Booby Traps!
About 1-1/2 minutes in to this video, you can see one of the booby traps that was discussed in Episode 36 of the Creative Riding Motorcycle Podcast. The rest of the video is just boobs, and not the good kind. Enjoy the German cussing BTW.
I sincerely think it was a booby trap because it was a single inconspicuous wire stretched across an otherwise open passage.
As a person who grew up on ranches and who was surrounded by communities of fenced properties, I can tell you that no one tries to hide the fact that they want you off of their land. There are usually metal gates or barbed wire with gratuitous affixed signage that reads “NO TRESPASSING” or “This Property Protected by Smith & Wesson”. In addition, there are usually multiple rungs of wire and/or a cattle guard if the intent is to keep animals such as sheep or cattle in/out of an area.
One small wire stretched across was probably not meant to deter pick ups, jeeps, or really even UTVs or dune buggies either. This was something put there to hurt people on 2-wheels.
Not only could that have hurt a shorter rider (when I was a youth in San Diego, I remember hearing several stories of young kids on jet skis striking tow/moor lines with their necks. The injuries would not have been as severe if they had been a few inches taller), it’s also dangerous for mountain bikers and equestrians and their horses if they didn’t notice it because of speed or low visibility.
I’ve not ridden enough off road out here in the west to have seen anything like this, but this bullshit has to stop. I doubt it’s the property owner or manager since they are probably liable for injuries that occur on their property due to intentionally causing harm to people. Especially if it’s federal land. We all know how much people love posting signs and making it clear that you are doing something wrong, wether it be outside a liquor store or 100 miles from any civilization.
At any rate, please ride safe and keep your eyes peeled when traveling through gates, narrow canyons, between trees, or even through derelict buildings where wires can be stretched across your path. Now all we have to do is look out for the buried rebar spikes that the article covered! :O
-Cheers