Black Bear Pass - Closed Temporarily

[DiehardTory]

DENVER (KDVR) — A South Carolina man drove a Kia Telluride up Black Bear Road on Wednesday and got stuck, leading to a closure of Black Bear Pass.

The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office said that until a tow can make it into the area, the roadway will remain closed because the car is unstable and it is not safe to be driven around.

The vehicle is stuck on one of the switchbacks above Bridal Veil Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls Powerplant, the sheriff’s office said, which is a one-way area on the roadway. The Kia got stuck at about three to four switchbacks past the falls when the driver managed to get his wheels off the side of the road, leaving the car unstable.
Pictures here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/new...n&cvid=68df141c2b9045fd9854ce645b18d1b6&ei=31

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[davesparky6]

The pics are crazy. They’re lucky they at least had the sense to stop when they did. I’m glad nobody was hurt…

 

[Badunit]

Not surprised about stupid people doing stupid things. Hope it costs him a lot of money.

 

[jmr]

A Jeep with a winch could tug the car around so it's going in the downward direction.

 

[stingrey]

...on the next episode of M.O.R.R....

 

[sharpsicle]

The red Colorado fleet tags make me think it's a rental....

Stupid people win stupid prizes. I hope that rental company fines them out the ass for this boneheaded move.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I've read elsewhere so many people saying they should never take a Telluride down Black Bear. While I'm not standing up for them or saying they were in the right, It appears they are at least headed in the right direction, which means they made it through the steps and initial switchbacks, which to my understanding are really the only challenging parts. The rest is just not getting scared on the shelf. The only reason they got stuck is, for whatever reason, they left the trail, and from the photos even some higher clearance vehicles would get hung up in the same situation.

So as much as us 4x4'ers hate to admit, is this really the wrong vehicle for the trail? This appears to be more of a bad driver issue.

 

[HorsesRear]

I saw a KIA the other day with ducks lined up across the dash.

 

[Rahkmalla]

driver is lucky he's still alive. another 6 inches and that would have rolled

 

[sharpsicle]

While I'm not standing up for them or saying they were in the right, It appears they are at least headed in the right direction, which means they made it through the steps and initial switchbacks, which to my understanding are really the only challenging parts. The rest is just not getting scared on the shelf. The only reason they got stuck is, for whatever reason, they left the trail, and from the photos even some higher clearance vehicles would get hung up in the same situation.

So as much as us 4x4'ers hate to admit, is this really the wrong vehicle for the trail? This appears to be more of a bad driver issue.

Yes, a rental SUV is not the right vehicle. It's unfamiliar to the driver and illegal to use on that pass.

 

[Rahkmalla]

While I'm not standing up for them or saying they were in the right, It appears they are at least headed in the right direction, which means they made it through the steps and initial switchbacks, which to my understanding are really the only challenging parts.

You're assuming they went in the right direction. It's entirely possible they went in backwards, hit a part they couldn't traverse, and turned around.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Yes, a rental SUV is not the right vehicle. It's unfamiliar to the driver and illegal to use on that pass.

Rented vehicle sure, but everyone seems to think only high clearance built 4x4 can make it down BB, when thats not true. The vehicle has been the focus on so many posts about this, but this wasn't the vehicles fault.

You're assuming they went in the right direction. It's entirely possible they went in backwards, hit a part they couldn't traverse, and turned around.

True. I do find it strange that none of the articles or reports give any more detail as to how they got into that situation.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Should have rented a Wrangler. Or bought one.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Rented vehicle sure, but everyone seems to think only high clearance built 4x4 can make it down BB, when thats not true. The vehicle has been the focus on so many posts about this, but this wasn't the vehicles fault.



True. I do find it strange that none of the articles or reports give any more detail as to how they got into that situation.

Staring at the view - drove off edge

Honestly just looks like they drove up to Bridal Veil Falls (Black Bear is two way to that point) and decided to just keep on going through the one way area (above Bridal Veil is one way - down hill) and got distracted and drove off the side.

 

[ALT2870]

It's already been confirmed he drove up the wrong way. Somebody on the Colorado Offroad Reddit claimed he talked to the guy. Him and multiple others said not to do it.

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