Calamitygirl
Born to Wheel
- Messages
- 447
- Location
- Wyandotte, Michigan
A few weeks after BSHS Week I flew to Vegas to do my Mega Dig, that had been planned six months prior. It’s a playground of dozers and excavators just off the strip in Vegas. You can do a dozer or excavator. I figured if I'm flying out there, I'm going to experience both! (www.digthisvegas.com)
After a short classroom session, we were outfitted with our hazard orange construction vests and voice activated headsets! The Caterpillar 315CL Hydraulic Excavator was the first challenge. OMG, lots going on and which handle does what again? The joysticks and levers made digging a huge hole an easy task and carrying around a 2,000 lbs tire was no big deal! I was amazed how powerful it was, just lots of coordination on my part!
There was one instructor for three of us in the field. We dug holes, played basketball and used the huge 2,000 lbs. tires as the nets! The instructor would give us our task and we would go to it, if you weren't sure which handle or which foot, he could talk to us and vice versa to get the task done.
We broke for lunch and then it was back out this time a Caterpillar D5G Track-Type Dozer. I caught on to that quickly and we were told to build a small hill. Hmm, I could only imagine what comes next. Yup, ride up on top and down. That was a definite take your breath away moment. That little hill seemed like a huge obstacle!
I know some guys do this for their job, but for me it sure was a neat experience. Now whenever I see anything Caterpillar I check the model and sigh and think…I can do that!
After a short classroom session, we were outfitted with our hazard orange construction vests and voice activated headsets! The Caterpillar 315CL Hydraulic Excavator was the first challenge. OMG, lots going on and which handle does what again? The joysticks and levers made digging a huge hole an easy task and carrying around a 2,000 lbs tire was no big deal! I was amazed how powerful it was, just lots of coordination on my part!
There was one instructor for three of us in the field. We dug holes, played basketball and used the huge 2,000 lbs. tires as the nets! The instructor would give us our task and we would go to it, if you weren't sure which handle or which foot, he could talk to us and vice versa to get the task done.
We broke for lunch and then it was back out this time a Caterpillar D5G Track-Type Dozer. I caught on to that quickly and we were told to build a small hill. Hmm, I could only imagine what comes next. Yup, ride up on top and down. That was a definite take your breath away moment. That little hill seemed like a huge obstacle!
I know some guys do this for their job, but for me it sure was a neat experience. Now whenever I see anything Caterpillar I check the model and sigh and think…I can do that!
I can't explain the adrenaline rush I got dozing, digging and playing in the Caterpillar equipment. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done (besides offroading).
Matt, let me know if you need help when you are ready to make that tank bigger!
Matt, let me know if you need help when you are ready to make that tank bigger!
I have one tractor dedicated to mowing and hauling stuff and one dedicated for just digging. The feeling of accomplishment that I could level some ground, dig a ditch, move a pile of earth, mow an open field, haul firewood, whatever. It's fun and I call it tractor therapy 