How quickly things can go wrong

Short story.

I'm on vacation for two weeks and decided to take the boys (5 & 7) up to play in a snow a bit. We headed out to the same area I've gone to dozens of times as an adult and as a kid. I grew up out here. The road is Mtn. Loop highway in Washington which connects the small old logging town of Granite Falls with the smaller town of Darrington. One of the prettiest roads around. To the end of the granite falls side, paved, is about 45 minutes east of me. There are dozens of camping and hiking spots along the way as well as a ranger station. Beautiful country. It's snowing and about 30 degrees outside.

Pretty close to the end of the road I see a kid standing on the side of the road, he's waving me down. Appears to be about 18-22. I stop and we chat. He decided to go hiking and turned off a not cleared forest road and promptly got his completely stock Xterra stuck about 200' off the road. It's just around a corner and I can't see it but I can see he was pushing snow a bit. On top of this, he's been trying to get himself out for a couple of hours and is nearly out of gas. He has 2 hours of daylight left, if that. He stopped a couple of other people who promised to alert the ranger station to his predicament but none were willing to help. He has no overnight clothes, no food, no water, no protection... no nothing. There is no cell service in this area, it's about 20 miles back down the road.

After assessing him, having him show me his pockets etc. and having a pretty clear conversation about my willingness to protect my kids I decided to try and help him. I turned down the road and then pretty quickly decided I was not going to even try and get to his SUV, after some work I backed back out to the road. At this point he has a decision, take my shovel and continue to try and free himself or jump in the back of the truck and I'll run him to town.

He decides to take my shovel and give it another go. I tell him I'm going to the end of the road and that I would be back in about 30 minutes. When I get back he's standing at the road again, shivering and cold. Now he decides to jump in the truck, back, and we head into town. About 20 back down the road I pass a Sheriff and flag him down, explain I have a kid in the back who was stuck etc. The Sheriff was heading out to assist him and the kid goes with the Sheriff. As I approach town about 15 miles away from the exchange point I get pulled over from another Sheriff who asks if I can look in the back of the truck for the kids keys.... At some point in this whole process he dropped his keys. They weren't in the back of my truck.

Why am I telling this story?

Hikers die out in this area every year without fail. Right now there is another very experienced hiker missing in this same area. He will not be found alive.

As we all go out and play in our trucks on the weekend it is easy to forget how quickly things can go wrong. Be prepared. Don't venture off alone without the proper equipment. If you are going off-roading or just exploring forest roads have water, clothes, recovery gear etc.

It reminded me of this video I watched.... these guys are the pinnacle when it comes to being prepared, but shit still goes sideways. The unexpected happens.

https://youtu.be/f8trkgFX6wI

Here's a few pics from that day before I encountered the kid. This is about half way out on Mtn. Loop Highway at the Turlo campground:

 

It's scary how quickly things can change.

 

If that ain't sobering I don't know what is.

 

This thread wins.


The third paragraph is my favorite part.

I helped two young kids on a rainy night on the mountain here one night. It was just about the same situation.

 

Good on you man. Definitely helps to know what your limits are as far as self recovery and supplies to get you through. Glad you were the minority who stopped and helped, as you mentioned a few people passed and that seems to be the norm these days.

Loved the video too. Anyone with maxtrax or treds know if they could have slipped them under the recoveree to lift him over the mud rather than pushing through it? Been in that place before and the only thing that got me out was some solid pulls on a strap.

 

This thread really brings the point home. When venturing out solo, in addition to proper supplies and equipment, the ability to communicate is essential. My choice is the inReach from Delorme using the Iridium satellite network. Allows people at home to track your location against your known itinerary and also allows the user to send and receive text messages. And there is an SOS button if the situation is life-threatening.

 

the inReach looks cool, I may have to pick one of those up.

 

I plan on getting one of those.

 

Hey, OP, good on ya for being a Good Samaritan.

And one quick question, what brand/size tires on your truck?

 

Great post and a testament to the lack of common sense out there is this world we live in.

 

I thought that was mtn loop when I saw the pics on the Live thread.

 

Been there and recovered people who weren't prepared. It's one of the main reasons I am getting a winch receiver for my truck. Here is one where it pays to have a couple extra straps though. I was just out wheeling with my buddy and this skid trail looked inviting. That embankment is over 1:1 slope.

And for fun cause it says Ford

 

Group runs are different. Doing recoveries is part of the experience.

 

What would you guys recommend for recovery - short of a winch? Would a power puller work in a recovery situation? I realize it would be a pain in the ass to use, but better than being stuck.

TEKTON 4 Ton Dual Gear Power Puller | 5547

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NPPBHO...lid=3BF5HYTCATF9R&coliid=I1IDIYF2WSYA1I&psc=1

 

Goodyear Duratracs @ 265/70-17

 

Not a bad idea to have one on hand if it's your only option.

 

There has been quite a few times I have stopped to help people stuck and check on their safety as I drive back and forth to North Dakota. Every body needs a hand at some point, lord knows I have need a tug a few times in my life

 

Get a hi lift. It can be used as a come along as well as lift you up to throw shit under your tires.

Good on you OP for helping out.

 

Hi-lifts are great, if you get one be sure to watch some videos and practice using it. They can also be very dangerous. If the one you pick up doesn't come with an extra wide base plate pick one up ASAP.

 

But how practical are hi-lifts on stock trucks? Where would my lift points be? I don't have plate bumpers or true sliders.