an incredibly powerful opening that set the tone for the rest of the event.” The instructional team split the participants into four groups, named Defender, Discovery, Range Rover and Freelander. It evolved into an amazing bonding experience.
Barry Vye Jones: ANARC’s goal with this event was to support and enhance the Land Rover community and bring back more formalized training focused on safety, equipment knowledge and diverse driving skills to the local clubs. The participants represented enthusiast clubs from across the US and Canada. The camaraderie increased as each new participant introduced themselves. Checking out each other’s campsites and rigs always broke the ice. Many participants had already led club events and served as instructors in their own regions – but we all soaked up every bit of information we could glean from the instructional team; the level of professionalism and knowledge from everyone involved impressed and humbled me at the same time.
Between classroom and field time, here’s what we studied.
Vehicle Preparation and Off-Road Driving: Chris Nelson, Mike Reed, Chris Cole, Bill Burke, Jim Geroux
Scott: I’m as guilty as anyone in spending considerable sums on off-road kit for our beloved Land Rovers, but have I really known how to use it? My quick answer was, “Absolutely, I’ve been doing this for decades!” In reality I learned that “Perhaps not” would be the correct answer.
Barry: Having bought my first Land Rover 15 years ago, I felt comfortable wheeling and traversing most terrain that I’ve come across in the Northeast. This high desert landscape felt vastly different. That made the instruction we received even more powerful, such as the role of tire contact patch in effective traction, two-foot driving, shuffle steering and vehicle sympathy (you need your Land Rover to get you somewhere and back home again, especially when you’re thousands of miles from home).
Wilderness First Aid: Chuck and Sherri Davis
Scott: Too many off-roaders like me lack detailed first aid knowledge and skills. Many of us carry a small first aid kit in our vehicles, but how many have pulled it all apart, identified all the gear in there and know how to use it? Responding quickly to a group request, the instructors trained us in “Stop the Bleed” and enabled us to receive “Stop the Bleed” certification. After this class, I felt so much more confident to apply a tourniquet and stabilize an injured member of my party and get them to proper medical care.
Barry: I’m a Firefighter/Advanced EMT; when we respond to a call our average transport time is 10–30 minutes. Discussing patient care, packaging and transport in terms of hours — not minutes — was foreign to me. [When you’re off-roading], you don’t have a fully stocked ambulance; you have only what you carry on your person or in your vehicle. The top-notch instructors demonstrated best practices for on the trail and coordination for incoming EMS. They correctly preached having a small ‘stop the bleed’ kit in each vehicle when traveling in the back country and a bigger, more comprehensive kit for larger expeditions. Moreover, they stressed that you need the training before you need the kit. The condensed two-day class was a great start. At our request, the first aid instructors pivoted so we could all earn our “Stop the Bleed” certificates.
Off-Road Recovery: Chris Cole, Bill Burke, Jim Geroux
Scott: Even with 30+ years of off-roading, this course demonstrated what I didn’t know. The Safe-Xtract Team has created an app that we all downloaded. Components include a Learning Center for installing synthetic winch line, using soft shackles, creating safety lanyards, pulley blocks and daisy chains, hand signals, vehicle placement, recommended recovery gear and more. Chris went into incredible detail on the correct recovery techniques.
Barry: This instruction formed the meat and potatoes – or bangers and mash – part of the event. As we all know, if you’ve been off-roading for any length of time, you will need a recovery or will help others on the trail. The team at Safe-Xtract are masters of their trade, having instructed military personnel and civilians alike from all over. Their philosophy is very direct; recovery is both a science and an art that requires practice. Instructors preached safety thru knowledge; for example, use only rated gear and allow the winch or equipment to work in the most effective manner for the situation. This may mean the use of winch extensions with more pulleys and soft shackles but it will directly affect the speed of the pull and the amount of energy used by your winch. Knowledge of your gear and what is being used around you at an event or excursion is paramount for safety. After seeing the numbers on electrical draw and recovery speed, I will try a double line pull first from now on.
Trail Leadership and Etiquette: Joey Pitts, Eric Brown
Scott: Joey and Eric, both I4DWTA certified instructors, created this section of the program specifically for the ANARC trainees. They kept the class lighthearted and moving and really gave us a better understanding of Tread Lightly principles and how to be an effective trail leader. We did a great role-play exercise where we all got a chance to be a trail leader. It gave me so much better understanding of the role’s importance. I would be lying if I didn’t admit we were all a little humbled.
Barry: The instructors stressed the difference between off-roading and on-trail driving. The motto of this segment was DTRT — “Do the right thing” — for the environment, your group and those enjoying the trails around you so we don’t lose access to them in the future. The Tread Lightly theme presided over the entire Steward Event. Students learned about pre-trail preparations including vehicle inspections, communications, pre-trip briefing and convoy etiquette.
A real take-away for me was the setting up of where necessary gear was within the convoy itself, i.e., who is the trail leader, the middle truck and the tail gunner. A stock Rover may want to be placed next to a kitted-out Rover in case it runs into trouble. Where are your Land Rovers with winchs located? Who has comms or medical kits? And if the convoy needs to turn around, the rig in the rear may now be the leader and no longer the tail gunner; a lot of logistics to plan for a simple trip. It became very clear from our instructors that you could never be too prepared in this arena.
Closing Ceremony
Scott: During the closing gathering, I can honestly speak for all the attendees that this event was powerful, transformative and eye-opening for everyone in attendance, not just a quick refresher of a few ideas and techniques. Whether you were a newbie to the off-road community or like me, a 30+ veteran, you came away with a better understanding of how to enjoy this activity in a safe and responsible way. I know personally that I left charged up and ready to get more instruction.
Barry: The sense of camaraderie was palpable throughout the week. Many of the trainees were instructors themselves or experienced event leaders in their own clubs, yet everyone was still sucking up every bit of information they could glean. After having been a part of some of these trips, meets and events, I can truly say that the Land Rover enthusiast community is alive and well, growing larger and stronger with each generation.
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