I was in the Sneffels Wilderness for some photography in my trusty ’94 Toyota pickup. It was a very capable 4×4 vehicle outfitted with a winch, though the tread on the tires were a little worn down. It was getting late in the day, and I found myself way off the beaten path on an old dead-end mining road. It had been raining throughout the day, but it really picked up in the evening, and my balding tires just wouldn’t grip enough to pull the old beater up a pretty rough section of the trail. There were no trees to anchor to, and the only boulders would have come down on my truck had I used them. After a few attempts, I decided to stay put and make camp in hopes that the rain would let up over night; I would try again in the morning.
Unfortunately, it rained nonstop, and when I woke up the next morning, the road had turned into a small stream. I gave it another shot, but soon decided to hike into town to see if I could find someone to drive to the spot so I could hook up to their bumper and winch out.
This is where Jeff, one of the owners from Colorado West Jeep Rentals, saved the day! I explained the situation, and he offered to take his personal vehicle up to scene to give me a hand. Ultimately, the job required both the length of my cable and another tow rope that Jeff had. Due to the slick trail, we both had to drive forward in low gear while I winched myself free. I’m extremely grateful for Colorado West Jeep Rentals. Of course, had circumstances been different – perhaps mid-summer during the high season – they may not have been able to step away from their business. They certainly had no obligation to help, but I’m very thankful Jeff was there to help me out.
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