Saturday, October 26, 2024 (Comb Wash BLM Dispersed Camping, Blanding, Utah)

We were up bright and early Saturday (Oct. 26) morning...after all, without any cell/internet service, there wasn't much to do. We did remember we had packed the Rummikub game so played a few games...I won the first, Steve the second, and the tie-breaker.

We hit the road around 8:00, heading back to highway 191 south. Pictures taken along the way...

Recapture Reservoir...

We stopped at the Visitors Center in Blanding, picked up a little information from a very friendly lady...and then continued a little further south to highway 95.

Our destination for the night hopefully down below...

About 20 minutes later, we pulled into Comb Wash BLM Dispersed Camping area. There is one main road in with side-roads going into various camping spots. The ones near the entrance were full, so we continued on down the road to another area. It looked full, but the roads in kind of go every which way, so Steve pulled over the best he could, put the truck flashers on, and went for a walk to see if there was a spot. He came back saying he had found a spot with a big turnaround area...so in we went.

Once in, we got out to survey the area and decide where it would be best to put the trailer. Having decided on what we were going to do, Steve tried backing up...and would you believe Buster's back tires started spinning?! It certainly didn't look that soft! And so started the "day from hell"...not only were we stuck but the area was full of prickly thistles that got into and on everything! 

Steve tried everything to get out! First he tried our ramps with 2 x 4's...

That didn't work so he tried the 2 x 4's sideways after much more digging...

No way would the tires grip onto anything. After spending almost 2 hours he finally decided we'd have to wait until the folks in the RV's we passed to get in to where we were, came back from their afternoon of having fun. One group were out on their horses...horse trailers and portable stables set up...and the other group were out on their side-x-sides. So we got our chairs out and just sat there for hours in a foul mood...

It was about 2:30 when the "horse people" came riding by. We asked if anyone had a truck with a winch that could help...one lady said she would go home and get her husband to come back with his truck (they lived 20 minutes away in Blanding). Of course, she still had to deal with her horse. It was over an hour later when she pulled out and headed home...so it would probably be another hour before she came back with her husband. We later learned from one of the horse ladies that the other ladies husband may or may not show up...geez!

In the meantime, we went for a walk and met another camper that had come in awhile ago. Mike was a member of several 4 Wheel Drive Clubs and was only too happy to come have a look as they get stuck all the time, so he has some experience. After having a look he went and got his traction pads and after more digging placed them under the tires.

As Mike was working on getting traction pads under the wheels, a Utah Sheriff pulled in. Apparently, someone had called in to say someone was stuck and he had been dispatched out. Must have been the lady that went to get her husband. The Sheriff asked Steve if he wanted him to radio for a tow truck. Mike was adamant that he'd get us out so Steve declined the tow truck. 

And when the ATV'ers had returned, heard from the horse folks that we were stuck, they too came to help out. Steve was encouraged to disconnect the trailer by Mike as well as by one of the horse people as they get stuck all the time, usually backing up and have to disconnect their trailers. So we unhooked the trailer and got a shotty looking tow strap hooked up to Buster and the pickup.

I took a 33 second video of Buster getting pulled out by the Ford pickup. They kidded that they were going to use this rescue in a commercial!😂

The Ford truck owner, also a Mike then said he would tow our trailer out to a now-empty spot near everyone else.

So we got stuck shortly after arriving at 10 this morning and it was now almost 5:30 by this time. We were so glad to finally be out! The Sheriff even stayed around to ensure we got out.

 Time to get the trailer set up and relax! 

Steve here: What a great group of guys, all from Colorado. None of them would accept payment for their help, but reluctantly accepted a Bud Lite. This ordeal has now put us behind a day. Just another bump in the road and a future campfire story.

My buddy Ray sent me a message asking if I'd ever heard the song Truck Got Stuck so just for fun give it a listen.