What in the world!?!

Smash81

Smash81

Forum Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2009
Messages
526
Location
NW Denver, CO, USA
It's rather amazing sometimes what you see on the trails, I've seen some interesting stuff. Today doesn't take the cake, but it was definitely in the top 10!

My little sister is in town visiting from grad school in Maryland. She lived in Denver before heading out there for school about a year ago and visits every chance she gets. She hopes to move back here after graduation. She'd been wheeling several times in Dash and had a great time, although she does get rather nervous. I think she likes the thrill. Two weeks ago she asked if I'd take her out in Rhino when she came in to town. Twist my arm! Took the day off and we hit Yankee Hill up by Central City, my usual stomping ground especially in the winter (lower elevation, not as much snow).

Beautiful day, low 50s up there. Well timed, woke up to several inches of snow and still falling at the house today...

Was up there a few weekends ago, about all the usual puddles were frozen solid. Not so this time! We've had some warm days, so there was much more water and mud.

Can you hear my sister scream as I almost get her wet?

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF5SokDHQ6w[/ame]


It seems the giggling increases the harder I stomp on the right pedal...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF5SokDHQ6w[/ame]


Definitely been doing some melting!

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Everybody's got a little Captain in them!

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Found a fun rock to pose on. My sister is a terrible spotter though! She freaks out I'm gonna break something. LOL. (Man I forget sometimes how huge Rhino is til I see pics of her like this!)

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Now how do I get back in..... ROFLMAO

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Weather was nice and relatively warm, the wind hadn't kicked up yet either. There is almost always atleast a steady breeze up there. Lunchtime with a beautiful view (that I forgot to take a picture of).

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Found our usual play area of puddles, and after a good few runs to break the ice we were able to get rather wet!

Again, note the excessive giggling. Too funny!!

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXr1K4VDpGA[/ame]


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKpmYWZsvfk[/ame]


I think I actually got the left front tire airborne!

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x8oTTFOS7g[/ame]


Figured I'd show my sis the cool old cemetery, so we headed that way. Until....

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What is that doing here and were is the driver?!?! Keep in mind this was a good mile or so back on a very snowy, rutted and at sometimes rocky road not suitable for a car even in the summer. You'd think the driver would have stopped and gone back....

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With no driver around, we backed out and went the way we came taking the long loop to the cemetery.

They put up a new sign and a nice new gate!

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Been here many times, but always take pictures. Check out the photograph on this one. Date is hard to read, 189_ ?

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This woman is very fertile

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This is one of the most beautiful, and most touching, of the older headstones (second date is 1879)

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​
 
There was no lack of snow up there at the cemetery, as it's 99% shaded. Saved this for what I thought would be the end of our day, knowing we were going to get a bit wet.

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When we first arrived at the cemetery we watched an old, duelie (sp?) tow truck on street tires roll by, figured he was off to assist the stuck Scion. One look at his tow truck and I knew he wasn't gonna get far, but figured I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and give him some time to try.

20 minutes later when we were about done in the cemetery, no sign of the tow truck... Turn to my sis, she agrees we should go lend a hand even though she had told her boyfriend she would be back at a certain time. Gotta love her!

Alright, so down the road we go in search of the tow truck. Guess what? He's stuck! Shocking, I know. Gas powered, no low range, street tires. He's just spinning. A quick tug and he's out. Grizzled guy with long hair from Black Hawk, talked to him and he admitted there's no way he could go get the Scion out. I told him not to worry, I could get him out and that I'd escort him out to make sure he got out ok. Up walks the driver of the Scion, obviously a foreigner (eastern European) in his early 20s who spoke VERY limited english. Manage to explain to him that he needs to walk back to his Scion and wait for me there. Comforted him several times, promising I was absolutely NOT going to leave him there, to just be patient and I would get to him. Go back and talk to the tow truck driver, ask if he'd collected whatever $ from the driver he needed to. He said, "I haven't collected **** from him yet, you make sure you collect the **** out of him. I know for a fact he has $250 in cash on him. I was gonna charge him atleast $350 ****** dollars." [wow, what a great guy I'm thinking...] Ask him what he needs from the driver. "$100 ***** dollars, here's my number so you can call me." He then starts rattling off his cell phone number, I obviously have nothing to write it down on. Wow. Ask him for his card which he hands over. I make sure he gets out safely, then head towards the Scion. I realize quickly he is too far away from the cemetery to get him out this way, so get all the way to his car and tell him he is going to have to wait another 30 minutes or so until I can get around to his back end. He seems worried I am going to leave him, more reassuring and we head back the way we came.

Passed this guy on our way back around.

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25 minutes later we get around to the back end of the Scion, I backed through the last bit so I could atleast be driving forward towing him out.

Lots and lots of communication issues here, but eventually got it across what I wanted the driver to do. His name is Serge, which I unfortunately have NO idea how to spell.

