May 29, 2018 | Categories: Mission Reports

Mission Report: Four Mile

Memorial Day is usually seen as the kick off of summer. This time, the day was a reminder of the value of service to others. Usually the summer is a slower season for those of us in the 4×4 recovery group but this holiday started the summer off with one of our marquee recoveries. A fellow off roader contacted us when his pride and joy, a Jeep CJ5 and trailer, went over the side of a trail in 4 Mile Area. He was injured and looked pretty sore. He had already been to the ER and back when he contacted us but he was on scene to watch as we were able to bring his beautiful Jeep and trailer back to the road.

Our dispatchers, as always, started the process off right and got a team together of both rigs and riders. We had limited space on scene but the extra labor was invaluable as the Jeep was down 50-70 feet on a 50 deg slope. Training was evident everywhere and leadership and followership abounded. 11 members worked for 11 hours, seamlessly, watching over one another and our requesting party and making sure we all had a good day.

A quick run down of known equipment used: All 7 rigs, 4winches, approximately 500 feet of winch line, extensions and safety straps, pulley blocks, traction boards, more soft and hard shackles than could be counted as well as numerous tools and crafty solutions. The quality level of the recovery gear was impressive as our training and trainer, Matt Balazs from On Trail Training, has taught us the value of the right gear for the solutions we seek.

After securing the Jeep and the trailer, they were separated and the trailer was first righted, then brought up the slope. Amazingly, other than the top tent, it was almost unharmed from its rapid fall. This recovery showed us how to bring up the Jeep.

After righting the Jeep, it too was winched up to the landing. This one took a bit more muscle and a change of winches due to line loading on one winch drum. The look of relief on the owners face was wonderful. But the best was yet to come.

After getting the Jeep to the landing, several issues were addressed but resulted in the Jeep starting, running and leaving Bald Mountain under its own power. The smile on the face of our requesting party in the cloud of oil smoke as his Jeep ascended the trail again, was worth the day.

As we have grown we have also learned the value of notifying local sheriff offices when we are on such recoveries so they are aware of our major operations and as an added layer of protection if the worst happens. Chaffee County Sheriff office was notified both arriving on scene and when cleared. They were very pleased to learn of our abilities and have the crash scene resolved.

The professionalism extended to all of our team members interacting with the public, our requesting party and especially one another. As the organization has grown, so have our training, member experience, and leadership/followership skills.

This was a day of remembrance and for our organization; this is another recovery that will be remembered. First call, to last recovery volunteer reporting they were home, this was a perfect recovery. We could not be more proud of our members all along the way to lead us to these days.

To the members of Colorado 4×4 Rescue and Recovery, we thank you.
We look forward to an amazing summer.

Colorado 4×4 Rescue and Recovery.
‘We Recover the Rockies’