While out wheeling this weekend we got wind that there was a vehicle up on the mountain that had been stuck for 20 hours. A young couple, completely unprepared and stranded, had broken through the surface crust in their Jeep and were helpless. No jackets, no shovels, no proper footwear, etc.

A 40 minute drive from the highway, walking wasn't an option for them. The temperature was hovering around -28 and the windchill was around -30ish I would have to guess.

ALRIGHT! Let's go get 'em!





Said viewpoint. You may have seen this scene in more than a few of my photos, I just love it so much, and it looks different everyday.







Nobody else in the group had been here, so I was more than happy to show it off to them. They were blown away. I took this opportunity to air down my tires to 15psi, knowing a large uphill climb was approaching.



The other rigs. That little Sammy is incredible. I want one



Dave looking cold and happy.



This is how they were stuck when we found them. The Jeep had been idling for the entire 20 hours, and they were just sitting in there waiting for SOMEONE to come along.

The baking sheet near the front was all they had to try and get out! hah!



Hooked up to the 4Runner, I gave a couple swift tugs and it popped out of it's hole.



He kept getting stuck driving in reverse back down the hill, here I am digging him free from the 2nd stuck. (I have thick fleece underlay in those jeans FYI)



A visitor came trotting down the road to see what all the noise was about. He hung around for about 10 minutes like a dog would hang around. At times being within arms reach. Made the entire experience so surreal.















Driving back home. Mission accomplished!

 

Very cool. Hopefully, you gave your rescuees some useful advice.

 

Yep, I think he learned a very valueable lesson in Darwinism.
Also, proper recovery technique and gear to carry. He was impressed I had a spare down filled coat in the back of my truck for him to wear.

 

Nice save Scofco.

Idled for 20 hours straight??? So that's what "Trail Rated" means... cool.

 

Awesome save man!

And, as always, beautiful pictures!!!

I wonder if there is a little tension between that couple now?!

 

I got "stranded" about 100km east of Yellowknife once, wasn't wheeling, but was isolated, and it was cold. I ended up rescuing myself by using a 2x6 to smash my passenger's side window, and carrying a spare key in my wallet from that day forward, didn't make for a pleasant drive home at -40

Here's some gold for you:

 

Steve, great pictures and kudos for coming to the rescue.

Next season get us some snow pics for the calendar.

 

it's so much fun being able to rescue people who think ..."hey, i have a 4x4 so i can go anywhere...mintues later they get stuck and good ol' TOYOTA to the rescue eh! congrats Scofco! nice rescue

 

Mucho big props to you man!!!

I'm not religious but, I am spiritual, this may sound weird but I believe that fox was there to say "Hay good job, good karma"!!!

 

Good save and, as usual, great pics.

 

very beautiful place. I used to live in a town called Soldotna which is about an hour south of anchorage. I was around 8 and me and my dad would go around in his stock 86 toyota 4x4 and would pull all the big chevy's and fords out and it would piss them off so bad that a little 4 banger with an 8 year old driver had enough to pull out their big bad ass 4x4 trucks. me and my dad always got a kick out of it. fun times

 

props to you for driving out of your way to rescue them

 

Were they new transplants to the yukon scofco?
heck I don't go on the road (let alone off roading) at all with out my winter sleeping bag and some snacks even down here...
great save and nice pics of the fox and all... definitely send us some pics for next year's calander...

 

I wonder what they did to keep warm lol, jk, Looks like a beautiful trip. Some people just don't know how to drive in snow I supose.

 

Thanks folks. Those actually aren't photos that I took. I forgot to bring my camera when I left the house

The people have lived here a long time, my guess which was backed by the rest of my party, was that they went for a drive after the bar. They were probably hammered, and the guy wanted to play hide the sausage.

He had got the new winter tires on the day before he told me. Assuming he was drunk and thought his new tires were awesome in snow, went up to a isolated place to have a private party.

All speculation of course.

 

As i said before my moms liberty is trail rated and is more capable than my 4runner.


Aaron

 

Umm so was there any compensation? I know when out at sea a recovery is option for some serious negotiation like 30-70% of cargo, yadayada. Not even a hug or hand shake?

Aaron

 

He offered us money, we declined. Just told him that we'd expect him to do the same for us if the roles were reversed.

 

10-4


Aaron

 

Kudos for helping someone out. The fox is really cool too, i def agree with his appearance pertaining to good karma you earned.