I arise early this August morning to go looking for wildlife. There are several reasons for my early start. I want to do some animal tracking, which is best done before local mountain bikers wipe away the tracks with their tires. And I wish to complete my hike before the August heat bakes the golden-brown hillsides.
I head toward Black Mountain in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. This 3,436-acre preserve resides high above California’s Silicon Valley. It offers great views of the Bay Area as well as the chance to encounter exciting wildlife.
Truck-side Down
I begin on a single-track which intersects a main trail wide enough to accommodate vehicles. I turn off the main trail onto a another that begins the arduous climb to Black Mountain.
About 30-yards into my climb I stop short, taken aback by what I see. A large truck, a Dodge RAM 1500, is lying on its roof just below the trail.
A truck absolutely positively should not be here! And I accelerate toward it before I notice the pink surveyor’s tape surrounding the vehicle.
I come upon a truck on its roof.
Notice the hard-hat on the ground beside the door.
This is not like other wrecks I’ve found. Hiking in the Santa Cruz Mountains, you can find the remains of automobiles from the last 75 years. For example, here is one I discovered deep in the redwood forest. You can see that a Dusky-footed woodrat built a nest over the dashboard. I was the first person to discover and report this previously unknown hulk. So I dubbed it “Steve’s Wreck.”
Steve’s Wreck. Photo by K. Leal.
A Dusky-footed woodrat built its nest inside the vehicle. Photo by K. Leal.
What could have happened?
The trail I’m on branches off the main trail. The main trail is wide enough to accommodate a truck. But this trail quickly narrows as it curves around a hillside. About three-quarters of a mile further down the main trail another also branches in the same direction. That trail is wide enough to accommodate a vehicle. Did the driver make a map reading mistake and turn too soon?
The trail narrows quickly as it begins to climb toward Black Mountain. It is not wide enough for a truck.
Before this turnoff, there is a dirt service road that parallels the trail. Could the driver have become confused in the early morning darkness and fog? Could he or she have mistaken the trail for the service road?
The truck has no logo on the door. So I don’t know if it’s owned by the Open Space District or a contractor in the park to do maintenance. If it is a contractor, he or she would be far less likely to know the trails.
Another strange thing, the truck appears brand new. The undercarriage and exhaust system are sparkling clean, not coated with dirt and dust like a truck normally used for maintenance. And the tires look new as well. Is this a new truck stolen from a dealership? Has it been doused with water from fire hoses? Or maybe the owner keeps their trucks in pristine condition?
Look at the pristine condition of the exhaust system and tires. Is this a clue to what happened?
The truck looks shockingly clean.
With these questions bouncing through my head, I bid goodbye to the mystery truck.
A last look back at the unexpected truck.
As I hike upward I enjoy watching the marine layer burn off over California’s Silicon Valley. I can see the Stanford University campus in the distance.
The marine layer burns off.
The 285-foot Hover Tower and Stanford University campus is located just above the second large bush to the left of the telephone pole.
What really happened?
The only sure way to discover the story behind the mystery truck is to contact the Open Space District and ask. However, I find speculating about the possibilities far more exciting. Today’s hike exercised my imagination as well as my legs.
What do you think happened?
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Skyline to the Sea: Backpacking in the Santa Cruz Mountains
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Hi Steve
I saw the helicopter remove the truck today (Oct 28). I took a video. It’s not great because the ranger made us stay slightly back from the junction of Canyon and Bella Vista Trails. She said that people had worked most of yesterday removing stuff from the truck because it needed to be about a thousand pounds lighter for the lift. The helicopter took the truck on the first lift and then came back to take the stuff that had been removed. I tried putting the video on Google Photos, but it reduced the resolution a lot. If you’d like to see the video, send me your email address so I can send it to you. You can post it on NatureOutside if you’d like.
Thanks, Karl! I will contact you directly.