Stuck in the mud in the tablelands

Tuesday, March 25th, 2025, at 4:16 a.m. (PT), we received a request for help with an offroad recovery in Oregon. The requester, David West, submitted the following information: “Yesterday I got stuck in the mud in the tablelands near Sprague River trying to reach a property. The road was OK until it wasn’t, then there was no way to turn around and I kept getting almost stuck in reverse so I kept going hoping to get through to better ground. I dug and traction boarded myself out twice only to get stuck again 50 feet down the road. Unfortunately there’s nowhere at all to hook my winch to and the ground is too soft for my land anchor to give me any pulling power. The mud bottoms out, I just don’t quite have enough ground clearance not to get up to my belly in it. I need someone with a more capable mud rig than my stock F150 to pull me out. I can be reached from either direction. From my front, it’s about 450 yards down a road, a turn, and another 90 yards to get to me. From my back, it’s about a 720 yard straight shot. These measurements are from the last fully safe roads. I’ve walked all of the roads. I’m going to need someone with a capable mud rig to pull me out, in which case I think coming from my front would be the easiest. I’d say make a left at the corner and back up the last 80 yards until you’re close enough to hook a strap/rope from the back of your rig to the front of mine. I have two good recovery points on my bumper to hook to. I have a 30′ tow strap and a 20′ kinetic rope as well as plenty of soft shackles in my truck, and I’m happy to get my stuff muddy and to all the wallowing around in the mud so you don’t have to get muddy. Help would be greatly appreciated. I hiked out and called my brother for a ride last night, so I’ll have to meet you have out there with him. He has an F350 on 33s with a winch but we were worried we’d get it stuck trying to reach me. Something light with big tires would be ideal. I’m just barely bottoming out and getting high centered on the mud, so it shouldn’t be too hard for the right vehicle to pull me to safety. / I’m not with the vehicle”

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 Marc Estep, a very active volunteer in the area, who offer to help. But due to the type of terrain and mud, it was decided not to engage unless it was absolutely the last resource.

Luckily from the local facebook group, David was able to connect with Joseph Bean who was able to get him out. We want to thank all local volunteers who responded to this request. Also Marc and specially Joseph who got the job done. Awesome work.

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