I was sitting in the shade on my undeveloped Cottonwood Canyon Rd. property last Saturday morning when a young woman came walking up the easement. Her GPS had led her there but she was trying to get to Spur Cross riding stables. She was crying, shaking, and hysterical because she had come down a 4WD only hill and couldn’t stop in her 4 door sedan. She had two little girls (about 3 and 5 yo) with her who seemed oblivious to the situation. The resident only gate on Cottonwood Canyon Rd. had been open due to construction or she normally wouldn’t have been able to enter.
She only stopped at the steep Cottonwood wash drop off and saw my truck. After calming her down and assuring her I would do whatever it took to help her, we moved several boulders and got her car turned around in the thick desert while I tried to figure out what to do. I called out to the only resident around for help but he only turned off his music and quieted his dogs from barking. The closest neighbor was a mile away, there was no cell phone service, and it was already getting hot.
I packed up my truck and drove up the hill so I wasn’t trapped in case I got stuck going up the hill in her car. The young woman and her girls waited at the bottom of the hill while I made an attempt to drive her car up the hill. After getting stuck half way up I backed down the hill and tried again with more speed and determination. The “forces of good” where on our side as I barely made it to the top throwing dirt, under carriage raking the ground, and tires spinning with the accelerator floored. I can’t image what would have happened if I wasn’t there. They were able to make it to their final destination with immense gratefulness that I was able to help. You never know when you might need help, so help others whenever possible!
Beth Longbrake
email
