No Way Out | GPS Leads Couple into a Mud Trap

The Al and Rita Chretien decided to set off on an adventure that combined business with pleasure, heading to a trade show in Las Vegas. They left their home of Penticton, Canada traveled south through Washington, Oregon, and into Idaho. Al made a wrong turn in Idaho. Instead of traveling the main roads, they were feeling adventurous and the GPS found a “shortcut” that guided them on a primitive. Had it been the summer, the route would have taken the Chretien's through a beautiful canyon road with breathtaking views. But this was March, and unbeknownst to them, the road was bogged down from rain and they were heading towards a muddy trap.

0:00 Introduction
0:40 The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
2:46 The Chretien's Road Trip
5:23 Stuck in Mud and Stranded
9:40 Rita All Alone
14:17 Rescue
18:05 The Search for Al Chretien
19:07 Closure
22:53 Conclusion/Survival Tips

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Music by Scott Buckley "Omega"

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[outdoordisasters]

In these stories, I strive to tell them as the subjects themselves would have shared. Whenever I produce a video, I ask myself if the subject or their loved ones were to watch it, would they feel that the story was told respectfully and truthfully? Regarding Rita, leaving out her faith, something she believes carried her through, would not only be a disservice to her story but would also omit a significant part of it. My aim is for my stories to resonate with everyone, regardless of your beliefs. However, my primary goal is to present these stories as truthfully as possible. For Rita, her faith was crucial to her endurance.

In many of the stories covered on this channel, having the right mindset has been vital to survival. Whatever gave Rita the strength not to panic and helped her navigate each day was truly inspiring. While many people find their way through challenges without faith in God. And that, too, is inspiring. We live in a diverse world. We can all find value in courageous and inspiring stories, no matter the source of strength that guided them. Thank you, and I appreciate and love you all!

[dumbcat]

if this ever happens to you... do not try to hike to a place you have never been. hike back along the route you came in on until you reach the paved road and wait for a car to drive by

[coyotehowl]

IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU:
- Use your floor mats for grip to get out of mud or snow
- start a fire, not just for warmth but also to draw attention. I live in the Northwest and fires/smoke always get attention. If you don’t have a lighter, hook your jumper cables up to the car battery (black - negative, red - positive) and use black clamp on something flammable like a tampon or a sweater. Note: this is dangerous but if your survival depends on it, it works.
- put SOS or HELP on the roof of vehicle. If you have loads of time, scratch it on the roof so it’s shiny. Break the mirrors and put pieces on the roof to draw attention.
- make a cocoon bed out of blankets, coats, clothing. Stay dry and stuff yourself into the cocoon to preserve warmth.
- if you don’t have water but there is snow, put it in a container and let it sit in your vehicle near you so it can hopefully melt - put it in the window so the sun might melt it. Don’t eat snow, it’ll make you too cold.
Thank the good Lord for preserving Rita. All the best

[michellecastaneda]

These stories always capture my attention. I'm a nomad 80% of my life. These stories have helped me stay aware and alert at all times. Not to take the safety of what I feel for granted. Thank you for sharing these stories.

[Atmosphericpurgatory]

If anyone deserves 100k you do these stories have made a difference in my life I've been subscribed to you for over a year now

[seriouslywtf]

To the people here who are upset about all the talk about faith: Look, this channel is telling the story. The survivor has talked extensively about how her faith helped her survive. The channel is just reporting, not proselytizing. This is well told and it's not a story I've heard before.

[daphne]

I think our mental state is sooo important when we’re in serious trouble. I think in this case because of her faith it helped her survive because for her it meant she was never truly alone or helpless. When we despair, usually we will not survive. For someone else it may look different but we really need mental strenght if we wish to survive an ordeal, it does not matter where we get the strength from.

[lindas]

I’m Canadian and I remember when this couple was reported missing. I was praying for them. And subsequently hearing about how she was found. Thanks for telling this - the triumph and the tragedy.

[jam]

Amazing that she survived this ordeal but lets look at the elephant in the room. They took a van with no off road capabilities off road into the mountains with no experience or the proper supplies for such an emergency. Half these stories would not have happened if people would use common sense.

[randall]

Thank you for sharing this story with such respect and appreciation for the deep faith in this couple’s daily life . Your stories are so well narrated and inspiring, as to bring life to the stories that you share with us. ❤

[MaryWahlen]

I have just one more comment to add-- in my opinion, people put too much trust in these GPS devices. When they work, great! But good old-fashioned maps should be used as well. Thank you J.R. 🌷

[SamanthaWhitecalf]

I like the advice at the end of every video. Best channel on YouTube.

[melodymerritt]

Amazing story. You've told a few like this one. They are so incredible. Thanks for sharing. 50 years ago I hitch hiked the Al-Can Byway up to Alaska. I was 1500 miles of dirt road back then! If any one stopped to pick me up, I made sure they had many spare tires! Lol! I am female and was 17 at the time. I'm so glad I at least had the smarts to check their tire situation! I had a great trip! that summer of 1974! Love your channel!!!

[sheilax]

As a novice outdoor traveler this channel is a gem ! So happy to find it !

[djohnson]

Paper maps. As a child I was fascinated with them. They had a legend on them which explained the types of roads, whether it was a highway or a dirt road. Sometimes roads would be classified as “closed in winter.”The different dot sizes indicated the relative population of the cities. I think it would be a good idea to have a paper map in the glove box to compare with the GPS. I think she survived mainly due to her outlook on her situation. Her faith definitely helped her.

[JohnDrivesAnything]

Nice to see your channel approaching 100K subscribers buddy. Had to stop by and say hi when I saw the van thumbnail

[twilaburkholder]

What a story and made me think twice because my husband and I sometimes are looking for short cuts when we miss a road. Your way of story telling is fantastic!

[ev]

Not gonna lie, it definitely hit right in the heart that she kept driving the van afterwards... her last connection to her husband. I'm glad she made it, and that her husband died peacefully.

[MAJDYISMAEL]

Thanks 🙏 for your amazing content and valuable advice on tips concerning avoiding outdoor disasters ❤

[silkie]

When hiking, always turn around and look for landmarks, a tree, a rock formation, whatever, so when you’re on your return hike you know what to look for