National Forest Service Trolls Tesla After Cybertruck Gets Stuck in Forest

"We are always thrilled when new opportunities to explore our public lands become available."

Unlimited Slip

Last week, a video showed a Tesla Cybertruck getting woefully stuck on a small, snow-covered hill.

The clip, which made the rounds on social media, showed the 7,000-pound truck with a Christmas tree loaded in its bed helplessly spinning its tires while slowly being towed up the hill by a white Ford truck.

The incident led to plenty of mockery. After all, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a big deal out of the Cybertruck having "more utility than a truck" during his incredibly awkward delivery event last month.

Even the local Stanislaus National Forest Service, which manages the National Forest where the truck got stuck, took the opportunity to issue a public service announcement, as spotted by the LA Times.

In a statement, public affairs officer Benjamin Cossel offered to organize an "education campaign regarding off-road vehicle use on public lands."

"We are always thrilled when new opportunities to explore our public lands become available," Stanislaus National Forest supervisor Jason Kuiken added. "But feel there may be work to be done in educating users about our Motor Vehicle Use Maps."

Far Off

Cossel, Kuiken, and their colleagues at the US Forest Service were referring to just how ill-prepared the Cybertruck driver appeared to be. In his post sharing the image and the video of the snow rescue, Instagram user Matt Chambers wrote that the truck didn't have locking differentials due to "software issues," and that the tires weren't "aired down."

"No clue how he was so far off trail," he wrote.

Now, the US Forest Service is looking to educate the public and make sure no more uninformed and underprepared Cybertruck owners get stuck while off-roading.

"We feel confident that had the driver of the Cybertruck had a better understanding of the topographical feature indicated on our maps, practiced Leave No Trace principles, and generally been more prepared," Kuiken added in the statement, "this whole incident could have been not only avoided, but also provided much-needed education to many new off-road users."

The new proposed partnership would allow "new Cybertruck owners" to learn how to use the Forest Service's detailed maps so "you never have to worry about a software update at an incredibly awkward moment."

Judging by what we've seen in the video, it's probably best for Tesla to take them up on the offer. There are clearly plenty of lessons to be learned.

More on the incident: Cybertruck Gets Stuck on Small Hill