A stolen and abandoned car sitting far below a Colorado mountain road creates a deceptively difficult recovery: the crew has to reach the vehicle, establish a secure connection, span a considerable distance with winch extensions, and pull it through uneven terrain without easy communication. The setting near Edwards adds another complication when a black bear is spotted in the area, although the animal ultimately provides more nervous humor than interference. The recovery itself remains the real attraction, particularly because the crew arrives with daylight already becoming a concern.
The early reconnaissance communicates the scale of the job effectively. Caitlin and the others carry soft shackles and extensions downhill while estimating how much line will be required, eventually using three extensions in addition to the winch line. The discussion of roughly 180 feet during the setup gives viewers a useful sense of distance, while the changing slopes and knolls explain why this is more complicated than simply attaching a cable and pulling straight uphill. Local helper Kevin also proves genuinely useful, both as an extra set of hands and as someone familiar with the area.
Rigging the damaged vehicle supplies some of the installment's best practical detail. The crew uses protective material around a sling because abandoned vehicles can have sharp, damaged surfaces capable of cutting recovery ropes, then searches for a suitable structural attachment point. There is also attention to whether all four tires remain on the car, how the rear might swing during the pull, and where another vehicle can provide additional support if necessary. These details make the recovery understandable without burying the action beneath excessive technical explanation.
Once tension is applied, the extraction goes remarkably smoothly. With no radios available, the crew falls back on shouting instructions between positions, yet coordination remains effective as the car climbs over the first knoll and through the remaining terrain. The front eventually lifts while the vehicle is dragged through thick brush, but there is little of the repeated failure or major rerigging that often stretches difficult recoveries into prolonged battles. The crew itself remarks on how efficient the job has been, and the footage supports that assessment.
That efficiency is both a strength and a limitation from an entertainment perspective. There is plenty of preparation and anticipation, but the central pull resolves so quickly that the supposedly precarious cliffside recovery never develops into an especially dramatic mechanical challenge. The playful competition over how quickly Caitlin and Matt can disconnect, wrap, and pack an extension helps fill the space with personality, though it also interrupts the momentum just as the extraction is nearing completion.
The presentation wanders further through two substantial promotional interruptions. The Zocdoc sponsorship is worked into Christopher's injured foot with some natural crew banter, while the later Smash and Dash promotion contains a lengthy rundown of attractions and a military discount. Neither is entirely disconnected from the personalities or activities surrounding the channel, but together they occupy noticeable time in an otherwise straightforward recovery. The closing reference to previously damaged hardware on the recovery vehicle at least brings the focus back to the equipment and establishes a practical repair that needs attention after the trip.
Pros
- Clearly shows how multiple winch extensions, soft shackles, protective material, and suitable attachment points are used to solve a long-distance recovery.
- Makes the terrain understandable through discussion of the knolls, slopes, bushes, line distance, and potential movement of the abandoned car.
- Captures effective teamwork despite the absence of radios, with the vehicle emerging surprisingly quickly once the pull begins.
- Kevin's assistance, the bear sightings, and the friendly competition add personality without overwhelming the recovery itself.
Cons
- The successful extraction happens quickly enough that the central recovery delivers less mechanical problem-solving and suspense than its difficult location initially suggests.
- The Zocdoc sponsorship and lengthy event promotion noticeably interrupt the progression of a relatively compact recovery.
- Some joking and side conversations during setup could have been tightened to keep the focus more consistently on the unusual terrain and rigging decisions.
A potentially awkward mountain recovery becomes an enjoyable demonstration of good preparation, sensible rigging, and coordinated teamwork rather than a prolonged struggle. The fast extraction limits the drama, and the promotional diversions weaken the pacing, but the practical recovery detail and relaxed crew chemistry still make the job satisfying to watch.
