I need a lift

[RichD]

Poking around Furry Creek FSR this weekend - great trail, lots of fun spots to play on the various tributaries.

Went back today and pressed in further, to see how far it would go. Just over 8kms in...

Me: "Love this road! I only have one request: creeks. It would be fun to have some little crossings to get our feet wet."

A dip and a trickle appears ahead in the road.

All cheer: "Your wish is granted, PeeWee!"

Another dip and a trickle, and another. Each bigger than the last.

An actual creek with a foot of running water appears. I grin widely. It looks deceivingly easy, so I proceed. A rock gives way, I bottom out the front, three wheels lose traction. We're stuck. Not even badly, but I don't have any recovery gear on board, and we have no cell coverage. I'm an idiot.

I use a 10ft steel pole that was lying around and lever up the truck here and there while the girls shore up the wheels. The truck is no longer bottomed out. Better, but still not enough traction. We need some muscle. This is when I start to get light headed. The girls have been stepping out of the creek now and then but I've been standing in glacier cold water for most of an hour, exerting myself pretty hard. We get me out of the creek, fluids and food in. Its a nice warm day, five minutes and I'm good to go. I secure the truck, leave a note with the time and our trajectory, pack the food and water and we start hiking back the 4 clicks or so to where we have cell coverage and I can fire off an SOS.

Within 800 meters we run into a group in a Rav4 with a sat phone. I call Coaxial and give him coordinates of the van. An ATV approaches from the direction of the van, we saw him and his buddies on the way in.

Quad Dude: "Need help getting out of the creek?"

Me: "You can do that?"

Quad Dude: "No problem. Hop on."

I get on the quad and we go back to set up. The girls follow in the Rav4.

At the scene, the ATVers are drinking beers: "You were supposed to bring the girls and leave him behind!"

In no time, we anchor two quads together to one tree and the little winch to the straps. There is talk of anchoring to the Rav4 but we decide to try this once first. There is now a small crowd of people watching the fun, including the drunk ATVers who are having a grand time.

Four of the bystanders get on one side of the van and rock her onto her right feet so she's got traction on those and the one rear. I give gas and she moves easily. I'm not sure if the winch helped but it didn't hurt. Truck is free in one go. We unhook everything and I proceed to climb backwards out of the creek. It isn't pretty but she's got plenty of torque and I find a line that works.

We all cheer the ATVers, I give some fresh batteries to the guy with the sat phone for his GPS (least I could do) and we all proceed to go on our own ways.

Coaxial calls as we regain cell reception. He's just around the corner, we know where he is so we meet up. He shows us a different route out that passes through what I would characterize as the Delica Proving Grounds - we should have a mini-meet there sometime.

So, I'm not going to be pushing my luck with the van until I get the proper recovery equipment. But in the end it was a really great day and even the girls thought it was fun. No harm was done to man or machine.

[delicat]

Hahaha, some people sure love to learn the hard way! I'm not sure I'd volunteer so much info myself, I'd probably be too busy burrying my head in the sand... You must be the girls hero now! hahaha

At least you're out there trying... and not without help's reach.

Glad it all worked out.

Cheers!
D.

[RichD]

You know what went through my head the moment before I entered the creek bed?

"Delicat would do it."

[delicat]

And see where it got you!!!

[after oil]

i got a love/hate relationship with stupid drunk ATV'n rednecks...

[jessef]

happy ending

[Luna-Sea]

i got a love/hate relationship with stupid drunk ATV'n rednecks...

Gotta love them when the asphalt
turns to your fault
and there is no CAA but
redneck sayings"SEE!?EH!?EH!?"
as they pull you out of stuck-a-tude.

Just gotta turn them onto better beer.

RichD looks like you had a hoot all in all though eh?
Thanks for posting.

Right On!

[patty]

aaaw if it was friday around 6ish i would have run in to yeah! most of the larger FSR from ferry to pemby have daily fire warden patrols, so help is not as far as you think!

[RichD]

Went back today. Lost Delica & house keys were hanging on a tree by the creek.

Water is several inches lower and it appears as if someone has leveled the creek bed. I didn't attempt it.

Instead I turned around and explored another road, where the gate has been opened and I found some other fine spots like this one.

IMG_0475.JPG (93.38 KiB) Viewed 4124 times

[RichD]

I got new tires, and along with them, some gumption.

Went back AGAIN tonight, with Coaxial. We completed the creek crossing with ease.

Of course there really is no point to crossing it because immediately after the trail is basically bushwhacking and you have to turn around within 100m.

But: THE CREEK HATH BEEN CONQUERED!

[RichD]

http://www.vimeo.com/14823432

[madmazda]

great vid..... I like vimeo i'm on there somewhere...not in or on the delica though

[Mbryant]

Good story and good video, cool perspective.

Michael