Back in the late 1970s, my Dad hauled a trailer house out to the Farmington area, and it being spring break for me, I went with him. We came back a different route deadheading and went across Wolf Creek Pass. Dad told me a few stories he had heard, and showed me where a trailer house driver he knew had got in trouble and basically side swiped his trailer and truck on the side of the mountain to slow down. He was able to get stopped, but left pretty much everything but the frame of that trailer scattered along the road. It had just happened a couple of weeks earlier and pieces of it were still there. Dad taught me how to drive in the mountains, and I agree with the adage, "you can go down a hill too slow, but you will go too fast only once".
I went down Wolf Creek Pass back in the early 1990's. I had 44,000 pounds on and I had been driving about 4 months. I adjusted my brakes at the top of the hill, then went down very slowly. Can't remember if I took it out of low range or not. Got to the bottom, didn't smoke my brakes. That was an "interesting" drive.
Just like airline pilots must remember the mantra that, "Take-offs are optional, but landings are always going to be mandatory", truck drivers must remember that you go down a hill about as fast as you can get up it.
@@Adrian_Nel But always remember,the gear you were in at the top,will not hold you going down.Need to drop at least two,more likely three gears to get down safely.
First of all, rest in peace to the truck driver. It's horrific. I was about to soil my britches when the camera went over the edge there. Yikes!! On a side note, it is absolutely stunningly beautiful there. Bless all the truckers out there every day and night, burning the asphalt, to keep this country running!!
I really dont buy into the suicide bit. But I'm sure some have. But most are just going way way too fast ! And it's not just the rookies now days. I see guys that have been out here years tailgating, speeding far far too fast, and driving stupid. It's a new world now days as compared to when I started driving in the 90s. But Speed kills ! It did then and it does now !
You can see the tire tracks right before the cliff drop off. They were trying to turn away from going over the cliff. Not a suicide. Just going way to fast to correct in time for that next turn.
Amen Ran raw gypsum out a invermere BC (RADIUM HOT SPRINGS) into Calgary AB for a few years back in the late seventies ! Loved it ! Best truckin years of my life bar none ! Hard long pull out of invermere , and radium up 93A always followed a few cardinal rules or I would not be here tellin you this, started down from the top ten miles or so out of Radium third fourth fifth most of the way to the top then started down after walk around !Retarder on from second gear brakin light all the way down to the valley ! Hairpin or two as we’ll shells were hot at the bottom the 3 or 4 hrs to climb Storm mountain up to Fireweed look out then down slow to Eisenhower junction then easy roll easy to Calgary n ! Moral : follow your learned rules or wreck and Die woooohooo !!!!
I first ran over WC in '73... last time around 2000. Big improvements have been made. Wider and straighter. The last time i came over the pass the road was gravel in places before all the. road work had been done. I had a second driver with me that I had hired... he had no fear until he came over the top and smoked the brakes. I made him stop and I drove the rest of the way to Durango...
As I looked at the distance he would have gaining speed he would be going. Oh no! Oh God no! No, no, No!!!!..... the whole way; knowing the breaks were gone.
I had a friend whose dad a truck driver. He picked up this hitch hiker who was apparently also a truck driver he got to talking how bad the passes are back east. His father said he had never driven back East but he said when we get to the top of pass (Wolf Creek) we are about to go over I will pull over and let you have a look and see what you think. Which he did when he got to the top, the guy opened his door and the first thing the guy saw was a thousand foot drop. The guy slammed the door and moved to the middle of the cap and didn't say another word. When they got to Alamosa, he told the guy there was another pass they had to go over but it was just a minor one. The guy would not go with him. About the only way you can get out of the San Luis Valley is going south, so I guess that is the way he went
Thank you for sharing . This has got to be some of the most beautiful scenery ever !! I live in Georgia and we dont have mountains in my area so yeah I really enjoyed your video very much. My heart goes out to the trucker and his family that lost his life there. He sure picked a beautiful place to leave his spirit. When his family comes to visit I hope they feel his love and presence of peace. God be with them and all who have passed thru the veil here. Blessings to you my friend as you travel this land and it's amazing wonders.
