Not too long ago, I was running Rower Trail in Santa Clarita, California. At the end of the trail is a really steep drop off into a deep hole just before the pavement begins. I drove right to the hole and parked on a fairly steep decline and scoped out the line I would take to navigate down. Deciding I had too much to lose and not enough to gain, I opted to back up and bypass the drop. Using my friend's winch attached to my rear bumper, my Runner made its way back up to safer ground, but still parked headed downhill. With the tranny in park and the handbrake pulled all the way back, I got out to release the winch line. Once the line was free I leaned lightly on the back of my truck. Suddenly, my 4Runner started rolling forward with my beloved dog in the passenger seat! I stood there in terror watching my whole life dissassemble itself and there was nothing I could do to stop the carnage! The truck was rolling back down the hill with the super steep hole fast approaching! Just when I thought all was lost, my 4Runner veered to the left and came to a stop just a couple of feet away from total disaster and a dead dog.
I re-attached the winch line and this time backed the truck all the way up to level ground and waited for my heart to start beating again.
These days, I try to never park on an incline and always use a wheel chock, and take my dog out of the truck. I learned a lot in those few seconds! Be careful out there.
http://flickr.com/photos/29882414@N05/2799415824/
