Callalantee update (helmet required for 17 and under)

Benjie

Benjie

It's a Toyota thing...
Joined
Apr 28, 2007
Location
Raleigh
First off, I started this as a new thread so everyone interested would see this and not miss it because it was buried in the re-birth thread. Keep the discussion in that thread going... don't move it to this one.

First off, Nita and company are making great improvements!! Way to go.

My wife, 5 year old daughter, and I went to sign the waivers and pay up. No problems. But, Tommy (I think that was his name) told me they have a new rule for 17 yr old and younger. If a you have someone in the vehicle that is 17 yrs old and younger, they have to wear a helment. Needless to say, we didn't have a helment. My truck has 4 point harnesses and a full exo cage. After I talked with Tommy, he mentioned the rule was put in place about 3 weeks ago. He did let me hand write on the waiver that I took responsibility of no helment and let us ride w/o it.

Later, I talked with Nita about it and told her I would post up on the board and spread the word. I don't know if the rule will remain as time goes on, but for now, it's there. Most importantly, Nita does not fully understand the OHV sport in a vehicle. She comes from a ATV background. So, lets put our best foot forward for her and keep the place open. Why do I say this?

I followed an ambulance out yesterday where a guy roled his ATV (no helment) and was severely injured. He was on the BIG hill at the cross road where you turn right to go toward pull cable. As we were leaving yesterday, she stated they may close that hill climb now.
 
I think ATV riding and motorcycle riding with no helmet is just plain stupid at any age.

I think it's a great rule for the trucks as well. We have all been wearing helmets for for 2 years now. Not for regular trail riding but the hard stuff. I wear a helmet where I feel I may flip. My boys wear theirs all the time. We don't wear full face motorcycle helmets. They use their bicycle helmets as do I.

I have no problem with this and will comply happily.
 
That is a great hill climb, but not for an ATV. I've done it several times in my buggy and would be sad if it were closed.
 
When we were leaving yesterday we saw a life flight helicopter leaving the little hospital there in mountain city. I can only guess who was in it... I hope the guys is ok. I hope this makes them rethink some of the rules for atvs up there, like they have done with younger kids in helmets. I hope this doesnt mess things up for everyone else.
 
wow.. I can't see any reason someone would try that hill on an ATV.... now a bike might be fun... I've never tried it and from the looks of it, a few more heavy rains and it'll be nasty.

I can feel the helmet on an open rig riding stuff like pull cable, etc... but not the average family in a jeep just trail riding. What about the people that bring their babies up there and trail ride...
 
I think it was somewhere on Pirate, maybe, that a doctor was saying small kids don't have the neck strength for it, even on pretty mild trails... that kids under something like 2 years of age shouldn't ride at all. Think about how sore you are after a long day, hard trails or not. Helmets or neck braces are probably a good idea for little ones.
 
trailhugger said:
I think it was somewhere on Pirate, maybe, that a doctor was saying small kids don't have the neck strength for it, even on pretty mild trails... that kids under something like 2 years of age shouldn't ride at all. Think about how sore you are after a long day, hard trails or not. Helmets or neck braces are probably a good idea for little ones.
Click to expand...


Yeah, sorry I didn't mean babies like infants...
 
trailhugger said:
I think it was somewhere on Pirate, maybe, that a doctor was saying small kids don't have the neck strength for it, even on pretty mild trails... that kids under something like 2 years of age shouldn't ride at all. Think about how sore you are after a long day, hard trails or not. Helmets or neck braces are probably a good idea for little ones.
Click to expand...


Think it was actually Hairston on here....

PING BRAIN NERD
 
Who ever is speaking with Nita about ways to improve park please talk with her about requiring helmets for anyone riding ATVs or Dirt bikes. From what I heard the guy we followed out sunday was the second person hurt there this week. Heard a lady rolled her ATV and was hurt thurs. or friday. We saw lots of ATVs this weekend and very few helmets, and the helmets we saw were for bicycles not ATVs.
 
Benji,

What type of helmets are required for the riders in the full size rigs? I am not knocking it, I think it is a good idea, Just don't think heavy full face motorcycle or ATV helmets on my 4 year would be a good idea in the Jeep, bouncing around could hurt a neck. Now a light weight bike or skate board helmet would work fine.

Mike
 
Helmets required for 17 or younger inside a vehicle is stupid.

Anyone riding a dirtbike or ATV without a helmet must have an IQ equal to their shoe size. I always wore a helmet back when I rode. It would be an odd day if I didn't take soil samples at least once.
 
I'd highly recommend whoever is talking to Nita at Callalantee to check out the rules at Harlan. They are pretty simple. They do have trails that are designated 4x4 and/or ATV only. So, while you won't keep an ATV off of a 4x4 trail, posting it as a 4x4 only trail pretty is self explainatory.
Harlan also has 4x4 trails that require helmets on some trails. This is a good idea, even in a 4x4 in some cases.

I have contact numbers to most of the Board of Directors at Harlan and can get her in touch with them if someone wants to call me. If Callalantee is going to change rules, might as well go with a rule system that is simiple and proven and one that makes sense.
 
We rode there two weeks ago and notice lots of fools riding ATV's with no helmet...that is just plain stupid, I don't care who you are. I look like I'm ready for all out battle when I ride, padded pants, chest protector,gloves, neck collar,boots...hell I even wear fox underwear with a gel pad in the crotch.
We watched several people go by without helmets and my wife just said "Darwin".

