SNAPPED: A truck buried in mud echos the importance of being prepared when heading into the outdoors

A truck buried to the frame in mud. Photo: Courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management Utah.

UTAH — Exploring the outdoors in Utah can be a lot of fun. There are thousands of miles of dirt roads just waiting to be explored. While these types of trips can be fun, there is also a danger of doing so unprepared, as evidenced by a picture of a truck buried to the frame in mud far from civilization posted on social media by the Bureau of Land Management.

Being able to escape everyday life and explore is the highlight of the summer for many, but doing so safely requires some preparation, such as planning for limited cell service by having access to other means of calling for help and letting someone know where you will be going in addition to when you will be back. While mountainous areas are likely to be buried in snow for a long while, there are other options, such as heading to Moab, St. George, or other parts of the state.

Having simple supplies on hand that might seem obvious such as a shovel, first aid kit, simple tools, or a life jacket when heading to one of the many bodies of water in Utah, but the inclusion of rescue gear such as those can be the difference in preventing a situation from becoming dangerous.

Regardless of whether the area is under BLM, the U.S. Forest Service, or some other agency, calling the local field office to find out current area road conditions and other information is an easy step that can make for a smoother experience. Many offices have detailed area maps for the public and helpful tips such as where to find a particular animal or the best campsites in the area.

Prepare for a river trip by:
⁎Tell someone where you’re going & when you’ll be back. Plan on limited cell service.
⁎Call the Price Field Office for maps and road conditions.
⁎First aid kit, vehicle repair supplies, satellite communicator, life jacket, pump and spare paddle pic.twitter.com/AT2EXYrhWD

— Bureau of Land Management Utah (@BLMUtah) May 4, 2023