Rebel Outlaws - Danger in Dry Lakebeds

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Sept 3, 2010, 3:35am

Rebel Outlaws :: ATV Stories :: Stuck Stories :: Danger in Dry Lakebeds

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Topic: Danger in Dry Lakebeds (Read 214 times)

mmurr
Wannabe Rebel Outlaw

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Joined: Oct 2006
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Danger in Dry Lakebeds
« Thread Started on Jan 3, 2007, 9:27am »

We have a local Corps of Engineer Lake that is down about 8 feet below normal level and has exposed hundreds of acres of lakebed. Lakebed that used to be mud bottom is now dried and cracked, with some of these cracks 8 inches across and a foot and a half deep or more.
We had been exploring for a couple of hours, old foundations, river channels, creek bottoms all of which had been under water for years. We were riding across a large open flat area and I was starting to pass when my friend suddenly stopped. I looked back and could see he was stuck and sinking into the dried lakebed! Quickly, I turned towards higher ground. The dry crust we had been riding on had given way and he had sunk all the way to his frame in the mud below.
I weigh about 145lb and he probably weighs about 230lbs. By walking carefully the crust would support me and I could walk out to him. When he would try to get off his 4 wheeler he would break through the crust and sink past his knees and was unable to leave his 4 wheeler. I made a number of trips out to him with driftwood and logs and limbs thinking if we could get them under his wheels he would be able to drive out. It never worked, the limbs just kept sinking. Eventually we gave up and I had to leave him there for a couple of hours stranded like a dinosaur in a tarpit, while I went to town. I returned with my Suzuki Samurai and several ropes that when tied together reached about 250 feet. This enabled me to be on a firm surface while pulling. We broke the ropes about four times and it seemed like there was about 40 feet of stretch before he finally began to move. He tried to help by pushing but would just sink in the mud, so he finally had to sit on his 4 wheeler while I pulled him out.
I learned the following:

1. Took lots of quarters at the car wash.

2.We are very cautious when riding there now.

3. I have since installed a 2000lb VooDoo winch and carry 150 feet of rope when I ride. There is not always a tree or solid ground close by to tie onto.

Mike, your neighbor to the north - Independence, KS

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