Heartwarming Rescue: Florida Father and Son Saved from Snowy Colorado Summit

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado’s majestic mountains continue to pose challenges for out-of-state drivers attempting to navigate the rugged terrain.

Earlier this month, Black Bear Pass was closed for over 24 hours when a South Carolina man’s Kia Telluride became stuck, requiring extensive efforts to safely remove the vehicle.

On Thursday evening, another incident occurred when a father and son from Florida found themselves trapped in the high country.

Hinsdale County Search and Rescue reported on Facebook that their volunteer team was called into action just before 7 p.m. on Thursday to assist neighboring San Juan and Ouray counties with a motorist rescue on Engineer Pass.

The region was expecting overnight snowfall, with the FOX31 Pinpoint Weather Team at Nexstar’s KDVR forecasting 1 to 2 inches of snow from Thursday night into Friday. The route itself is known to be challenging: Engineer Pass, which crests Engineer Mountain in southwestern Colorado, is part of the Alpine Loop, a trail meant for 4×4 high-clearance vehicles or UTVs.

To the Florida duo’s credit, they were driving a Jeep with a fair amount of ground clearance. However, Hinsdale County Search and Rescue noted that the motorists got stranded in about two feet of snow at about 4 p.m. as weather conditions worsened. Rescuers made contact with the pair shortly before 10 p.m.

The Jeep was stuck in about two feet of snow, and photos shared by the search and rescue team highlighted the area’s remoteness, cold weather, and windy conditions.

No additional details were provided.

Outside Magazine, a publication that covers outdoor adventuring, gear reviews, and more, shared a list of basic equipment overlanders should carry while on the trail, especially during the winter. The list includes a recovery board, a tree saver for a winch, hitch receiver recovery points, and more items to safely recover a vehicle.

The Colorado Department of Transportation also advocates for drivers heading up into the mountains during the winter to carry essential items, like water, a snow scraper, blanket or sleeping bag, non-perishable food and jumper cables. More information on that can be found here.

Colorado’s search and rescue groups are staffed by volunteers and Hinsdale County’s group is operated through the county sheriff’s office.