Off-roading always risks getting lost. Because of this, four-wheeler drivers usually install winches first. However, a winch will allow you to drive your first-generation, mostly stock Jeep Grand Cherokee 16 kilometres through Alaska’s dangerous terrain without elevating the suspension. You may need a helicopter in this circumstance. This Jeep ZJ owner experienced that on July 4. Their SUV veered into a glacier meltwater pond on the Knik Glacier Trail in Butte, Alaska. The 20.3-mile course is rated six by OnX Off-Road, so it’s incredible that the antique Jeep made it that far. Wasilla’s Elite Towing and Recovery tried twice to approach the Jeep with their off-road truck, but high water crossings prevented them. After the rain, the streams were sluggish when the Jeep resumed going down the trail. The helicopter was the only way to rescue the crew. To locate the ZJ, Heli Alaska launched a chopper in its general direction. Elite contacted Northern Pioneer Helicopters, which deployed a UH-60 Black Hawk to retrieve the vehicle. A Northern Pioneer official told me those planes cost $8,250 per hour to charter. They thought it would take an hour to fly from Big Lake, Alaska, to where the Jeep could be loaded onto a rollback wrecker. This allowed vehicle travel. I’ll update this page after Elite Towing responds to my inquiry. This shot shows two strap-fastening spots on the Jeep’s passenger side. The vehicle’s left side shows these spots. Elite said that it landed after two minutes. At the limited position, it would have necessitated a fall into the glacier’s freezing water. As observed, they lifted it instead of risking the customer’s time and money by putting others in danger. You must choose your battles when your equipment is worth only about 1,500 bucks. Some internet skeptics thought they could have recovered it with another four-wheel drive after the water receded. Leaving the Jeep may leak fuel, coolant, or oil. Elite noted on Facebook that glacial water was the only liquid that gently leaked out as they raised it. What the driver expected when driving their ordinary car to this depth in a remote place remains unknown. A local told me it’s a well-known track, but anything may happen if you need more preparation to recover. At least the Jeep is free, and internet people did nothing to get it back to safety.
