The Incident...

This deserves a post of it's own and we hope it never happens again!  We frequently come across unimproved/unmaintained dirt roads in Alaska and thought this one was ok as Google listed it as the only alternative around our severely backed up planned route.  It started as a typical dirt road but Chick and I were both on our phones to family and the road became more narrow as we progressed along.  It soon became a one lane road with nowhere to turn around.  We had already traversed many twists and turns pocked with deep potholes filled with water and boulders.  WE COULD NOT BACK UP!  1 mile into a 4 1/2 mile road, which was essentially an ATV trail, and we were hoping and praying opposing traffic would not be around the next turn.  With 1/2 mile to go and the end near...it happened!  

As near as I can recall I tried to avoid the rut you see below and since the rear of the trailer was in very moist footing, the trailer slid just enough off solid ground and the right wheels sunk to the axles.  NO WAY OUT!!!!  Chick and his rig were behind me and of no help to pull us.  What now???

Wendy went on to the end of the road to civilization and found enough of a connection to phone a tow service 50 miles away in Soldotna.  On Star was very helpful in providing us with emergency contacts and providing us with our GPS coordinates to help the tow service in locating us.  It took them about 4 hours to show up :(  2 forest rangers arrived and were very helpful.  They made a path around us and directed 6 or so vehicles that made the same mistake we did.  One had airline tickets out of the country from Anchorage in about 3 hours...I really think there was a chance they made it to the airport on time as they had over 3 hours to make a 50 mile trip.

Between the Bobcat pulling the trailer sideways and the 4 wheel drive Jeep pulling us forward while I used our truck to help, we eventually got her on solid ground and we successfully navigated the last half mile and to the paved road and onto our next destination.  We eventually ended the day at around 11PM.  Thankfully there was still plenty of daylight to set up camp.

We are very thankful to get out of this predicament, and no one was hurt :)