2010 March Run Report

A lost IH and 4 Rescues

The March run was held in conjunction with Rendezvous’ last day. It was a beautiful Arizona morning with a slight breeze that stayed with us until right around breakfast time. We were really in no hurry to wake up and or get in our trucks and go. Lazy morning some would call it.

After breakfast, some packing up of water, food, or anything else we would need for a day out on the trail, we all started up our engines a half hour or so prior to actually leaving because we needed to “warm” them up. Some had to be started twice or three times (at least mine did) because they are Internationals and they are cold son’s-a-b#*tches in the mornings. Even if it’s 110 as the sun comes up.

So we’re all up, running and forming some semblance of a line-up, I wasn’t sure if I needed gas. So initially we were all going to caravan to the gas station but just as we were pulling out of the rodeo grounds, I decided I had enough and called out on the radio that we didn’t need to go. Not knowing of course, that Chris (I think it was) needed gas also.

As we’re traveling down the road, right before we got to the “trail turn off” one of the guys kept going and we weren’t sure what was going on…did he space the turn even though he was in the middle of the pack? Nope, he just needed some gas. After gassing up and returning to our turn off, we started down the trail. It was another long, dusty road, you know the type – I was the last one in line (cough / gag). Mia, my daughter wanted to drive, so I pulled over and switched places with her and after getting her setup with multiple blankets, bags and other assorted items, she could finally see over the steering wheel and reach the clutch at the same time.

Now you must understand, she’s 15 but drives like she’s 91. By the time we switched and looked up, the crew was gone. After yelling at Mia to hurry up and go faster, faster, and maybe shift out of 2nd gear…well, we couldn’t find anyone – no dust trail, tire marks, nothing and to beat all hell, we ended up on asphalt again! After removing all the paraphenelia, I sit back in the drivers seat. Go left my head tells me, so we do.

By now I’m frustrated. I can’t get anyone on the CB, nor on their cell phones. After turning left, we follow the road about a mile and find a gas station. I was just going to head back to camp. While gassing my Scout up, my phone rings and Jerry’s name comes up. “Where are you” he asked. “I’m frustrated and bordering pissed off. By the way, I’m getting gas at the corner of…” (can’t remember which roads). He said Larry knew where I was, “We’ll come and get you.” Well, ok then. “Just go back to the road you came out of.” Jerry said.

We drove back up to the road we had just come out of and there were a couple of Scouts waiting on us, like a momma duck waiting for all her ducklings. Somewhere, they had gone right and we had gone left – I think. With Mia driving so fast, I think we flew right by it (much sarcasm there).

After gathering up with the rest of the brood, we finally get in the back of the line again (cough / gag) and driving, driving, to where we find the river. The first crossing was simple. Big splashes, playtime, just fun…then we come to a section of the road where we have to go down the hill to get near the river. Not a problem. Now, everyone parks and get’s out to “view” the river, play a little, discuss and decide whether we’re going to attempt a crossing. Not knowing what was in store, we all got back in the trucks eagerly and started crossing.

We knew that the water was higher than usual due to our rains a few weeks past. But what we didn’t expect was the quicksand that was below the water. We made the first crossing(s) ok, then all of a sudden were stopped. Being in the rear, I cannot see what’s going on up front so I keep driving until we see that Bill Merritt (1st Place winner of Stock Scout II) and Miguel in his huge Traveler were stuck and stuck good on the other side of the river crossing in a bank. Momentum can be your friend, but that wasn’t the case this time.

Jason to the rescue in Gumby. Jason proceeded use his strap to pull Miguel out backwards, back to our side of the river so he could empty the water from the inside of his IH and get prepared to cross it again. It was a sight to see when Miguel’s dad, who was his passenger, opened the door and a gush of water came rolling out! Just like in the films, I expected to see some fish flopping around on the ground! Number 1 rescue…

Then Jason pulled in front of Bill’s Scout II. I could see by the look on Bill’s face that he was disapointed, not in himself or the truck, but by the fact that his nice stock Scout II was soaked with about 16” of water on the interior. Jason hooked up the tow strap and pulled Bill forward across the river. After the “emptying” by opening his door, Bill turned his engine over and it started right up! Number 2 rescue…

So we start up the river again, this time we come to another water crossing which was wider. As we’re crossing, I take a moment to look back at the person behind me to make sure he gets across ok and guess what, Larry is now stuck in the quicksand running under the water in the middle of the river! This time, Jerry backs his rig up and pulls Larry to safety (or at least firmer ground). That would be number 3 rescue...

Not too soon after this latest rescue, we come across a Jeep buried so deep in the sand that in order to get out of the vehicle, you’d have to step up. This time, after careful evaluation and discussion, both Jason and Bob hooked their winches up to the jeep and slowly was able to pull the thing out – unharmed of course. Number 4 rescue…

Finally we’re reaching the end of the river / trail and as we cross again, we look ahead and see Pete not on firm ground, he too has buried himself just to the right. Not quite in the water, not quite on good ground. He’s in deep too…similar to the jeep. Again, Jason & Gumby (kinda like Batman and Robin) fly over the rescue and winch on to Pete, and Bob had to strap on to Jason while Pete used his hand as a paddle to get himself out.

Finally we make it out of the quicksand / so called river. We come to some final minor-shallow-not-to-deep-sand and get through the gate back on asphalt. We stopped to unlock out hubs and double check to make sure we have everyone. Then we drove back to camp.

While we’re packing up our camping supplies at the rodeo grounds, we get a phone call from Bill Merritt who’d left us to go back home (Prescott Area?) on the highway, saying he was stranded on the side of the road. Apparently he had some water in his transmission and it started to lock up on him. We offered to come out and change fluids to see if that would fix the problem, however he opted to use his AAA towing insurance and get his IH home. I don’t blame him, he has his tools & garage there. We made sure he had water, food, necessitites until his tow came.

On the way home to Phoenix, Armondo had felt a “death wobble.” I received a call from Pete while we were airing up at the local Shell station. They were off the side of the road trying to figure out what had caused it. We found them around mile marker 117 I think. After careful inspection from Jared, Bob, Armondo, Pete, Jerry, Dustin and myself, we came to the concludsion that his u-bolts had come loose which had caused a wiggle – or wobble – whichever. I’ll let someone else tell that story…

Needless to say, we didn’t have to leave anyone or their trucks. We had a lot of teamwork that day, not only to help each other out but strangers in Heeps as well.

Teresa A Terranova

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