The bathrooms were clean, the snack bar was rolling, the trail maps and markers still sucked ass though. There was a group of people clearing off what looked to be a more difficult pull cable type trail, I'll be back for that one.
 
helmets

I understand the rule to wear a helmet for the dirtbikes ,atv, but for a vehicle who is just light trailriding. not moving at a high rate of speed, or not, trying to climb something that might turn it over, is wrong, IMO. I have never been there and wanna go, but may have to cancel my thanksgiving weekend up there with these kinda rules poping up.
 
I was up there this weekend with my nearly 4 year old son. She just told me he was supposed to wear a helmet and it was my responsibility if he didn't have one on. She didn't check that I had one or that he was wearing it.

She's just trying to CYA if people get caught without helmets. I can understand that, as a parent it's my responsibility to make sure my kid is safe not theirs.

It's a bit odd in a jeep with a roof to wear a helmet (we didn't) but I did see a lot of kids out on atv's and no one on an ATV had a helmet on which isn't good at all. There was also an obnoxiously annoying loud quad out ripping up grass near the camp sites. I like engine noise plenty but a quad with no muffler at all isn't pleasant noise at all lol

I wouldn't stop going because of a helmet rule and honestly in an open top jeep or buggy it's not a bad idea.
 
trailhugger said:
I think it was somewhere on Pirate, maybe, that a doctor was saying small kids don't have the neck strength for it, even on pretty mild trails... that kids under something like 2 years of age shouldn't ride at all. Think about how sore you are after a long day, hard trails or not. Helmets or neck braces are probably a good idea for little ones.
Click to expand...

best analagy is picture a bowling ball on a broom stick. We teach this all the time. the kids head is bigger than their body. it goes that way for about the first 2 years of their life. So, to say the neck muscles aren't developed is true enough.

my point, you could get a bicycle helmet on them with no problem. it's lightweight, and when fitted properly, shouldn't be uncomfortable. With all the bars all around the seats, or stuff unsecured in your rig, a branch or rock thrown up could pose a significant injury to your child. a helmet is a small price to pay.

my kids have gone with me once or twice, but i stay far away from anything remotely close to hardcore....

hope this helps.
brian
 
i think the helmet thing is a good idea for 17 and under. if your in a 09 F250 or a buggy, still sounds like a good idea to me. although i dont think people would bring 09 3/4 trucks up little tellico, you get my point. i think no matter what the age, if your on a bike, atv,utv,rtv whatever, you should be required to wear a helmet no matter what age. i mean its common sense. personally, i think the owners are ignorant for letting people on atvs/bikes ride with no helment. my 2cents
 
I am on the fence about the helmet rule. 17 seems to be a little old for the have to and don't have to. Especially inside a rig with full cage and harnesses. Also thinking of those trips when it was 7*, and wondering how a toboggan, and a hoodie would fit under the helmet.
I agree that all ATVers should be wearing one, no if's and's or but's.

One thing I personally would like to see is the local LE patrolling like I saw a couple weeks ago in Harlan. Might just deter many folks from throwing those blue cans everywhere.
 
I was there with Benji when he was talking to her about it. She just wants to make sure everyone is safe. She was all about having fun, but doesnt want anyone getting hurt. This rule change was due to an accident that happened a couple of years ago that she heard about. I am pretty sure she said that accident was on a atv as well. We need to show her that our rigs are much safer than a atv. She is still trying to figure everything out and I think we should help any way we can.
 
burrellsjeep said:
Benji,

What type of helmets are required for the riders in the full size rigs? I am not knocking it, I think it is a good idea, Just don't think heavy full face motorcycle or ATV helmets on my 4 year would be a good idea in the Jeep, bouncing around could hurt a neck. Now a light weight bike or skate board helmet would work fine.

Mike
Click to expand...

MIke,

She said a bicycle helment. Not a full ATV style helment.


While I was behind the ambulance, I had a chance to talk with one of the locals (his wife is one of the ATV guides). I asked him his opinion of the change. He said that Nita was really trying to put her best foot forward, open new trails, and make the campground/cafe area a lot nicer.

I wanted to spread the word about the helment rule. As for us, when we get to something that is remotely difficult, the children come out of my truck. I know accidents can happen anywere, but I would have no problem with my kids wearing a helment if that keeps us on the trail.

Oh by the way, I dropped a few names from NC4x4 on Nita. She seemed to be thankful for any help anyone is willing to give.

Overall, it was a good weekend. I even broke a toyota u-joint for the first time...
 
The added safety and concern in general she is taking make me want to go more, not less. I applaud her for that. If she doesn't set rules then she won't be able to get insurance, if she doesn't have insurance she won't be open. I'm glad she is making the effort.

I can't believe with the number of deaths the last couple years in full bodied rigs, not all at high speed that a $20 lightweight bicycle helmet is an issue.

Again I suspect not many people wheel with their kids the hard stuff. I do, but they wear helmets, as do I. Its just not a big deal. Many parks are going to a mandatory helmet rule for some trails. She will just needs to work it out.

As far as being cold. If it's 7* I won't take my kids, but I'll wear a helmet. An ear band will fit under mine. I also ski with a helmet I could wear it. It has ear flaps. Our you can get a skull cap think hat that will fit under a helmet. I say them at Gander specifically for this.

I think instead of trying to figure out how to not wear one, we should try to figure out how to wear on.
 
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