XJ recovery above Bountiful

[gijohn40]

We started the day at the Chevron in Bountiful and drove up 400 N to skyline Drive where we all locked in and got ready... we proceeded up the road with Badger (Heavy mod XJ) leading the way, XJDevil (stock XJ w/lift) in the middle and Gijohn40 (Cj-7 locked rear, Lift) bringing up the tail end.
As we got going up the trail which was packed snow/ice we came upon a guy running a Toyota pick up that was doing pretty good until he slide into the side of the hill and we all passed him by... and then he brought up the tail end. I was having troubles keeping the CJ going in a straight line after we started into the powdered snow due to the ruts the XJ's were leaving me... so when I got the turn around point my rear end headed for the side of the road with the drop off... at this point my gorgeous girlfriend fled for her life! I was stuck in about 2 feet of snow and trying to go up hill. Badger ended up winching me out. While we were recovering my CJ someone came around the bend in a S10 pickup and told us he was only able to get about another mile up the road before he had to dig himself out so we all decided to turn around and head back.

On the way down the mountain XJDevil was going a bit fast and encountered some dipstick young kid coming up the icy road in a frontwheel drive car... he hit his brakes and got his first trail dent from the kids front end right in the door panel behind the driver... We all promised to make up some narly story to explain this dent but no story did this justice so I told the truth (sorry Joel).

Little to say we never made it up to where the XJ was stuck so guess it will either stay there until spring or some of the snow melts! I hope its still there come spring!!

We had a great time even though it was short... I got the girlfriend to drive up some rutted trail so she got her First experience wheeling and she is stoked to go again! So next time anyone goes give me shout!!
John

 

[Devel]

dude i wasnt even doing 10mph when i hit my brakes. haha u shoulda seen the look on the kids face when r two vehicles coincided haha

 

[crimsonride]

huh, so it's still stuck up there. I snowmobile up there pretty often. I wonder if there's something else we can do to recover it. Anyone know anyone with a snow cat? I know one guy but I haven't talked to him in a while, he might not even have it still.

 

[richpblaze]

I've got chains(4)

My Toy is a tank when chained up, anyone else have chains?????? I'd be willing to give it a shot. I don't have a winch. We would need at least two rigs chained up. It has to happen soon before it's completly buried

 

[Badger]

were it is at the gate might even be closed to get back there.a snow cat would be nice but a long rough drive to get back there with one.now you could use quads or sleds to get back there then use a 10 ton chain hoist to bring it up.its a matter of what to use as anchor.i have a pretty good idea of were it is at and if there is snow on the ground you are going to need more than 2 trucks chained together to hold against the force to bring the cherokee up hill

 

[Devel]

let me know when ur gunna do this i will gladly help

 

[crimsonride]

Hmmmm...I have my doubts that a truck even with chains is going to make it up there. The snow can get pretty deep up there and you migh end up just diggin four holes. I've got snowmo's to get up there but if we were to bring this down we would need something big to drag it back.

 

[richpblaze]

It's an offer.

It wouldn't hurt to try. Where is the owner??????? Do we have contact info???? Who else is fully locked and has set of chains maybe a winch?????? I don't think I would have trouble getting to it it's getting it out that would be hard. Does it have any power, will it run??????

 

[Badger]

It wouldn't hurt to try. Where is the owner??????? Do we have contact info???? Who else is fully locked and has set of chains maybe a winch?????? I don't think I would have trouble getting to it it's getting it out that would be hard. Does it have any power, will it run??????

here this will give you a clue as to what is going on

 

[richpblaze]

I saw the post

Have you been in contact with the owner. I lived at Alta ski area for 10 years. I Know what winter is like in the mountains. I know that if this was my junk I would do everything possible to get it out. I am willing to help with this. Even if we would have to drive until stuck and be pulled back I believe we could get in. If the owner wants to leave it thats fine by me. I would bet money if we had five fully locked rigs a couple with chains this Could be done.