Sorry to hear of yet another driver that didn't make it home. We all count on the things y'all bring, and often the drivers are taken for granted. So I want to take the time to say thank you to all the drivers. Y'all please keep it safe, your family's love and need each and every one of you. Thank you for the work ya'll do day in and day out. God bless and be safe.
@@51502 it gets better Bro. Most trucker are just trying to make a living, but it only takes one bad trucker having a bad day to mess up the reputation for everyone. I used to be otr, but I am not on the road anymore. I am glad to be home, but I do salute all truckers. Much love to y'all.
Thats one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Maybe 12 years ago I worked on the truck escape ramps, hauling ashalt. I loved that job! I stood at that spot many times!
Outtuh all the passes ive trucked up n over, Wolf creek Pass has always been my favorite mtn to run, day & night, good or bad/snowy weather!!! Truck safe driver. I also helped pave this pass hauling many a load of asphalt back in 2003
Woohooo! I live just right over the hill! Hubby makes that run often and I hate it! Legit make him call me as soon as he’s off that pass. This summer they had State Patrol doing safety meetings at the top with every truck..... My last ride along we had a run to Durango.....being in the passenger side and seeing over the edge..... was not cool! Those railings felt so tiny! Be safe out there y’all 🥰
That was a heavy load you had strapped down! Like your sense of humor, HA! I've always enjoyed crossing this pass but its unforgiving if not driven cautiously. That's still a dangerous curve. First time I went over Wolf Creek Pass was back in 1968 when it was a two-lane highway with extremely tight switchbacks. I clearly remember on that particular switchback, the CODOT had placed a sign indicating the number of people that had lost their lives plunging over the side.
I remember going thru Wolf Creek pass in the winter '60 or '61 we slid into the snow berm on the out side of the road downhill was next. I believe how dangerous that road is.!
I took that route many times in the early 80s... no jake.. It was a challenge loaded with oilfield pipe from Pueblo to Farmington, NM usually. Composed a little poem back then: "Smoked my brakes, came down too fast, but still survived, Wolf Creek Pass.."
I have driven that road several times, but usually on my motorcycle. I have seen several cars and trucks pull into that area with the brakes smoking. I only drove it about 4 times in the big truck, and I was lucky in that I had the twin turbo Cat engine, and it had about the best Jakes on it I have ever used. I had 2 loads that were quite heavy and 2 that were light. Still probably took it too slow, but I'd rather go slower and be able to tell about it. If the driver had fell out of the cab somehow, there are a lot of bears, scavengers and the like up there. They could have carted off the corpse. The beauty of that area is second to none, and on the Eastern side there is the last natural hot spring that isn't commercialized in Colorado. Love that area.
Great coverage of this - such a terrible event, I can’t imagine what such an experience would be like for the driver as well as the emergency service people and the police. I happened to see a drone presentation of this site but somehow your coverage completes this very uneasy event. Drive safely!
There's a reason for all the signs warning of curves, I never went too fast down hill, occasionally other drivers would ask why I went too slow I told them I can go slow all the time, too fast just once, be safe, just found your channel, Pull toy said so.
