Confidence on the Trail: Hoplite Venturetrek Skills Class

Hoplite has also coordinated with Cliffhanger to provide rental vehicles for those far from home who prefer to fly into Moab for training rather than drive their own vehicle to Utah.

...details such as approach and departure angles, suspension, and wheelbase, along with how they impact driving dynamics. Strengths and weaknesses of various platforms were discussed along with potential modifications and upgrades that students might want to consider in the future to meet their specific needs.

Here he demonstrates clear, non-verbal communication and places his hands up above his torso where they are easily visible to the driver.

Performing both tasks improves communication, make people more sympathetic to their partner, and builds confidence that they can get through any situation together.

Performing both tasks improves communication, make people more sympathetic to their partner, and builds confidence that they can get through any situation together.

Here, Josh Kellar uses an FRS radio to provide spotting advice to his friends while out of their direct field of view.

Clifton Slay explained how to use each piece of kit and recommended the “must haves” and “nice to haves” for various terrains and environments. Emphasis was also placed on buying quality gear that won’t let you down when you need it most.

Students were surprised by the level of effort required to insert the plug, but learned valuable tips on how to make the process easier.

Once Clifton Slay demonstrated how easy it is to reseat a bead using a Power Tank CO2 tank and a ratchet strap, the prospect of losing a tire bead was much less daunting.

This required them to think creatively about the equipment they had available and work together as a team to solve the problem at hand.

From treading lightly and leaving no trace to using tree saver straps to limit stress on vegetation, Hoplite Venturetrek emphasized the need to minimize the impact whenever enjoying vehicle-based recreation.

While not glamorous, they are inexpensive, you don’t need another vehicle’s assistance to use them, and digging can make extraction much easier even when used in conjunction with other devices.

Students had the opportunity to compare different products side by side and observe differences in weight, stiffness, and how tightly the boards nest within one another.

Doing so requires another vehicle to be with you though, and both vehicles must be equipped with sturdy tow points to safely perform this style of extraction.

Off-angle pulls, rollover recoveries, double and triple line pulls, and more were discussed on Day Two.

Here, Clifton Slay uses three FASS slings from Freedom Recovery Gear to performing winching with the Hi-Lift Jack.

Spotting, communications, and knowing your vehicle and its capabilities all came into play and reinforced what was taught earlier in the week.

Here, Trent McGee provides Ken Turzinski from Tyri Lights with information about the appropriate amount of moment and steering angle to conquer the ledges that Moab is famous for.

...the exposure to so many ideas they could apply to various scenarios on the trail. Being in Moab gave them the opportunity to explore on their own with confidence after completion of the training course.