Monday, May 4th, 2026, at 5:15 p.m. (PT), we received a request for help with an offroad recovery in Washington. The requester, Tristan Southwood, submitted the following information: “My motorcycle (honda xr650l) is stuck between 2 logs and the rear wheel has sunken and slid over. I managed to squeeze through earlier, but turned around after finding the road (NF1301) becomes impassable except on foot the rest of the way east to highway 12. The bike is positioned awkwardly and I don’t have the strength to lift or move it. To get here, you’d have to turn off highway 12 onto oak creek road, then onto nf1401, and then to 1301. / I’m with the vehicle / I can help cover the cost of fuel.”
Our administrator, Al Fontan, contacted the requester and verified the contact information provided, GPS location, and current situation before sending the request to local volunteers. In this particular recovery, we contacted volunteers within a 30-mile radius.
From the group of contacted volunteers, we had Benjamin from WORN immediately taking over this request, he engaged local volunteers but unfortunately they were not able to find the correct road to get to Tristan. Later one of the volunteers was able to communicate directly with Tristan and after learning he was without water or food, he escalated the request to the local SAR group (Search and Rescue). In cases like this, the priority becomes the safety of the requester regardless of the vehicle’s situation.
This request was a very long request, ending after midnight. Although we don’t have much more information from SAR, we know Tristan was safe and sound.
As always we want to thank the guys from Worn, they are always an amazing group of volunteers.
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