A Scouting We Will Go

Two days before, on Sunday after church, James and his good friend Troy decided to scout out some possible ATV areas about 10 miles north of the house. They decided to scout with the Jeep before taking the time to put the ATV on the trailer.

They ended up on a ridge and ran out of road that the Jeep could go on, and decided to turn around instead of backing down the road. It was too steep and wet/icy on the slope...

The Hill

I didn’t measure it, but it looked like that this was about 500-1000 feet of a slide. Not a smooth slide, either, as there are furrows that run parallel to the slope.

Last Chance

Finally on level ground and the road home is in sight, but can’t go up, only down...gee, it didn’t look too bad from up on the ridge.

Really Stuck

It doesn’t want to move any more.

Rescue

Good friend, and James' boss and fellow guitar player, Ron to the rescue.

How stuck is it?

Nose to the dirt wall.

It’s down there somewhere...

Troy sez my rear wheels were in the air as I went over...

Dad? Uh...Sorry about that...Ron sez we should have brought a helicopter...

Almost Out

We dug out the front. The front bumper and bottom of the radiator was in contact with the ground below and in front. The rear differential and right rear wheel was also partially buried in mud. We used spare roof shingles for traction in the mud, and 2x4‘s to keep the front tires from sinking in after they had been freed. The jeep was able to make it down to the road, but it was too steep for it to safely climb unassisted.

Steep climb, Dodge to the rescue.

Sweet success! The Dodge didn't even spin it's tires.