Worst Off-Roading Accident in Colorado History - Colorado's Deadliest Trail Pt. 4 Schofield Pass

This is it, the Finale of our Chasing Colorado's Deadliest Trails Series. We are here on Colorado's Deadliest Trail Schofield Pass. This Pass has the worst 4x4 accident ever recorded in Colorado history. 9 People died in one outing while traversing this trail in 1970 the exact day after Colt's Dad drove it in his CJ5. We hope you hang on as we drive Colorado's deadliest trail and visit the Marble Mine that has some really interesting history as well. We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you in the shop or on our next adventure.
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Note from Marcus F. Robinson:
My father, T Thacher Robinson was the driver of the GMC Jimmy Jeep that went over the edge killing 9 of the 12 occupants including my brother Andrew, half brothers George and Samuel, stepmother Robin and family friends July 7, 1970. Most accounts of the accident are cheap shots about an inexperienced jeep driver, or tourists, or out for the first run in a new jeep. The reality was that the Jimmy Jeep was miss-assembled with three springs left out of the transmission. At the worst possible moment heading up, the jeep popped out of gear and began rolling backwards. Because my father had not pumped out the brakes after fording the Cyrstal River just below the punchbowl, the brakes did not hold and the jeep began rolling backwards. My father, an experienced jeep driver, kept his calm and backed the Jimmy into the side of the mountain where it held long enough for everyone to make a sigh of relief. Then the jeep, either because of loose rock or because it had become unstable, tipped over the edge. My brother Beren has no recollection of how he got out of the jeep which submerged completely in the punch bowl. My father reported to the investigating officials that the jeep had popped out of gear and the jeep was impounded in a state yard where investigators later determined the jeep was missing three springs in the transmission. An appalling side note has to do with two "company officials" that showed up at the state yard after hours with a flatbed truck stating they had permission to take the vehicle for inspection. The night watchman, finding this unusual, refused entry and told them to come back during business hours. They never did. The day the case was to go to trial, GMC offered all families who lost loved ones in the accident an out of court settlement. That said, it was insane of my father to drive up with eleven with him in the jeep. While it was not overloaded weight wise because five of the souls were infants or quite young, it was certainly overloaded lives wise. My father should at the very least have told them to get out and walk up to where it was safer.
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*This product is meant for entertainment purposes only. Your mileage may vary. Do not try this at home. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. For off-road use only. Slippery when wet. Batteries not included. Please remain seated until the 4x4 ride has come to a complete stop. Don't believe everything that you know. Please keep your hands in the vehicle at all times. Reproduction strictly prohibited. Driver does not carry cash. Objects in Bleepinjeep mirrors may be farther than they appear.*

[bleepinjeep]

This is it, the Finale of our Chasing Colorado's Deadliest Trails Series. We are here on Colorado's Deadliest Trail Schofield Pass. This Pass has the worst 4x4 accident ever recorded in Colorado history. 9 People died in one outing while traversing this trail in 1970 the exact day after Colt's Dad drove it in his CJ5. We hope you hang on as we drive Colorado's deadliest trail and visit the Marble Mine that has some really interesting history as well. We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you in the shop or on our next adventure.

Like this video? Check out these:
Chasing Colorado's Deadliest Trails-

Get 15% OFF Adam's Driveshafts: Enter Code "BLEEP15" at checkout
Get 15% OFF Baja Jerky: Enter Code "BLEEPIN15" at checkout
Get 10% OFF Napier Precision Fender Flares: Enter Code "BleepinJeep10" at checkout
Get 10% OFF Eastwood Tools: Enter Code "BLEEPINJ" at checkout
Get 10% OFF Barnes 4WD: Enter Code "bleepinjeep" at checkout
Get a Free Pre-Filter for Thor Cowl Intake: Enter Code "BLEEPINJEEP" at checkout

If a BleepinJeep video has ever helped you consider returning the favor by:

*This product is meant for entertainment purposes only. Your mileage may vary. Do not try this at home. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. For off-road use only. Slippery when wet. Batteries not included. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle, heavy equipment, cherokee XJ, wrangler TJ, wrangler JK, or any Jeep vehicle, especially the newer Fiat ones. How-to videos may be too intense for some viewers and children under 30 years of age. Please remain seated until the 4x4 ride has come to a complete stop. Studies have shown viewing these videos causes increased cancer risks in laboratory test people. I am not a professional, I have no training, I'm not even particularly good at horse whispering. Don't believe everything that you know. Please keep your hands in the vehicle at all times. Do not tap on glass. Do not eat anything that has been on the floor for more than 3 days. Keep your hands to yourself. Not to be taken internally. Reproduction strictly prohibited. Driver does not carry cash. Objects in Bleepinjeep mirrors may be farther than they appear.*

[frankgeimer]

Thanks for the ride along! It goes to show that you can travel this beautiful land of ours for your entire life and still find new places to see and enjoy! What a beautiful Land is our United States of America!

