DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado’s mountains are continuing the trend of not being kind to out-of-state motorists attempting to traverse the high country.
You may remember the Kia Telluride, driven by a South Carolina man, that closed Black Bear Pass for over 24 hours earlier this month before the stuck vehicle could be removed safely.
On Thursday night, a father and son duo from Florida also got stuck in the high country.
Hinsdale County Search and Rescue shared on Facebook that just before 7 p.m. on Thursday, the volunteer group was called to assist the neighboring counties of San Juan and Ouray for a motorist rescue on Engineer Pass.
The area was getting overnight snow; the FOX31 Pinpoint Weather Team expected the area to get between 1 to 2 inches overnight Thursday into Friday. It’s also not an easy route to navigate: Engineer Pass, which summits Engineer Mountain in southwestern Colorado, is part of Colorado’s Alpine Loop. The loop is designed for 4×4 high-clearance vehicles or UTVs.
To the Florida duo’s credit, they were driving a Jeep with a fair amount of ground clearance. However, Hinsdale County Search and Rescue noted that the motorists got stranded in about two feet of snow at about 4 p.m. as weather conditions worsened.
Hinsdale County Search and Rescue shared photos of a recovery mission on Thursday for a Jeep that got stuck in a couple feet of snow. (Courtesy Hinsdale County Search and Rescue) Hinsdale County Search and Rescue shared photos of a recovery mission on Thursday for a Jeep that got stuck in a couple feet of snow. (Courtesy Hinsdale County Search and Rescue) 
Hinsdale County Search and Rescue shared photos of a recovery mission on Thursday for a Jeep that got stuck in a couple feet of snow. (Courtesy Hinsdale County Search and Rescue)
The Jeep was stuck in about two feet of snow, and photos shared by the search and rescue team highlighted the area’s remoteness, cold weather and windy conditions.
Outside Magazine, a publication that covers outdoor adventuring, gear reviews and more, shared a list of basic equipment overlanders should carry while on the trail, especially during the winter. The list includes a recovery board, a tree saver for a winch, hitch receiver recovery points and more items to safely recover a vehicle.
The Colorado Department of Transportation also advocates for drivers heading up into the mountains during the winter to carry essential items, like water, a snow scraper, blanket or sleeping bag, non-perishable food and jumper cables. More information on that can be found here.
Colorado’s search and rescue groups are staffed by volunteers and Hinsdale County’s group is operated through the county sheriff’s office. More information can be found here.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
