Classic Chevy Tow Truck That Was Trapped on a Mountain for a Year Is Finally Retrieved

      YouTube | zacstrax

      Abandoned cars are a nationwide issue, particularly in the western regions. With vast amounts of land and open spaces, people often discard their unwanted vehicles wherever they please. This behavior frustrates some individuals, prompting others to take action. Recently, one tow truck operator took to the internet to criticize another for leaving its damaged wrecker on the side of a Colorado mountain. However, as is common online, that's only part of the story.

      On September 29, 2025, Milo’s Towing and Recovery responded to a challenging call. Owner Chris Frey stated that they were sent to Hamlin Gulch Road, a snow-covered trail, when his squarebody Chevrolet wrecker slid off a rock. It found itself in a precarious spot, and the situation worsened when the ground gave way while the driver tried to secure a winch cable to a nearby tree. Fortunately, no one was injured—except for the Chevy.

      The scenery looks quite different in August, but it's evident how challenging it would be to navigate with over a foot of snow. Milo’s via Facebook

      Frey shared on Facebook that they chose not to attempt a risky recovery as winter approached. He claims to have communicated with the Forest Service, which supposedly agreed that waiting until spring was the best course of action. The truck remained there throughout the cold months, damaged and still displaying Milo’s branding.

      Fast forward to May 31, 2026, when Zac Beaman entered the picture. Beaman owns his own tow truck and was motivated to act due to the numerous abandoned vehicles scattered across the Rocky Mountains. He shares his off-road adventures on Facebook and YouTube under the name Zacstrax. Upon discovering the wrecked Milo’s truck, he contacted the company about rescuing it, but they reportedly could not agree on a price.

      From there, Beaman criticized Milo’s and Frey for leaving the truck on the mountainside for months. His initial post gained significant attention online before he deleted it.

      “[Zac] reached out to me about my truck and offered to pull it out for me with a cost of $3,000 to $5,000,” Frey explained on Facebook. “In response, I expressed confusion, stating I would rather leave it there than pay that amount for someone else to retrieve it. My intention was never to abandon it. That’s why my logos, phone number, license plates, and VIN were still on it. I had no desire to leave my truck there; the aim was always to recover it.”

      Recovering the heavy Chevy required two 4×4 wreckers. Milo’s via Facebook

      Frey eventually managed to recover the Milo’s Chevy on August 25. It was a challenging task, especially since the rear axle snapped during the process. However, the whole situation garnered enough attention to feature on CBS Colorado, which reported on the viral exchange.

      “I’m glad he got it out. That’s all that matters,” Beaman told the news outlet. “That’s more satisfying than anything. It was in a hard spot, and he did a great job getting it out.”

      Although Beaman and Frey are not friends, Beaman noted an increase in abandoned vehicle recoveries since he first posted about Frey’s truck on the mountainside. In his view, it's a positive outcome.

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