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Do or Die

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  • Icicles on a bridge above I-80 with a semi truck passing underneath.
  • California Highway patrol car at Cisco Grove Chevron from Mid 1950s.
  • Rainbow Bridge in Donner Pass.
  • Becky Norman of Dependable Towing Company.
  • A production crew member filming with Dependable Towing Company as they help with an overturned vehicle.
  • The Nyack Towing Company truck bed about to tow a compact car.
  • The tow truck arm of a Running Bear Towing Company truck in the lot.
  • A smashed car in the Running Bear Towing Company lot.
  • Behind the scenes with the camera crew filming the tow trucks.
  • The Dependable tow truck covered in snow.
  • A semi truck covered in snow.
  • A snowplow outside of the Nyack Towing Company.
  • Dependable Tow's tow truck, Big Wrecker.
  • Galeen Stratton, Edgar Stratton, Sawyer Stratton, Becky Norman, Dependable Tow.
  • Edgar Stratton, owner of Dependable Tow.
  • Sawyer Stratton of Dependable Tow.
  • Galeen Stratton of Dependable Tow.
  • The beautiful Sierras offer wonderful views and extreme hazards for drivers and the tow trucks that recovery the vehicles. A 400' climb down the Truckee River was necessary to connect to this truck after it went off at the 55 Mile Curve at Floriston, CA
  • The beautiful Sierras offer wonderful views and extreme hazards for drivers and the tow trucks that recovery the vehicles. A 400' climb down the Truckee River was necessary to connect to this truck after it went off at the 55 Mile Curve at Floriston, CA.
  • Staying warm is a priority on winter recoveries. Snow and freezing water makes this recovery a hard task. Edgar Stratton in cab of truck.
  • When a vehicle become stuck off the highway in the Sierras, it often takes a 4-wheel drive tow truck to recover it. On this recovery, a vehicle had been stuck for two days and the driver finally was able to hike out and get cell service to call for help. Two feet of snow and the vehicle being high centered on a tree made for a difficult day.
  • In the 1860s, horse drawn wagons did much of the heavy transportation work for building the railroad and tunnels.
  • In 1952, record snowfall piled high enough to turn old US highway 40 into a canyon with snow walls taller than the cars trying to traverse Donner Pass.
  • Before Interstate 80, the windy and narrow US 40 traversed Donner Pass. In the winter of 1952, a record snowfall made it more dangerous than usual. Donner summit is in the center.

  • Hanging Ice

    Photograph by Aaron Schnobrich/ National Geographic Channels

    Icicles on a bridge above I-80 with a semi truck passing underneath.

  • Historical Highway

    Photograph by Truckee Donner Historical Society/ Richard Joseph Personal Photo Collection

    California Highway patrol car at Cisco Grove Chevron from Mid 1950s.

  • Mountain Bridge

    Photograph by Aaron Schnobrich/ National Geographic Channels

    Rainbow Bridge in Donner Pass.

  • Dependable Becky

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    Becky Norman of Dependable Towing Company.

  • Tricky Production

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    A production crew member filming with Dependable Towing Company as they help with an overturned vehicle.

  • Tow Ready

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    The Nyack Towing Company truck bed about to tow a compact car. 

  • The Tow Lot

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    The tow truck arm of a Running Bear Towing Company truck in the lot. 

  • Super Smashed Car

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    A smashed car in the Running Bear Towing Company lot. 

  • Towing Tire

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    Behind the scenes with the camera crew filming the tow trucks. 

  • Snowy Situation

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    The Dependable tow truck covered in snow.

  • Snow Covered Truck

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    A semi truck covered in snow. 

  • Massive Snow Pile

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels

    A snowplow outside of the Nyack Towing Company. 

  • The Big Wrecker

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Dependable Tow's tow truck, Big Wrecker.

  • The Dependable Crew

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Galeen Stratton, Edgar Stratton, Sawyer Stratton, Becky Norman, Dependable Tow.

  • Edgar Stratton

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Edgar Stratton, owner of Dependable Tow.

  • Sawyer Stratton

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Sawyer Stratton of Dependable Tow.

  • Galeen Stratton

    Photograph by Lauren Randolph/ National Geographic Channels

    Galeen Stratton of Dependable Tow.

  • Truck Recovery

    Photograph by Edgar Stratton

    The beautiful Sierras offer wonderful views and extreme hazards for drivers and the tow trucks that recovery the vehicles.  A 400' climb down the Truckee River was necessary to connect to this truck after it went off at the 55 Mile Curve at Floriston, CA

  • Hazardous Mountains

    Photograph by Edgar Stratton

    The beautiful Sierras offer wonderful views and extreme hazards for drivers and the tow trucks that recovery the vehicles.  A 400' climb down the Truckee River was necessary to connect to this truck after it went off at the 55 Mile Curve at Floriston, CA.

  • Staying Warm

    Photograph by Edgar Stratton

    Staying warm is a priority on winter recoveries.  Snow and freezing water makes this recovery a hard task.  Edgar Stratton in cab of truck.

  • A Difficult Tow

    Photograph by Edgar Stratton

    When a vehicle become stuck off the highway in the Sierras, it often takes a 4-wheel drive tow truck to recover it.  On this recovery, a vehicle had been stuck for two days and the driver finally was able to hike out and get cell service to call for help. Two feet of snow and the vehicle being high centered on a tree made for a difficult day.

  • Building Up the Pass

    Photograph by Truckee Donner Historical Society/ Alfred A. Hart

    In the 1860s, horse drawn wagons did much of the heavy transportation work for building the railroad and tunnels.

  • Walls of Snow

    Photograph by Truckee Donner Historical Society/ Richard Joseph Personal Photo Collection

    In 1952, record snowfall piled high enough to turn old US highway 40 into a canyon with snow walls taller than the cars trying to traverse Donner Pass.

  • Narrow Roadway

    Photograph by Truckee Donner Historical Society/ Richard Joseph Personal Photo Collection

    Before Interstate 80, the windy and narrow US 40 traversed Donner Pass. In the winter of 1952, a record snowfall made it more dangerous than usual. Donner summit is in the center.

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