Self Recovery South of Estes Park, Colorado

[vezePilot]

I went out to recon Johnny Park Road in the mountains between Pinewood Springs and Estes Park. Planning a camping trip later this year, probably after the snow starts. This Forest Service Road is described as Easy/Moderate/Difficult. Easy and newly black-topped up to a hiking trail head & camping area. Then Difficult rock crawling, and then Moderate and Easy out to the West where it reconnects with State Highway 7.

Here is a neat 10 minute video that a guy made. My Trail Boss had less trouble than he had, and I didn't even Air-Down for it:

That is ... until I took a really bad line coming back out of a remote spur off the road. I caught the passenger side Shock/Axle behind a big rock, and the Differential ahead of another big rock. Rocking back and forth just started digging in, so I shut down and rigged a Double Line Pull with my winch.

Brand new Rocket Strap (30ft? 50ft? I forget ... ) and a Rhino tree saver.

All of my Winch Line down to the first layer, for maximum pull force of 9,500 lbs.

New Rhino Tree saver, a Soft Shackle and Winch ring.

Using my OpenRoad winch and Front Receiver for the first time in earnest.

 

[vezePilot]

The rocks don't look like much in the photos, but with about a Foot sticking out of the road, they were enough.

Serious rock crawling, enough to hit the passenger side step rail ... again.

I'll need to organize my gear and put it all away ... tomorrow. Good thing I took it all along for this simple day trip/recon.

.

 

[scotman623]

Great recovery job my friend!! My trucks box looks about the same as yours, I need to organize my stuff too.