Thanksgiving Weekend II

...we left off with Beck's parents planning on bringing the laptop and coming for a visit to Richfield. Driving time from Grand Junction to Richfield is about 3 hours and includes one pretty crazy mountain pass.

I checked the weather for Sat and it was showing possible snow. With that we decided that we would meet the Parents about half way in a little stop called Green River.

We headed out this morning and the day was overcast with some dark clouds. The "pass" is about 35 miles from Richfield so we hit it early in our trip. Towards the top of the pass it was snowing but not sticking to the road (yet). The trip to Green River was uneventful.

On the trip back we headed up the pass and the snow was coming down pretty good. Luckily we had our Excursion with 4x4. We were following a big rig up the pass and the lanes started to disappear and the snow started coming down sideways. We were cruising along at about 65. I told Beck that was going to slow down to 55 so I could kick in the 4x4 (can't do it above 55). Our truck was slowing down gradually and the rig was pulling away from us. The lanes were completely gone now and visibility was about 1/4 mile and getting worse fast. I finally got down to 55 and glanced down to flip the 4x4 switch and at the very instant the switch was flipped Beck gasped, "Oh my gosh!!". I looked up to see the rig cut off the Malibu and his trailer start fishtailing. It got worse and in an instant the rig was jack knifed and slided completely sideways down the highway. The cab smashed into the trailer and came to rest in the median. The trailer was completely blocking both lanes of the highway. The Mailbu, by the grace of God, managed to swerve off the right shoulder into the grass/snow and go behind the trailer! Needless to say I was on the brakes like a mo-frappy and had plenty of time to stop. I hurried behind the rig and pulled pretty far ahead to park because I just knew that someone was going to slam in to the side of the trailer. Luckily that didn't happen.

I got out with out a jacket (didn't think of it) and took off running to the rig to make sure that he was okay. The two guys were fine but the truck was F'd up pretty good. No other crashes happened but the freeway was CLOSED. I ran back to my truck for my jacket since it was 25 with a 15 mph wind and snowing balls. I went back and helped try to get some people around the back in the grass/mud. I helpd push one guy out then after about 10 min of telling folks that only 4x4's could make it around I decided to call it quits and get on down the road.

There wasn't any cell phone service in the pass so no one could call for help. We planned on calling when we could. We got out of the pass about 30 min later and that is when we FINALLY saw a cop flying up the other direction. 10 min after that we saw the tow truck going up. That means there were no cops or other help for at least an hour and a half after the accident happend!!!! Moral of the story....TRAVEL PREPARED!!!!!!!!!

Well, guys...that is my long story/adventure. Let me tell you something and I am not being funny here.

If I had not decided to slow down at that exact moment and throw on the 4x4 I would have been right behind that rig when he went to pass. That means that I would have been in the fast land right next to that little Malibu. I would not have had ANY place to go and NO time to stop. It would have either been hit the Malibu, take my chances in the DEEP median at 65 or hit the side of that trailer. Any of those choices would have also been in 4x2. I truely beleive that someone was looking over us out there. Everything happened just right so that no one got hurt at all.

Also, next time you pass an 18 wheeler...imagine it going down the road sideways at 65 mph. That is a LOT of metal hauling ass!!!

Tomorrow we get to drive back to Vegas. There are 2 big passes to go through. I will blog when I get home and let you know how it goes.

ST out