Two Unforgetable Days

This has been two days that MA & I will NEVER forget!

Friday morning we went to Starbucks in Oakhurst, CA and then to the Chamber of Commerce to learn more about the area and see what adventures were out there. We do need to be careful what we ask for. The lady told us about a beautiful drive on Beasore Road out from Bass Lake. She said that they do not plow the road in winter but there had not been much snow this year. So...away we go...beautiful drive! And lonely, I might add...not a single car passed us in either direction. We did hit a spattering of snow in the roadway at about 6,000' elevation. But, the Jeep mastered all snow deposits. There was slipping and sliding and very bumpy in the snow pack. Anybody with a semblance of good sense would have turned around as soon they hit snow. But, noooo...we wanted to make it to Grizzly Meadow Rd and head back that way.

We turned right onto Grizzly Meadow and immediately plowed thru a large snow drift...made it thru but, I made the executive decision that this might not be a safe drive. I was absolutely right, just 4 miles too late. After we turned around and hit the same snow drift, we high-centered, meaning none of the four wheels were getting any appreciable traction. WE WERE STUCK! And NOBODY knew we were there. It was 12:30pm, plenty of daylight to either get ourselves unstuck or get someone to tow us the 10' we needed to go forward to get free. Did I mention that we had seen NO other cars? Did I also mention that there was not a sniff of cell phone service?

From 12:30 to 2:30, MA & I did everything we knew to get free...not even a hint of success. There was a house nearby that was boarded up but, a garage area was open. MA found two shovels with no handles...no luck using these tools either. We are 14 miles from Bass Lake, the nearest community. So, at 2:30, I decided that I needed to walk to Bass Lake or until I got a cell signal. MA knew the exact route I would take and she would stay with the Jeep, go nowhere else.

The first 2.5 miles were all uphill, to the summit (7,200'), thru snow. VERY slow going and a time of great prayer. I actually remembered how the say the Rosary from my Catholic days. After the summit, I had about one more mile of snow pack and then the snow was gone. Periodically, I would try the cell service...no luck. After walking about 6 miles, I got my first cell signal at 5:30! I called 911 and they put me in contact with the California Highway Patrol. I had taken a map from the Chamber of Commerce with me on my trek. Good thing! I was able to give specific directions as to where I was and where MA (and the Jeep) were. It took them until 7:00pm to arrive...had to get the 4WD Durango from another town. I was SOOOO glad to see Mike, the Highway Patrolman!!!

So, away we go, shotgun and rifle rattling as we took each bump in the snow pack. About one mile after we pass the summit and start downhill, Mike gets the Highway Patrol SUV stuck! He has a shovel and we get him out of that mess. Then he gets it stuck again, this time for good! Mike calls for the heavy duty, go anywhere, retrieve anything tow truck from Doc's Wrecker Service.

I knew that MA must be worried sick so, I leave Mike and walk 1.5 miles back to MA and the Jeep. No MA in the Jeep. Then I heard MA call me from a small camper that is under a shed (the camper inserts into a pick-up truck bed) about 50 yards away. It is now almost 8:00 and very little light. I crawl into this camper, very musty and dirty. I tell MA the good news that the California Highway Patrol knows we are here and where we are! I must also tell her the bad news, CHP is stuck too. However, the mother of all tow trucks will save us. So, in absolute pitch blackness, we cuddle up on a 3/4 size table/bed, fully clothed with jackets, hoods, wet shoes & socks. We wait for the tow truck that never comes.

We are in someone else's tiny, stinky camper with no toilet or heater, no cell service, 29 degrees, worried about Gypsy back at our home, haven't eaten since 10:00am, grateful that at least someone knows we are here...trying to pass the time by sleeping...not gonna happen. Everything in my mind centered on Plan-B...what do we do if they can't get to us? My Plan-B involved both MA and I retracing my walk of Friday, getting to a cell signal and then waiting. Even though MA acted the trooper and said she would do it, I knew her achilles tendon and knees would be problematic.

So, almost no sleep for either of us, hoping that each sound we hear would be help arriving. At 4:20, we both hear talking! Jack from the Madera County Sheriff's office had arrived - with a blanket, water, Gatorade and FOOD! Raisins and Snickers bar never tasted so good! He told us the the CHP guy, Mike, was still stuck and that Super Tow Truck broke an axle bouncing on the snow pack! Jack scouted out the downhill Grizzly Meadow road and told us that a team of three Search & Rescue 4WD's would be coming up that way. Also, several additional SAR's were on their way up the Baesore route.

Jack started a fire and we exited the camper and stood by the fire. We visited with Jack and learned that all they will rescue are people...vehicles will stay behind. Around 7:00am a young man named Nigel drove past the intersection and they stopped him to warn him about the stranded tow truck and stranded Durango. They asked Nigel since he was handling the snow pretty well in his 4WD pick-up, would he go back down and take us out to them. Nigel came back to our area and said that we thought he could pull the Jeep out with his truck. Jack said to give it one try and if that doesn't work we would leave Jasper Jeep on the mountain (for who knows how long). One quick tug and Jasper popped right out!

So, from worring whether WE would ever get off the mountain to worrying would Jasper Jeep ever get off the mountain, we DRIVE Jasper up to the summit and down to Bass Lake and on to our home parked about 15 miles away.

As you can imagine, Gypsy was delighted to see us AND we cannot find a single potty spot!

MA & I REALLY appreciate the efforts of Jack, Chuck, George and Tim of the Madera County Sheriff's Office, and of course Nigel and Mike of the CHP (Chippies, for short).

Of course, the Sheriff's deputies just HAD to get a pic of them towing out a California Highway Patrol vehicle. CHP (and poor Mike) may never live that down. Nor will MA & I. This has been one of the MAJOR life lessons learned! We were very fortunate to be here today writing the story of this saga. Without God's help, we would still be on the mountain.