Orlando Mina - Tour Guide

Passing through Chinle, Arizona last May, we moseyed over to the Pinzgauer shop at Thunderbird Lodge. Orlando had just, a couple of days earlier, narrowly escaped drowning when his truck all but disappeared into a deep hole. We got to see a photo (since lost) of the tail-end of it sticking up out of the river with Orlando about 20 feet behind it on his way to attach a winch cable.

Yesterday, Friday, I decided to stop by the shop and see if Orlando was there. He was! And proceeded to tell the story.

There were several trucks returning from a tour and no one had told him about the hole. When he plunged in he managed to get out through the window and helped his 12 passengers to safety. Several of the other trucks behind him, avoiding the hole, took his passengers while two others stayed to help.

Holding onto the front bumper, Orlando managed to attach winch cables from the two trucks. During the attempt one of the cables broke, an accident that makes a sound similar to a bullet passing nearby...and can easily cut a person in half.

The current was flowing so hard that while holding onto the bumper to attach the cables he was pushed into a horizontal position. It wasn't until their supervisor arrived with a third truck and winch that they finally managed to pull it out.

It took only two months to get the truck cleaned up and running again.

Mina (pronounced: My-nuh) sounded unusual so, you know, being German and of insatiable cur'tiosity, I asked about his heritage. He thinks his family is originally from south of Brazil but his Dad is from Santa Domingo Pueblo and his Mom is from Jeddito, Arizona.

The shop is behind the Thunderbird Lodge and across from the campground. Orlando said he wouldn't mind if you came to hear it first-hand.

Please tell him Hello for me.