Reason for the short day.
Just outside of the tree line and right before the picture of my truck next to a snow bank on the road. I had came across a father and son coming back down the mountain in their Volkswagon CUV and stopped to talk with them (noticed that they looked like to be on their donut tire). They had gotten lost looking for Isabel Lake near Rye, Colorado but the GPS in their car had directed them up this road. The father mentioned that the road was snow block and that their car was having issues so they were head back down. I didn't give much thought to it outside of why did you follow your GPS up this mountain road in your vehicle thats not really meant for it. I showed them the map where the lake was at that they were planning to go and we parted ways. Not a short ways later I noticed what appear to be oil on the ground (see above photo, I had no means to clean it) and a trail of it head back down the trail.
That would explain my their car was having problems when they got the flat tire they damaged their oil pan in the process. Again, not giving much thought to it I headed up the trail till I was stopped by snow and began hiking up to Hermit Peak. All the while I was thinking about the father and son and their damaged vehicle going down the mountain. After taking in the views I opted to forgo any further hiking and head back down the mountain to check on them. While descending the mountain I kept my eye out for any signs of them. I finally found them just short of the trail off to the side of the trail in brush. I got out to check on them and asked if they wanted a tow back into town to meet their ride (he had called a friend prior to me meeting back up with them) the father reluctantly agreed (was really down).
I got them towed the last 5-6 miles back into town to the gas station to meet their ride. Come to find out I was towing them on the original car rim since the spare tire had become shredded on the trail and they managed to put the original tire back on at some point only for it to meet the same fate. The engine had taken a dirt nap at some point on their descent down the mountain and they had been coasting up to the point that I found them (really lucky there). Joke with his son that they had a quite the adventure today even though it wasn't their planned one.
Checked on them one last time at the gas station before rolling up my recovery gear and heading back home. Not quite the day I had planned but glad I could help.