Lack of experience and or not understanding the forces your dealing with, coming off these mountains. You might be right about suicide. I don't know. Want to say thanks for the ride on Wolf Creek. Came off the road 2 years ago after 30 so it is good seeing it again. Do wish it could have been under better circumstances. Also, 'Nice Hood'.👍
I read your first response to ne...some of it does make sense, however, being a driver myself, I make this quick assumption. We both know how hot the brakes get going down any steep hill. ( my experience is in the Northeast tri-state area ) the only hills I had to contend with was a 6% incline on Rt.280 in NJ. with that said...it's obvious he was inexperienced, but too many variables come into play. The Weather, the temperature, time of day..was it foggy/misty? If that was the case, did his wipers suck. Was he being blinded by an idiot blasting him with highbeams? Was he over weight? Was he sleep deprived? Was he on meds, or possibly drinking? Etc. Way too many reasons for this accident. As far as the skid marks go...I ask you this. If it were suicide, I personally don't believe you would see any skid marks....those skid marks tell a sad story of quick decision making. Regardless of the out come. Peace brother
I've been over Wolf Creek Pass so many times in a trucks at my family owned and on vacay Sugarloaf I've been all up and down mountain roads and it is scary
I have a class "A" CDL. I have gone over that road at least once a decade since 1973. With all the improvements in the road. It is possibly more danderous now than back in the 70's. A driver in any type of vehicle cannot completely understand the road the first time at night. I was taught that whatever speed the yellow advisory sign says. Take the curve at HALF the posted speed. In July of 2017 I was driving Westbound in my personal vehicle. A Ram 1500 quadcab 4wd Ecodiesel pickup truck. I had my daughter, and 3 grandkids with all our vacation gear for several weeks. Earlier in the trip we went eastbound on Tioga Pass. Which reminds you all the way down the hill. It is a nasty hill. Wolf Creek and many others give a driver easy spots. And at night they get complacent or tired. Then gravity gets you! And will never let you go!!! Twice I have seen out of control vehicles already at high speed. The driver tries to rub against the mountain. The vehicle rolls over and breaks apart. And just leaves a debris field down the road. The Northbound I-5 in Kern County. Just before the Grapevine rd exit. Has a sign dedicating the road to a CHP that had died when his patrol vehicle tumbled at speed on the hill. I now work for a water utility. And drive work trucks within the City when needed. But Wolf Creek and many other mountain roads are more dangerous now than in the early years. Because the improvements fool people into letting gravity get them. Even the Highway Patrol!!!
I drove that pass a few times in the early 90s. Looks way different now. I think what happens is the drivers are going too fast at the top and lose their brakes, or in this case all brakes but one. By the time they reach this curve they are going way too fast to make the turn and they think that little gap is some kind of option, maybe end up out in a field or in some bushes or something. Especially at night, they've never been on this road, they can see lights down there and just hope it works somehow. Taking a truck ramp is usually followed by losing your job and a huge fine. So they think maybe that dark little gap there can get me out of this. It can, just not the way you thought.
Typically you get fined for improper pre trip or improper brake adjustment or failure to maintain brakes in proper working order or something of that nature but you will also have a pretty hefty bill from a tow truck company to remove the truck from the ramp. And if you leave it there too long you'll get a fine for blocking the ramp.
@@cameronturner7475 running costs starts at $10,000 for any colorado runaway truck ramps from what ive been told. Dillon towing and recovery make a killing with this!
Wow hopefully you had all the right permits for that lil truck on the trailer.. that’s real cute, haven’t seen anyone doing that lately,made my night, keep on trucking.
I've been up and down this pass several times heading from Durango to Denver and back, also skiing the WCP area. It's a nasty pass. It can be sunny at the bottom and snowing like hell as you go up it. The old carburetor setup on cars have trouble going up it because of the altitude change. We had to make carb adjustments to get over it.
@@allamericantruckerrob9777 Actually, my daughters live in Colorado, they rarely show me pictures, but I don't get to travel so any where is great.. Thank you for asking. Just surprise each trip.
ive stopped here passing through on my way home in cali thats one beautiful view in the winter even in clear weather but holy moly this was my fear something like this happening on that turn
Nice looking Pete you have and looks like a nice scenic pass. Screw going over that edge though, that must have been freaky as hell for the few seconds till he died. Poor bastard. RIP
thanks for the clip...* like the TONKA, just like mine its brand new sitting in my closet, my father bought in about 68 wouldnt let us take it outside to play with it...* thanks to all truckers out there besafe...*
Where all those cones are as you were going up wolf creek a man ran out of brakes in his rv carrying his boat on the back and he didn't make it. It also happens to trucks too. So it's better to gear down and come off her slow.
Went down part of this road backward and sideways on the ice one winter. What was really scary was I was in the sleeper listening to the codriver yelling "WAKE UP RON. WE'RE GONNA CRASH!!"
