Four-Foot in the Forest

Forest inventory work in northern Minnesota. Muggy buggy summer day. 

South of Bemidji, I drove my 1974 two-wheel drive 3/4-ton Dodge pickup as far as I dared down a forest trail. Too far. My Dog sunk in the soft sod, and my snow tires just spun.

On the long hike for help, I vowed to never enter the woods again without four-wheel drive. At least for forestry work. My dad had once pronounced that with four-wheel drive, you just get stuck in more inconvenient places. But within days I made a deal on a 1978 Dodge Power Wagon – with full-time four-wheel drive. The Club Cab was a bonus.

My Power Dog never stranded me in the mud or snow. I eventually sold it to buy a college commuter car.

I wish I had that Power Wagon now.

As far as I know, the only photo of my Power Wagon – my favorite rig ever – is this poor quality still from a VHS video.