[willielee]

We need more of Bleepin Colt’s dad. Great video!

[ptaylor]

Thanks guys. I grew up in Colorado and left when I was done with college 50 years ago. This was truly beautiful.

[truckinleprechaunscottcask]

Finding old ghost towns, abandoned minds and relics from the past is one of the many reasons I love 4 wheeling. Thank you for sharing the beauty that is Colorado.

[bradshutler]

There have been some big rock slides over the years that have closed Scholfield Pass. One back in the 80's closed it for 2 years. I drove this 2 times in my 77 Scout because I could not resist the Pucker Factor it presents. That was a long time ago and now at the ripe age of 70 my butt cheeks no longer pucker due to driving to many Danger Factor trails. Great series Y'all!

[jackrabbitjeep]

I grew up in Marble, Colorado from 1974 to 1988, graduated from Roaring Fork high school in Carbondale. The quarry in Marble also supplied the marble for the Tomb of the Unknown in Washington D.C.
We used to have blocks of marble the size of houses in our front yard, my father and I rode this road many times on dirt bikes. Now I want to try it in my 2008 JK. Thank you for mentioning Gus, have not thought of this great man in years, his brother Larry plowed the roads in the winter (-35°) and filled pot holes in the summer. Great times in the Rockies. I miss that cold rain and the smell in the air.

[Chompchompyerded]

Back in 1968 we went up there in our old Oldsmobile deuce and a quarter which was a HUGE car. My dad actually though we might be able to go over that, but my mom, who was a native of Gunnison said no. Dad (from Kansas) still thought we might be able to make it over, but mom told him to scout on foot first. Dad came back about an hour later, got a fishing pole out of the trunk of the car, and said, I think I'd be better off fishing the creek than trying to go across. He caught a few small brook trout which made for a much better experience than ripping out the oil pan or dying. It was a good choice.

[coloradothenandnow]

I love this video. I am 66 years old and when I was a kid between 1966 and 1970 my dad and mom would rent a cabin in Marble for a week every year. My dad had an old 47 Willys and every year we would try to make it over Schofield pass to Crested Butte. We only made it 1 year out of the four. The other years the road was washed out or there was a rock slide or something that prevented us from going all the way over. We've got home movies of going past the Crystal Mill, through the town of Crystal, up and over by Lead King Basin, and eventually into Crested Butte. So thank you so much for posting this. I understand it's a treacherous drive. As a matter of fact, we were on the road, that you showed, going down to the Devil's Punch Bowl, and my mom was in the front passenger seat and she was looking out and she was concerned, So dad said well why don't you just get out and walk down and I'll pick you up when we get there so she opened the door and she looks straight down and she looked back at him and said (with some anger in her voice) "I can't there's nothing for me to step on." So that was a family moment that we remembered many times over the years

[sonnicman]

Really cool adventure. Loved hearing the history from Colt and his Dad Matt.

[IvIidnight]

I have pictures of my family and I swimming out in front of Crystal Mill in that pool from 30-35 years ago, a few different years. It was falling down at the time, seeing it look so much better now and hearing that they are actively maintaining it makes me very happy! I need to set aside a day here this summer to get out there again.

[brotherheed]

And that photo of of the river crossing is why “old rigs are still good rigs”. Marvelous

[doubled]

Hello from Oklahoma! Love how the feller in the green shirt gives all these descriptions, but the camera is glued tight to his face rather than showing the scenery. Looked like a fun trip for y'all.

[striderwolf]

Awesome vid! I grew up “in marble” and we’d drive this often for backpacking or as a weekend thing. Little did I know it was CO’s deadliest trail! Many in our trucks prefer to get out and walk the narrow parts of it and it was always interesting when a vehicle was coming the opposite direction.

We’ll done with the history, shots and commentary. Hats off to your dad for that wild route that had to take in in 70’s.

[Aikynbreusov]

Thank you for the narrative and close shot camera work... I really feel like I was there with you guys... thank you

[Tysmopars]

Colt is awesome I love how you put your dad in here and you went back to the places he went and that was special to him great video !

[x_travel]

Visited Marble and Crystal last year during the big landslide in Glenwood Canyon. Wanted to go further but we ran out of time and it started raining. Thanks for taking us along!

[gpfan]

I've really enjoyed this series! Thank you very much for sharing and allowing many of us to live vicariously through you guys!

[MorningstarLifeTX]

That's so rad, having family with 1st person tales and photos of traversing the same pass! Love it!

[stoneblue]

Good one, you guys/gals. That was cool with the part that Colt's dad dubbed in.
Salute to adventuring fathers for getting us into such hobbies. Miss ya dad.