yikes!!!!

Luckly for us, we were all able to come home safely with just a few shakes but it could have easily been worse.

The line that rob took was a valid line. The only problem was that the line he took on the left side was giving away after my 4runner along w/ 2 others had gone thru. the right side of that trail had a 2 foot rut which is impossible for any of our almost stock 4runners to go thru so taking that left line was a must. Apparently as Rob passed thru the back tire gave out as the ground started to give way

the only thing that, that 4runner was held by was his tow hitch and rear diff sitting on the rock along w/ the front right tire firmly on the ground.

We assessed the damage and determined that his vehicle was going to be pretty difficult to rescue so creativity took action. Three vehicles made it past that point and as my 4runner was the heaviest and the strongest (1 tacoma and a 2nd gen 4runner), I made back down the switchback to become the anchor point on the front to ensure that his vehicle will not roll down the hill. I attempted to pull his vehicle out by dragging him but this only made the situation worse as his vehicle started to slide out down even more (as you can see in some of the pix of his 4runner leaning down... ).

Luckly for us, we all had frs radios and a cb calling for help and a good samaritan heard our distress for additional recovery gear and was able to dispatch a border patrol that was near by to our location to assist us. With the help of the border patrol, we were able to get a 2nd tow strap and anchor the back of rob's 4runner to another 4runner (scott) so that rob's 4runner will not roll down as I pull.

As soon as we determined that there was no way out but to take a risk by me pulling him forward and hope for the best, we took action. Out only safety point was that scott's 4runner was anchoring rob's rear end down ensuring that his 4runner will not roll: this was crucial as I was determined to make sure that his 4runner was not going to be lost. I attempted twice to pulling rob's 4runner out but with almost no traction from my 4runner and the fact that I was pretty much attemping to pull 2 4runners, even the v8 had no power to do so (dang it!!!)... btw, rob was not in his 4runner for these 2 attempts as I didn't want anything to happen rob if indeed the 4runner was going to go down the hill. (his 4runner at this point was in neutral and all the brakes were released.)

After we deteremind that my 4runner was not going to be able to pull out his 4runner and the anchor 4runner in the back, our only option was to have rob sit in his 4runner and have him drive it out (going forward towards me) while I pull him out and scott in the rear anchoring him down moving slowly forward so that rob can move forward. After 3 hrs of high stress levels we determined that this was our last option as we discussed it with others that helped out to assess the situation.

Scott, Rob and myself all sat in our 4runner's and hoped for the best. As soon as I started to pull Rob's 4runner and he felt the tug, he started to throttle his 4runner forward. This all happened so quick so I'm not sure what exactly happened next. All I know is that my 4runner got a real good traction feel as we had stuffed rocks under the tires to better assist me... but as soon as I saw robs car moving towards me, I didn't stop! I kept on going in reverse until I heard screaming to stop..

At that moment, I knew that Rob's 4runner was saved! Talk about a stressful moment. Luckly, with Rob's 4runner in his rear locking tires, as soon as his left rear (that was hanging) got onto firm ground, he was back on all 4 and back on the middle of the trail !!!!!

Everyone was happy and relieved as I know I myself, Rob and Scott were all happy that this disaster was avoided. People that were in the nearby area rocking climbing apparently was watching the chaos unfold. As soon as they saw that Rob's 4runner was saved, we heard cheering from across the canyon !! that was a very exhilarating feeling as people around were also happy to see the outcome be a positive one instead of one that would have been real real bad.

As soon as Rob's 4runner was saved, we saw a helicopter come by to make sure everything was okay. I'm pretty sure it was for the boarder patrol but I guess they also came to make sure everything was okay!

I must say in the end, this entry level offroading expedition became one crazy offroading trip! Thank goodness that we all came back in one piece and are able to talk about...

Lance

Thanks to everyone that helped make this trip possible (scott) and also being there to hold Rob's rear!! hehe sounds soo bad ehe! . Thanks for the hikers and also the border patrol and everyone else out there cheering us on!