Got his rear end hooked up, with much hoopla from the driver scared that I was going to damage his car. He was very concerned about this, and brought it up every time we talked. He definitely tried my patience, even several times asking if he should call the tow truck driver and have him come back (no way the tow truck could get back there). But, patience is a virtue, as well as understanding he was obviously from a different country with different social norms. The communication issues didn't help.

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Ended up taking about an hour and a half to get him out, as he really had not idea how to handle his car in this sort of stuff. He ended up stuffing his car in an inward sloped corner right next to a tree. That was a sticky situation for sure. Some pics towing him out.

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This really sums up my thoughts on the matter...


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​
 
FINALLY got him back out to the maintained dirt road. Told him to go back the way he came. Guess what? He couldn't remember how he got there. He could only repeat over and over where he wanted to go, Black Hawk. Which sounded more like Bak Hook the way he said it.

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Ok. Breathe Smash. Help the guy out. Lead him out the easy way, which spits you out on the paved road that goes up to Alice. Led him all the way back to I-70, where he pulled me over and asked directions to "Bak Hook." At this point he also asked why his car had gotten scratched, and what he could do about all scuffs and scrapes on the bottom of his bumpers and side panels. Patience.... Patience.... It was at this point he asked how much he owed me for pulling him out. He threw quite a fit at the amount the tow truck driver was going to charge him. I calmly looked at him and said, "that is how he makes his living." Patience... Told him the tow truck driver asked for $100 and that he could deliver it to him in Black Hawk or give it to me and I would get it to him. He gave me $100. Asked what he should pay me. I said, he why don't you throw in $40 for gas? That would be awesome, but only if you can afford it. He did give me the $40, which worked out perfect for me.


A few hours late and with enough $ in my pocket to cover gas, we send the Scion owner on his way and air up the tires. Put a call in to the tow truck driver, he asked that I just mail him the $100 and to please include my contact information. Sent that off this morning.

My sister couldn't stop going on and on about how much fun that was! She's never done an offroad recovery. Hats off to her, she was a huge help seeing things from different angles, offering suggestions, helping push the Scion, handling straps and getting good and dirty. She's one tough chick and can't wait to go out again!

We both came away from the day with a great story to tell and some awesome memories. As we both get older, I find the time we have together to be more precious than it used to be. Or, atleast I don't take it for granted anymore. I will not forget this day for a long time.​
 
Great trip report Smash81, & as usual great pics & vids. Well done mate.
Looks like you & your sister had a great time.

I'm sure it's a trip that will be remembered by all for a long long time.

It's very lucky for them that you were there & were kind enough to lend a helping hand.

Smash81 said:
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Click to expand...

They say a picture tells a thousand words & I think this pic sums that up perfectly.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
That tow truck driver sounds like a wank. I wouldn't have given him anything. Expects you to run his business or something. He didn't recover so he didn't help.

Sounds you like enjoyed it anyway, ha ha.
 
I don't know how the tow truck driver sleeps, but I sleep very well! I'll take a good feeling, and good karma, over cash whenever I can.

Well, 67 in denver yesterday. Today? I just measured 8 inches of snow in my courtyard. :eek:

I think I have Karla convinced to go sledding tomorrow, instead of organizing our tiny "1 car" (more like 1 motorscooter) garage. :bananapartyhat:

Probably hit up the same area. It's only 45min from the house (on good roads) and we can take the boys. Should be a good time! Pics of course, hopefully some more video hilarity. :newmulti:
 
Great job and great attitude! Our local Subie club would never leave anyone stranded, member or not.
 
Kevin said:
Great job and great attitude! Our local Subie club would never leave anyone stranded, member or not.
Click to expand...

A great job well done & a top attitude that's for sure.

On one of our trips at Abercrombie (with the Subie Club) we were faced with a similar situation. We found a Rodeo that had broken down so we towed it back to where it could be safely put onto a tow truck. Then gave the driver (& his passenger) a lift back into town (50km's +) so he could organise a tow truck etc.

Like you said Smash81, I don't know how some people (tow truck driver) sleep at night.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Left front tire was definitely in the air.:cool:

Great story, and kudos to you for helping out the tow truck driver and the stranded driver.:biggrin:
 
Haha, I thought so. Love the big 1 ton axles.

Karla and I went up yesterday, had a good snow storm on friday so we took the sleds up. Easily a foot of fresh snow up there. 2 more recoveries - a minivan that slid off the road and an old powerwagon that was good and stuck. More photos and video, of course, to come later. :)
 
Smash81 said:
A few hours late and with enough $ in my pocket to cover gas, we send the Scion owner on his way and air up the tires. Put a call in to the tow truck driver, he asked that I just mail him the $100 and to please include my contact information. Sent that off this morning.
Click to expand...
:poke:
You are TOO nice dude... whenever you'll come up with a "not enough money for gas" excuse for not going on a trail run, guess what I'll be throwing your way :raspberry:
I wouldn't have thought twice about the tow truck driver's share. He should have paid YOU for yanking him out (otherwise let him go get his other truck). And the Russian guy? The first time he had complained I would have told him to go get the tow truck driver! Duude.... you got HOSED!!! :raspberry::raspberry:
 
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