 

[Jared]

I'd honestly say that without any help or input from the owner, this service project is dead in the water. Short of a military helicopter, it would be nearly impossible to get this jeep back up to the trail. Once back to the trail, it's still a nearly stock cherokee stuck in several feet of snow, miles from plowed roads.

Sure, it's a rotten situation, but what can we really do about it? From the sound of things it would take a track hoe or bulldozer to get it out. Besides, I definately care alot less about this cherokee than the owner does.

Jared

 

[richpblaze]

Exactly

I'd honestly say that without any help or input from the owner, this service project is dead in the water. Short of a military helicopter, it would be nearly impossible to get this jeep back up to the trail. Once back to the trail, it's still a nearly stock cherokee stuck in several feet of snow, miles from plowed roads.

Sure, it's a rotten situation, but what can we really do about it? From the sound of things it would take a track hoe or bulldozer to get it out. Besides, I definately care alot less about this cherokee than the owner does.

Jared

What I was triing to find out. If the owner does not care then what's the point. What I'm triing to say is this. This is a real sh!tty position to be in. This is what sites like this are all about ( Helping out fellow wheelers ) I don't know where this rig is at ( And I really don't care ) I am willing to try to help. If the owner does not want this ( Who I don't even know ) Then why is this post even here. I am sure I can get 4 or 5 built rigs, chains, winches and what ever else it may take to get this rig out. Does anyone even know who this is???? If not, then why is this thread even here?????

 

[gijohn40]

if someone can get the license plate number or vin I can find out who it belongs to... that was why I went up there yesterday! you know we could always put some sheets of metal under the wheels and rope them down and use them as sleds... that way it wouldn't hurt that thing much...

By next weekend I will have my Expedition ready and I have chains for it... but its not locked... it has a 12,000 LB winch that would pull it out of anywhere as light as they are....

 

[crimsonride]

aren't expeditions pretty heavy? Neither of my jeeps would make it up there I think. Maybe with chains but I don't have a set for 33 or 35 inch tires. I have snowmobiles so maybe I'll take a run up there and find it. If I do I'll get the plates. I wouldn't lose too much sleep if the owner isn't involved. It would probably be a real chore to get it out of the snow.

 

[Meat_]

Even if you can get something that will pull it through the snow, where are you going to find a hook strong enough on an XJ to stand up to it?

After todays storm I'd say it's there to stay unless someone wants to walk a dozer up and clear the trail.

 

[crimsonride]

I haven't seen how high up it is but the snow melts pretty quick up there. By the looks of it there's quite a bit already though. I think it's time for a snowmobile trip.

 

[richpblaze]

No Owner

aren't expeditions pretty heavy? Neither of my jeeps would make it up there I think. Maybe with chains but I don't have a set for 33 or 35 inch tires. I have snowmobiles so maybe I'll take a run up there and find it. If I do I'll get the plates. I wouldn't lose too much sleep if the owner isn't involved. It would probably be a real chore to get it out of the snow.

No Deal, I thought this included the owner, obviously not. I WOULD NOT TOUCH anyones least rig without them being there or at have their permission. If you were to move it and say maybe damage it. Guess what, your liable to pay for that damage. If we have the owner I'm game and we can do what we can to help. Maybe this is stolen??

 

[Badger]

dude i linked to the thread that explained all this.just go read it i'm not going to go over it again.this thread was started to report that we didn't make it up there to get the tag #,owners name,and address to go about trying to get it removed before the snow got worse.we went up there didn't make it to get the info.it is to late now and that thing is stuck there for the winter without a helicopter .

 

[Devel]

so can anyone fly a helicopter haha

 

[PierCed_3]

I am not locked up front but I have been on many snow extractions in my YJ, I would be willing to help if you are going to proceed. Let me know if you would like me to join.

You can see all the goodies on my Jeep on my Cardomain link.