June 4, 2018 | Categories: Mission Reports

Mission Report: Georgia Pass

Great recovery effort yesterday! Team 1 was sent in for a Jeep stuck in the snow on Georgia Pass. Upon arrival, they determined additional resources would be needed. The Jeep had gone significantly farther down from the summit than expected and was framed-out in a drift. Trail conditions were miserable with snow drifts and saturated ground causing very slick muddy conditions.

The team struggled and worked hard to pull the Jeep through 3 snow drifts. With the mud, the Jeep was unable to gain any traction to help. Instead, it had to be winched the entire way which was about a quarter of a mile. It was estimated the recovery required over 15 rigging set-ups to complete.

After working an exhausting 5.5 hours, the relief team arrived on scene. The original team perked up and everyone worked together to finish the job right on time as a large thunder storm was approaching quickly. Everyone was able to make it back to pavement to air up with the storm hot on their heels.

The family couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who participated and this great Organization. They were shocked with our professionalism, communication, and teamwork. We appreciate everyone who participated and helped out!

The jeep can barely be made out at the bottom of the hill.
Recovery scene
First winch pull setup with re-direct to a tree, pulling the rear of the vehicle up and out, spinning it 90 degrees.
View from winch vehicle. Relied entirely on Russell to guide the pull. He was out of frame uphill.
This was after doing a second pull to get the jeep up onto the dry ground below so he could turn around on his own.
Third pull to get him up onto the snow field high enough to then do a lateral pull to the winch vehicle.
Switched to a straight line pull across the snow. This took three resets and switching to a double line pull midway.
Gad to anchor to this tree and the one to the left rear to avoid being dragged downhill.
Last pull on the first leg up the hill.
After turning around, headed back uphill, got stuck, and self-recovered through the drift, then turned around and reset to pull up the jeep up the second stage.
Pulling the jeep through the second stage.
This was the most bogged down I got on the top drift. Kevin and company had arrived to help get me out and took care of the last pull on the jeep.
Russell and the second team setting up and completing the last pull.
All the best rigs (and the weather coming in from the north in the background.