Risk Management Magazine

Success was finally at hand as the 700-pound elk laid at my feet. This magnificent creature was the culmination of hours upon hours of physical preparation, mental concentration and pure luck. I had achieved a lifelong dream — taking an elk with archery tackle.

Depending on where you live, the winter months can range from a minor drop in daytime highs to 5 feet of snow and temperatures in the single digits. As a result, preparing to ride a motorcycle during the winter can be as simple as throwing on an extra base layer of clothing or as difficult as negotiating ice on the roadway.

There were a lot of risk factors that could have spelled disaster for this convoy, including fatigue, time of day, vehicle speed, convoy spacing, environmental hazards and lack of situational awareness. Thanks to good planning and risk analysis, my platoon took extra precautions against the added hazards.