stormitecture

Just caught the tail end of an NBC Dateline story of a couple who went off-roading in the snow near Lake Tahoe and got trapped. In the end I got that the husband (Rod Clifton) died in an attempt to get rescued.

Anyone know about this? I got from some of the video that he may have been in an XJ (they show'd a blue one with Cali tags and aftermarket parts like a rear bumper and lift. That could have just been a stock image. Additionally, there was a shot during an interview of a white XJ in the background near the gate of the park (again in snow).

I search the forum using keywords like "Dateline" but didn't find anything.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3032600/vp/54235872#54235872

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...count=1&ref=nf

black label

That's an old story, happened in dec 2012. Not sure if it was an XJ. Initially I thought you were talking about the family in Nevada that went out for some snow driving 2 months ago and spent 2 days in the wild after they rolled their wrangler over.

They burnt their spare tire for heat.

PDXJ

Thats why I never wheel alone.......ever!

F1Addict

Here's the local (Tahoe) coverage of the 2012 story. It was an XJ.

http://www.news10.net/news/article/2...pnews|bc|large

stormitecture

Yup...that's it...thats the same couple.

Wow, I thought maybe Dateline was being silly, but I see the Jeep was seriously poorly equipped (looks like street tires, not even AT). Newly purchased, and went "around" the closed gate.

Not in the News10 story, but said in the Dateline story, was that he had marijuana in his system too. I didn't get the exact details there as I was doing other work, but seems like more to the story. Wish I caught the whole thing.

bubbarules1958

LOL. Those poor bastards. Heard that all that they had to do was air down and they would've got out. I came across a "couple" at the bottom of Forebay in Pollock Pines. Pulled up to help them out and dude was dead with needle marks in his arm. I took off immediately. A year later that lady recognized my car and flipped out on me. It was awkward.

PocketsEmpty

This guy was not a Jeeper, that's for sure.

F1Addict

Yeah, if it could be done wrong, they did it.

bubbarules1958

Defiantly not a Jeeper.

Tony_SS

A good reminder never to go alone... especially in that kind of weather.

Ianf406

I have an emergency pack in my Jeep- Includes all kinds of stuff but most important for the winter time, a bunch of candles. Sounds weird but Ive tested it out and burning a candle or two inside the vehicle with all the windows up actually keeps it pretty warm. Blanket still needed but survivable.

Its definitely important to have someone with you when you go wheeling... Here it can happen even driving down the highway though if you are not careful. Ive read a few different stories about people sliding off the road in a blizzard and freezing to death. I personally think I would cut down a tree and start a fire (axe and several different ways to start a fire are also in that pack.- my favorite is magnesium pellets and a hand held flare). If I was there for a few days I would probably light a standing tree on fire to get some attention haha. I also try to keep at least a half tank of gas during the winter just in case.

Tony_SS

I keep a full set of winter gear in mine.. if a cop sees that black ski mask he might start asking me questions though. lol

stormitecture

How long of a test. Did the burning create any soot or other issues for breathing?

My big winter item is my zero degree rated sleeping bag. I get HOT in it in 30 degree weather. Never camped out in zero through 20 degree weather, but I suspect it would be fine.

I hope to catch (prob. online) the full story. Just seems a bit weird, the whole thing from the parts I saw.