Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Double Dog Gone It!!!!!

So, I see my first Desert Tortoise out in the wild this afternoon while on a motorcycle ride and I don't have a camera with me!!!!!

It was out on Bowman Road about a mile, or so, east of Highway 14. I didn't want the poor bugger to get crushed by a 4WD, so I picked it up and placed it out in the brush.

I think maybe I picked up some bad karma for doing this, as within a few minutes, I had my first high-speed, off-road crash. You should see my arm, shoulder and helmet. I was amazed that I walked away from this with only a few scrapes and an aching back. The only damage to the bike was a bent shifter and scratches to the front fender.

So, did I do the right thing in moving the turtle off of the road?

I can't tell you if you did the right thing or not... am glad that you survived though.

What is it with the people on this board and near death experiences?

good thing you have friend that repairs motorcycles, now find one that repairs arms, legs, and heads. glad you okay.

Actually Richard,
The good karma you got from moving the tortoise to a safer place saved you from an even worse motorcycle accident! Good thing you moved it!

Umm... Richard, dear, hurting your arm and shoulder will NOT make your knee feel better...

Glad to hear you're OK. Yes, moving the tortoise was a good thing.

-L

the accepted practice for tortoise handling is to leave them be unless in immediate danger/threat - and then it is preferred to use gloves to avoid transfering bacteria related virus - so my expert friend informs me. But I have seen the traffic on Bowman - people seem to use the straight dirt road as a pedal-to-the-metal route - I have pulled a friend or two out of the desert when they could not handle the speed/conditions.

Bummer about the crash - consider it a right of passage - hope you heal quickly

one time i was driving a dirt road out to the rock formation called "hercules finger" to do some rock climbing and i saw a desert tortoise in the middle of the dirt trail. the trail is used very infrequently so i didn't touch him. i think it might even be against federal law to touch them anyway.
however, you did the right thing by moving him, better safe than sorry.

You better not move like a tortoise this weekend

Intuitively one has to believe you did the right thing. There certainly could be no bad Karma attached to potentially saving one of God's creatures from harm.My opinion is you did the right thing with the tortoise.
You just need to figure out why you failed to keep the bike from crashing.That one has to be on you.Thank God you survived. In case no one told you, you have to be careful riding motorcycles. Duh

Sorry about the accident, hope you heal up quickly, we actually have tortoise training at Edwards (where I work) and if you move one you are to move him in the direction he was going and just out of danger.

Another note: Linda and I did a hike today up in the Angeles Forest and saw 3 Mountain goats, that was a first for us..

Ron

Glad you are ok, Richard. It's just a reminder to me why I won't ride one anymore (I am dealing with arthritis in my right ankle due to a motorcycle accident over 30 years ago). These days, I'll just stick to my mountain bike.

...which reminds me: I was riding in Michigan last Monday, and crashed twice! (See, I take too many risks to get on a motorized 2-wheeler) I have a great V-shape road rash on my hip, but fortunately nothing worse.

Your good deed with the tortoise brings to mind the story my son told me. In Michigan, he saw a snapping turtle crossing the road, so he stopped and thought he would try to help it across. That sucker got nasty -- crapping, thrashing and snapping. The crap made a terrible smell, and his tail thrashed it all around. My son decided the rascal would have to cross the road on his own.

Sorry to hear about your high speed, off road crash. Really glad you’re O.K.; you were fortunate!

Moving the tortoise and motorcycle crash...no connection.

Rule of thumb: always carry camera. I've missed my share of “once in a lifetime” shots. It sucks!

In terms of handling them, I think Tom has it right. I've hiked a few times with his friend, and she's an expert on them.

My neighbor is a long-time sport climber, and has seen lots of them over the years. According to him, one of the dangers of handling is that it may cause them to open their internal water storage sac, and if that happens they may die of dehydration.

Not an easy call, especially since lots of people speed on Bowman.

You dun good Richard.

The Mojave population of desert toroises is listed as threatened.
It is considered unlawful to touch them, but in your case I think we would all agree it was in the animals (and the deserts) best intrest.

Glad your ok. Consider MarkI's theory.

Thank you

With the weekend so close...

It only hurts when:
- I get into bed (Sorry honey, not tonght, I have a climb coming up this weekend.)
- I roll over in bed
- I get out of bed
- I wash my hair
- I wash my back
- I get in the car
- I get out of the car
- I pick something up with my left arm
- I put my left arm down on my desk
- Various other "normal," everyday activites.

Not to worry though, I'll be there. I've got SPOT.

Isn't cold good for a sore back?

=====
On a serious note: thanks for all the good wishes. I think it does help the healing process. And I hope DT is OK. (I was wearing gloves. I kept "him" pointed in the same direction, but moved him 30-40' to the south.)

Hmmmm... sounds like you need a physical therapist...

You boys be good out there, now! Hope grahamcracker enjoys the ride!

I remembered Tom's advice...


So, I see this guy/gal out on Bowman Road...


... and hide in the brush waiting for him to calm down and hopefully head off of the road. And it does!!!!!

No sooner do I head off for the west side of 14, than a 4WD comes screaming down Bowman, slams on the brakes when they see the bugger, and load him into their vehicle.

I was so pissed, I almost chased them down, but didn't want to risk ending up with a shotgun blast to the chest, so I just simmered the rest of the day!

My only hope is that maybe they run a rescue mission for these critters, but that's probably wishful thinking.

Hi Richard...I tried to send you a PM...but I got a this user is over the private topic limit..so was unable to ...anyway to get you my note?

always remember to take pictures of suspicious activity

More sage advice Tom. I guess I could have turned a photo of the license plate over to authorities.

madeintahoe, my e-mail address is in my profile.