Wanted to go fishing, went hiking instead

happybrew · 11-29-2000, 05:21 PM

I drove up to Detroit reservior this morning to go fishing. I went over the dam, out on the forest service roads to fish on the south side. Bad move. It was foggy. I took a road that looked like it would go down to the lake. I went down a little way, and the gravel ran out. Mud. Slippery mud. I decided to turn around before I got stuck. And I got stuck. Okay, I can deal with this. Rock the truck back and forth. No good. It's not budging. Okay, this is ridiculous. It's not even on a slope. Just a couple of little bumps in the road, and I can't get any traction to get out of them. I get the chains out, and chain up. Still no good. No traction. Okay, this isn't funny anymore. There's a piece of plywood in the back of the truck. I get it out and try to wedge it under the tires so I can get some traction. Its moving... It's moving... Dang! It's not moving enough. The mud on the tires prevents it from getting any traction. Not good. After an hour of this, I decide I'd better get walking. I'm tempted to just stay and fish, and if anyone misses me they can just send the S&R people out for me. With any luck it could be days or weeks before anyone finds out where I'm at. No, I better do the responsible thing, and come on back. By now the fog has lifted. I can see the lake. I can see fish jumping in the lake. The only car I see on that road today drives up. I try to wave it down. He waves back at me, and keeps on driving. That's disturbing. Obviously he's not an iFish member. I would have stopped, and I do a couple of times a year, whenever I see someone who looks like they need assistance. What if there had been an accident and there were people who needed help? What if I had just walked out of the woods after being lost for days or weeks? He has no idea. Oh well. Maybe he got robbed once, and is especially wary. Only he knows. 8 miles later, I get to the Detroit dam. There's somebody fishing down on the bank. He's catching fish. I'm not. The guy at the control room calls a tow truck for me. Thank you very much! I appreciate it! While I'm waiting for the tow truck, I watch fish rising below me at the base of the dam. A nice fish, over 20 inches, makes a big splash, then fins around the surface for a moment before slowly disappearing into the depths. The tow truck arrives, and I get in. It takes two hours to get the vehicle out. He doesn't want to take the truck down too far, for fear of getting stuck as well. I don't blame him. Smart move. I pay him, and return home, without getting a line in the water.

Remember everyone, to be prepared any time you go out to spend the night out there. I had water, space blanket, lighter. No food, though. Mistake. You never know when something might happen to impede your return, and you certainly can't depend on the kindness of strangers to help you get back, or even if someone else might pass by. Muchas gracias to the Detroit Dam control room for calling a tow truck, and to Santiam Towing and Recovery out of Detroit for the fine, professional job their driver did in extricating my vehicle. And thank you Mrs. Happybrew for not beaning me over the head with a frying pan when I came home with no fish and a $250 vehicle recovery bill!

happybrew

Bobber Down · 11-29-2000, 06:18 PM

Hey Happybrew, sorry to here you had a bad stuck truck day. Your right about the guy that waved, he definitly wasn't a "ifish family member". At least you made it out safely, although you went through allot. You will I'm sure, be rewarded with a big fish soon..........Bobber Down

Mike H · 11-29-2000, 08:51 PM

Great story Happybrew. Sorry you had a crappy day but if it makes you feel any better, I have a few trips like that every year.

Remember, it's not 4X4 that makes a truck 4X4.... it's the driver

!

Mike H

happybrew · 11-29-2000, 09:32 PM

Dang Mike! A couple every year? Now I don't feel so bad. That's the first time that ever happened to me. I don't have a 4x4. If I did I would probably be a threat to my own life... Now when I was in the Army, I ALMOST got a Hummvee stuck in the mud, but I managed to get it out on my own. Another time, I was in the back of a 5 ton truck, and the driver fell asleep, drove off the road, and we were dangling over a cliff, rocking back and forth... That was the only time I ever thought I might die. We all got out okay, and they winched it back up. It took three or four winches, and one broken cable that almost took a guy's head off to get it back up again. I'm glad it was only an annoyance, and I wasn't in any danger.

happybrew

Oakie Drifter · 11-30-2000, 01:02 PM

Been there, did that. But I mangaged to get out with the chains on. Truck was not 4X4 either. Smart enough to know my limits now. Never has happened again. Boy, did I come out of there all covered in mud too...ha ha ha, what a mess I was!

THE REEL HEY_YALL · 11-30-2000, 01:22 PM

Y'all won't believe this, the other day while driving below Detroit Dam, some guy was waving at me like a wild banshee on crack. Of course not to **** the guy off, I nicely waved back and proceeding to accelerate. lmao lmao lmao

you do realize that I am kiddin' ya right?

or am i?..muh ha ha ha j/k That sucks brew.

happybrew · 12-01-2000, 05:48 PM

Nice try Hey 'Yall, but I was above the dam, and I wasn't all that excited looking. But just on the off chance that it was you, did you manage to get that loogee off the windshield? LOL

happybrew

local_hooker · 12-03-2000, 11:58 PM

I did this once, it was early spring and we were in snow. We were so excited to be close to this lake at ice out, we figured we had all day and plenty of beer and if we fished and drank hard enough, we would surely find an easy solution later. Fishing was great, so was the beer, and we were completely sober by the time we dug out.

[This message has been edited by local_hooker (edited 12-03-2000).]