I agree with John. There is also a difference between usinig a 4WD in day to day and using it only in the field. If the vehicle is used rarely in th= e field, and even more rarely the 4wd is actually used, then it would be better to own a fuel-economic vehicle, and rent a 4wd on those days it is absolutely needed. I have also worked in some pretty slippery places in Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil - but have never had a 4WD to use, and so, got b= y without it. In Montana, on the other hand, I had to use one in the snow, only. For the guys I worked with and me, getting around without 4WD even though it was available was a point of honor! If you had to lock the hubs, you were (in good fun) considered inferior (as a joke, as well all know tha= t there are no options at times. Once here in Brazil, I stopped my VW van to look at a puddle to see if I could cross without getting stuck, Little did I know, I was already stuck! Had to get a friend with 4WD to get out, and even then it wasn't easy. And, for those who wish to say a VW van is a gas guzzler too, I had natural gas installed just for that reason).
And finally, this discussion seems to have little to do with ecology and a lot to do with anecdotes (I myself am now guilty as charged). Cheers, Jim On 8/13/07, John F Pagels/FS/VCU <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I have found some of the comments on this thread to be condescending and > boorish. When I was a graduate student I too got around well without a > 4WD vehicle. Pretty easy in New Orleans and nearby. As time goes by, > some of us end up in research programs/situations that require 4WDs, > others don't. For many years I worked at/near the highest elevations in > Virginia in pursuit of the northern flying squirrel and selected other > boreal species. Yes, there is snow, spring thaw and mud, and very > slippery leaves on steep roadways at some time or another even in > Virginia. Most of the time 4WD is not needed, especially on the > Interstate, it's just the last 15-20 K or so. So, whippersnappers and > other flatlanders, carry 60 Tomahawk traps on your back 5 miles through > snow or mud, along with your tent, supplies, a ladder for checking nest > boxes, bait and the like. Have your graduate student(s) rent pack horses > to help with that. We've done that also. > > John Pagels > > > John Pagels, Ph.D > Professor, and Director Graduate Program in Biology > Department of Biology > Virginia Commonwealth University > 1000 West Cary Street > Richmond, VA 23284-2012 > (804)828-0076 Fax (804)828-0503 [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > Wayne Tyson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent by: "Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news" > <[email protected]> > 08/13/2007 12:29 AM > Please respond to > Wayne Tyson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To > [email protected] > cc > > Subject > Re: Field-Worthy SUV > > > > > > > Eric: > > I have more than a little sympathy for your point; I used to backpack > at one point in my life too, and have only had a 4wd for a few > years. There's no doubt that they can do a lot of damage in the > hands of fools. > > But they help us crips get to where we otherwise could not go. I > have a mountain bike and trailer for gear, but am prohibited from > using many trails because of the misbehavior of recreational mountain > bikers--that means I just can't go there. If there's water, I can > use my fold-up kayak. Maybe you would donate a foot or a tendon to > replace my busted one? And one for my busted biceps tendon too? And > oh, I almost forgot, a nerve bundle for my thumb and a couple of > phalanges for a calcified middle finger? Just joking, of > course--hoping to be informative . . . We all have one kind of > limitation or another. So if you need a guy with my limitations, let > me know . . . I just might volunteer. > > Keep up the good work. Glad you use your "frickin" legs. Wish mine > were as frickin good as yours. You could probably get a helluva book > deal telling about that trip to Michigan. > > WT > > PS: When I graduated from high school, a friend hiked with me several > miles on crutches up some Sierra Nevada rivers--he had had polio and > was "wasted" from the hips down. But he could do a thumb stand and > fold over beer-bottle caps with one hand. I took him along for > protection--if he ever got those hands around a neck . . . even a > grizzly bar would be in trouble. > > At 01:26 PM 8/11/2007, Eric North wrote: > >I have to concur with the idea of 4 wheel drive being unneccessary for > field > >work. It tends to make one go where they shouldn't. If you're using 4wd, > you > >probably degrading a road or trail, and aren't we all here to protect > >resources?? I've worked in temperatures and environments from Northern > >Michigan at -20F to the Grand Canyon at 123F, carrying all my own gear, > and > >I've found that the most reliable SUV you can use are your own frickin' > >legs!! If you can't haul all your own stuff, then HIRE SOMEONE TO HELP > YOU! > >Lots to drink, plenty to eat, and the right clothing. > > > >Hopefully Informative- > >Eric > > > > > > > >Eric North > >Department of Biological Sciences > >Northern Arizona University > >P.O. Box 5640 > >Flagstaff, AZ 86011 > >Office: 928.523.7247 > >Cell:928.607.3098 > >FAX: 928.523.7500 > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >_________________________________________________________________ > >A new home for Mom, no cleanup required. All starts here. > >http://www.reallivemoms.com?ocid=3DTXT_TAGHM&loc=3Dus > --=20 James J. Roper, Ph.D. Ecologia e Din=E2micas Populacionais de Vertebrados Terrestres ------------------------------ Caixa Postal 19034 81531-990 Curitiba, Paran=E1, Brasil ------------------------------ E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Telefone: 55 41 33857249 Mobile: 55 41 99870543 ------------------------------ Ecologia e Conserva=E7=E3o na UFPR <http://www.bio.ufpr.br/ecologia/> Personal Pages <http://jjroper.googlespages.com>
