Story and Photography by Shane Fowler.
HUMMER Owners Prepared for Emergencies (HOPE), the collaborative program between The HUMMER Club, Inc. and the American Red Cross recruited and trained a group of volunteers from the Colorado HUMMER Club. HOPE will give these Colorado resident HUMMER Owners the opportunity to volunteer their time, talents, and HUMMERS to provide assistance to other Colorado residents during blizzards, tornados, forest fires, flash floods, and other conditions that come with living in the beautiful Colorado Rockies.
Colorado HUMMER Club members prepared for the HOPE program by renewing their membership with The HUMMER Club, Inc., practicing radio communications, and participating in a trail endorsement training exercise near the Continental Divide near Bun School Pass on June 4, 2005.
The volunteer HUMMER owners and their families were greeted at the HOPE trail endorsement rendezvous point by other H1’s, H2’s, and a severe storm warning. Rain, snow and fog at higher elevations were expected, not atypical for early summer in the Rockies. Dave Breggin, president of the Colorado HUMMER Club and owner of Blue HUMMER Outfitters, began the HOPE trail endorsement by kicking things off with a brief history of the HOPE program and winching demonstration. Then it was back to the HUMMERS to caravan to the trails!
Fifty miles of scenic views along the Peak to Peak Highway provided ample time for the Club to practice radio communications via citizens band (CB) and very high frequency (VHF) radios - over.
The Bun School Pass trail system was chosen as the HOPE trail endorsement location because of its varied terrain and great variety of obstacles. Skills and practical applications covered by the HOPE trail endorsement are Traction Control, Ground Clearance, Climbing up to 22” vertical steps, crossing ditches and logs, driving over mounds, through boulders, uneven terrain, 60% upward slopes, 40% side slopes, water crossings, winching and vehicle recovery. Colorado HUMMER Club volunteers were able to practice to their heart’s content on each of these types of obstacles, with varying degrees of difficulty encountered along the trail.
The very first obstacle, a deep water crossing with a slick and muddy entry and exit, provided the first opportunity to practice vehicle recovery.
The next 2 miles of the trail gave drivers their fair share of maximum approach and departure angles, and claimed a license plate or two in return. During one particularly steep descent, Adam Smith’s black ’03 H2 blew a tire bead on the driver’s side front tire. This provided yet another training opportunity to re-seat a bead in the field. Adam made quick work of the repair with a little help from a CTIS compressor, a ratchet strap and help from a few friends.
After the repairs and a quick lunch, it was time to gain elevation and climb up to tree line. The trail to Glacier View Point was tightly wooded with multiple log crossings, loose rock climbs and vertical ledges. The trail provided a perfect training ground to demonstrate the capabilities of the HUMMER, and allow each driver to become more familiar with his or her rig. Though the trail is not easy, the message is reinforced by the trail leaders that no one should ever work beyond their comfort level while volunteering.
Later in the afternoon when the weather started cooperating, Club members gathered near the laptop to watch the HOPE trail endorsement DVD’s. In the meantime, Eric Ward with a little help from gourmet cook and significant other, Tiffany, showed the Colorado HUMMER Club that logs aren’t just for driving over. They’re for campfire cookouts and barbeque! Those brave enough to endure the rain, snow, mud and of a “summer” trip to the Colorado mountains for HOPE training were rewarded with home made tortillas, pepper steak, barbequed pork ribs, chicken, shrimp-kabobs, roasted corn, and smores.
In addition to the fun, camaraderie, and rewards that come from volunteering with the Red Cross, Colorado HUMMER Club HOPE volunteers will receive a Red Cross first aid kit, T-shirt, and Red Cross door magnets after sending in the required paperwork:
- A copy of driver’s license
- Proof of auto insurance
- CPR certification card
- Bureau of motor vehicles driving record
- Copies of EMT, first responder or related certifications if applicable
- HOPE application & code of conduct form
- Red Cross self-study course
- HOPE processing fee of $55
Each volunteer in the HOPE program must renew the trail endorsement to stay current every three years. I don’t think this group will mind renewing more often!
For more information on the HOPE program, visit
www.thehummerclubinc.com
www.hummerhope.com.
To join or find out more about the Colorado HUMMER Club, visit www.colorado-hummer.org.
To join visit http://hummerhope.eeaston.com/join-hope.
