View Full Version : Witches Eye
SMACKDOWN450R
08/27/05, 8:29 AM
New to the Dunes....What is the term Witches Eye?? Prolly a stupid question, But I heard this term and was wondering what it meant.
Arizona Griz
08/27/05, 9:18 AM
A Witches Eye is kind of a sink hole that can be found anywhere in the dunes. That's why you always want to make sure what's on the other side of a blind spot before riding.
RathrBdunin
08/27/05, 11:17 AM
SMACKDOWN450R -- that's exactly what happens to you if you are flying along & hit a Witcheye... They come in all sizes and shapes. It is where the wind has had a vortex area that leaves a pocket or patch of sand that is very soft and sunken... Hard to explain, but watch for the areas. If you are flying along and one of yuor front wheels hit one - It's SMACKDOWN HARD TIME ! !
Many, many frames, A-arms & wheels [ not to mention bones] have have been broken by
the "Witches Eyes".
Taylor_01
08/27/05, 11:24 AM
And usually their in the shadows casted by the hills so you never see them until its to late.
I try to avoid 'em if I can [:o)];)
SMACKDOWN450R
08/27/05, 5:00 PM
Ok...Thanks for the Info !! I definitely Keep my eye open when I go!! I bet they are especially hard to spot at Night.....[xx(]
Arizona Griz
08/27/05, 5:54 PM
They are hard to see in the daytime. :(
paulnick
08/28/05, 7:15 AM
They can be really tough to get out of.
They are especially hard to see in the middle of the day when there are no shadows. You are riding along when all of the sudden your bike drops a few feet and you stop dead. Not the funest of experiences[B)]:D
Most of them are around 2-3 feet across the top, 2-3 feet deep, and the sides are STEEP- they're like a cone in the ground.
RathrBdunin
08/28/05, 2:27 PM
At night they can be killers ! [xx(]
Ya, we have 2 bent bars on our sand rail from a small one and i have seen it completly break front ends of others.
ahsumtoy
08/29/05, 10:22 AM
They are generally found in the Imperial Sand Dunes as stated above. If you go to Dumont, you will hardly ever encounter a witches eye, just large ridge-backs.
WyoDuner
08/29/05, 1:59 PM
I think everybody described it pretty well. I would only add that they are actually shapped like an eye (minus the eyeball). Personally I would rate Witches Eyes as one of the worst type of "gotcha" in the dunes. You often will find them at the tops of the dunes or where there are many irregular shaped dunes together. They are just the right size to swallow up a quad's front end at least and cause you a very painful and abrupt stop if you are going any speed at all.
Crazy Craven
09/08/05, 6:49 PM
Oh man - I have heard of these too, guess I will have to have some of you RA members riding ahead of me so you can show me exactly what happens when one comes upon one[:0][B)]... Only kidding, but seriously I hope nobody gets hurt or damages there machine because that would really suck...
Be safe wherever you ride...