I can't do the sleeper thing when we're going down a pass, not a slick one anyway. I recall one time I was in the buddy seat out west on I-90, Snoqualmie maybe, we were pretty heavy and had to pay some guys to chain us up a bit so we could come down on snow pack at night. I could see the the speedometer and I said Steve, if I see the speed get over 15mph, I'm jumping out. And I meant it!
when heavy, I purposely pick a low, low gear, Jake brake on , and stay below 25 mph, just to survive the downhill grade, it gets hairy, but you can do it
It was not easy. Especially back then. But I felt so proud of myself. Taught myself to back up too. I respect drivers like you too Randy. Be safe out there. 👍👍😂😅👍
@@barbarasakatos3150 That was my way too~~. Born and raised in Oregon, drove 5 western states first 3 out of the 19 years I drove, and let me tell ya all, them mountains will kill ya in a heartbeat! *There are no second chances!* You get lazy and don't bother to check your brakes at the top of the grade, or you think you have your big boy pants on so you don't bother to gear down as you crest the top of the pass thinking you'll slow down as it steepens up? That's all the kind of thinking that will get you and the trucks around you very *dead* very quickly as you lose control of your truck as you blow by the escape ramp thinking you've got it under control...
That pass was only Two lane back in the 60s. Some drivers dont heed the grade signs and the warning to Gear down thinking the johnson brake will hadle the incline.Ha ha , yeah right. Been over that pass many times. Grew up in Grand Junction. Good vid!
I-40 in North Carolina, wrecks, rocks falling in the Great Smokie Mountains and the wrecks are more than the other freeways, I drive it, but am always more alert and cautious than with the others. All be carefull and safe out there and always say a little prayer.
Damn, i cant tell ya how much i miss driving. (24yrs in a fuel tanker) My veiw was the same as yours, lookin out over the extended hood of that beautiful Petercar...Except my truck was Blue. Great lookin truck brother. Motor Easy.
It's beautiful up there. Not a suicide, loss of brakes. Poor guy. May he rest in peace and love for his family and friends. Just last September 2021, another trucker lost his brakes and flew off the same cliff. Caught on video. May he too RIP and love and prayers for his family and friends. What a horrible terrifying way to die. I think they should name that corner Dead Truckers Curve, it would fit it.
Never been on Wolf Creek Pass, heard about it through the old truckin songs, had some drivers tell me about it. Ive been on many 8 and 9% grades in Canada but they weren't as long as Wolf Creek. If i ever drive it, it'll be on a bike or in a hlf ton, retired after 45 yrs out there, be safe driver.
@@crazyman8472 [Verse 15] Well, we shot that tunnel at a 110 like gas through a funnel and eggs through a hen... Those lyrics are with me forever!! So glad to have grown up in those times!
Yeah there's no validity to saying that driver thought he or she was in a car. These drivers have training in this area of expertise. They know what is ahead, they know to pull off and adjust brakes if needed,etc. Some of the things this guy is saying makes more sense than not.
Honestly... a lot of these drivers have no idea to even speak english. This is my experience talking. I pull into scales, shippers, recievers, and these dudes cant even understand basic directions! I have to park drivers' trucks for them because they got their licences through family/friends of family. Its a loophole that needs to be closed!
It’s not an easy drive, even in a car!! I used to live out there and it got hard to even go for a drive to enjoy the beauty god gave us cause my hands hurt so bad from having a death grip on the wheel! If you don’t have respect for a trucker then you need to drive 20 miles thru these cuts and you’ll have a much different outlook and new found respect for every one of our truckers!! And that’s a guarantee!!!!!
I'm a retired independent O/O, Married to a freight broker no less. Finally found one that learned how to take all the money. Anyway, I live in Del Norte and I've been over Wolf Creek more times then I can remember. Getting to watch your video running east on 160 brought back a lot of memories. If your Pete was red it would have been deja vu.
Drove up hill in a pick up...poring rain cascading of the rocks to the left and a white line to the right with the drop off a ft. away from the line...except where the line just dissapeared... My wife layed across the seat and wouldn't look out the window..
We have a gorge like that and the logging trucks tend to go off it. Sad really. Just imagine the few seconds of horror they went through. Nice video but sad.
Been down that route ....only in summer...you got to be a mad man to travel it come snow. I picked up a loat of bulk carrots in Monte Vista headed to Bakersfield
Spectacular scenery, nice road, then seeing the obliterated wreckage of what was once a commercial cargo trailer, with no signs of the tractor unit was quite a contrast! That has to be the most unforgiving location to wreck, the probability of the Commercial Driver being ejected from the truck cab on impact and thrown down into the forest may explain why his body was never located.
