Black Bear Pass/Imogene Pass Run - 7/31-8/2

[LXBRADY]

We did make it over the wall on Poughkeepsie!

Lake Como

 

[FunkyYota]

We were part of the rescue on Friday, happened on the first 1/2 mile of Engineer as we were heading to Poughkeepsie.

We rigged a winch on the front bumper and the rear bumper of the truck in order to stabilize and extract the people inside. 60 something driver, his wife, daughter and granddaughter in the rig. We happened upon the flop right after it happened and all got out safe.

We did not extract the rig due to liability and a tow was on the way. We were staying at the 4J campground and apparently so were they. We caught up to them later to hear the truck was totaled due to oil hydrolock when they tried to start it once it was upright.

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Bummer.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

We were part of the rescue on Friday, happened on the first 1/2 mile of Engineer as we were heading to Poughkeepsie.

We rigged a winch on the front bumper and the rear bumper of the truck in order to stabilize and extract the people inside. 60 something driver, his wife, daughter and granddaughter in the rig. We happened upon the flop right after it happened and all got out safe.

We did not extract the rig due to liability and a tow was on the way. We were staying at the 4J campground and apparently so were they. We caught up to them later to hear the truck was totaled due to oil hydrolock when they tried to start it once it was upright.

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I saw this on the old Book of Faces....

 

[Workinonit]

We were part of the rescue on Friday, happened on the first 1/2 mile of Engineer as we were heading to Poughkeepsie.

We rigged a winch on the front bumper and the rear bumper of the truck in order to stabilize and extract the people inside. 60 something driver, his wife, daughter and granddaughter in the rig. We happened upon the flop right after it happened and all got out safe.

We did not extract the rig due to liability and a tow was on the way. We were staying at the 4J campground and apparently so were they. We caught up to them later to hear the truck was totaled due to oil hydrolock when they tried to start it once it was upright.

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Curious how they got in this situation? Just getting to close to the edge? Did they slide sidways?

 

[DaveInDenver]

FWIW, M&H Towing out of Montrose posted photos and a video. I believe that M&H owns that red Jeep.

 

[LXBRADY]

Curious how they got in this situation? Just getting to close to the edge? Did they slide sidways?

Guess they were hugging the right side coming up the trail and did not see the wash out.

 

[DaveInDenver]

As I understand it the gentleman who owns this truck is Dan Taber from NORAC.

http://www.norac4x4.com/about/

 

[bassguyry]

Yikes. That's gnarly. Sorry to hear the rig was totaled.

 

[FunkyYota]

I was just thinking about it being totaled. They hydrolocked b/c oil creeped into the cylinders?

Too bad not to pull the plugs and vent them first.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Yikes. That's gnarly. Sorry to hear the rig was totaled.

I'm not 100% certain it is totaled. They didn't try driving it out since it was apparently on its side for a while and they didn't want to pull plugs and try starting it.

That's at least the 2nd and maybe the 3rd vehicle that's gotten snagged at that spot this summer. Looks like the culvert pipe is damaged (at least now it certainly seems so) and the road is washing out. Drivers are I surmise speeding along and being surprised. It's a blind spot since the road has a swell in it as you round the curve.

 

[gungriffin]

I'm not 100% certain it is totaled. They didn't try driving it out since it was apparently on its side for a while and they didn't want to pull plugs and try starting it.

That's at least the 2nd and maybe the 3rd vehicle that's gotten snagged at that spot this summer. Looks like the culvert pipe is damaged (at least now it certainly seems so) and the road is washing out. Drivers are I surmise speeding along and being surprised. It's a blind spot since the road has a swell in it as you round the curve.

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I was just there yesterday and it didn't seem that hard to see. How fast would these people need to be going to have this happen? Then again, couple speed with not paying enough attention and it makes sense. Crazy.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I was just there yesterday and it didn't seem that hard to see. How fast would these people need to be going to have this happen? Then again, couple speed with not paying enough attention and it makes sense. Crazy.

I was last up Engineer about a month ago and I agree it wasn't particularly dangerous then and it's probably still not. But I would be real careful about casting wide assumption nets since it only takes a momentary lapse of concentration when you think it's an easy section - perhaps fiddling with a map app, checking your radio, looking away due to a fallen water bottle or at the mine ruins or scenery, getting blinded from reflection off someone's windshield - and then it can to happen to anyone. Have some empathy and take a reminder it's important to stay aware, especially on shelf roads.

 

[gungriffin]

I was last up Engineer about a month ago and I agree it wasn't particularly dangerous then and it's probably still not. But I would be real careful about casting wide assumption nets since it only takes a momentary lapse of concentration when you think it's an easy section - perhaps fiddling with a map app, checking your radio, looking away due to a fallen water bottle or at the mine ruins or scenery, getting blinded from reflection off someone's windshield - and then it can to happen to anyone. Have some empathy and take a reminder it's important to stay aware, especially on shelf roads.

I didn't mean to come across too harshly, but I did. I agree 100%, and I appreciate the reminder. I don't have kids in my truck which 10x's the distractions too! This group definitely got quite lucky that the drainage pipe caught them from rolling all the way down the hill.

 

[bassguyry]

I was last up Engineer about a month ago and I agree it wasn't particularly dangerous then and it's probably still not. But I would be real careful about casting wide assumption nets since it only takes a momentary lapse of concentration when you think it's an easy section - perhaps fiddling with a map app, checking your radio, looking away due to a fallen water bottle or at the mine ruins or scenery, getting blinded from reflection off someone's windshield - and then it can to happen to anyone. Have some empathy and take a reminder it's important to stay aware, especially on shelf roads.

I don't know if @gungriffin was making any huge assumptions or lacking empathy, but I do agree - this stuff could happen to anyone.

 

[rover67]

That's a bummer Dan and his whole group are a great bunch of folks. they've helped us out a ton over the years.

 

[Workinonit]

It said on the NORAC FB page that the road collapsed as they were going over. Must have been frightening.

 

[FunkyYota]

yikes

 

[DaveInDenver]

The wash out on Engineer Pass claims another truck this year, credit to M&H Towing for recovery and video.

 

[On the RX]

Starting to look like an alternate route. Maybe time for some buck and rail!

 

[DaveInDenver]

Starting to look like an alternate route. Maybe time for some buck and rail!

I'm surprised the USFS or the county haven't done any stabilization. It's obviously growing. This Jeep owner was from Arizona so I think inexperience (e.g. inattentiveness!) on high alpine shelf roads has something to do with it, too.