While researching this article, I found this story about a couple's experience with the Lathrop Canyon Trail that I found entertaining…

For the next ¼ mile it was pretty smooth, so smooth in fact, I turned the 4x4 off something that proved to be a mistake later. Once we saw the sign for Lathrop Canyon we both looked at each and said "it looks like it goes straight down!" And then I commented that we had to get closer to the Colorado River somehow. We made a left turn and down we went. Down indeed, steeper than anything we had been on so far. We made another left turn that brought us down another set of switchbacks, and suddenly we saw it! Before Julie could say anything I hit the brake. "That looks pretty bad" she finally said. We decided we better get out and look at it. If the steepness of the new trail didn't signal me yet the noise of the transmission when I put it into park finally did. When I took my foot off the brake to get out and inspect the obstacle the truck began to slide forward. So I immediately applied the brake again. Julie's look of concern matched my feelings. She offered to sit in the driver's seat and keep the brake pushed while I got out and looked at what ultimately ended our 4x4 ride down to the river. The size of the "cliff" that was in the road could have been handled by a small wheelbase such as a Jeep or that of a truck or Suburban in which the drivers didn't care too much what happened to the vehicle. I saw some attempt to make a stone bridge to guide the tires down but it was an ill attempt and I knew it would be a disaster. Even if we did attempt to go down I wondered how we would ever get back up. We both decided there was no way we could go past this point.

We found a spot back at the last switchback, which gave us enough room to back into and turn around. Our problem now was backing up to that spot. I got back behind the wheel and Julie got out to help guide me. I warned her that once I got started that I was not going to stop. My worst fear was being forced to go forward due to the 20+% grade, which felt like it was almost in a vertical position. When I put it in reverse and took my foot off the brake and gave it the gas the truck's rear wheel began to slide. We didn't make any progress but it had enough traction to point the rear of the truck toward the side of the road, which was a long drop off. Obviously the Goodyear Wranglers were trying to do their part, but I wasn't doing mine. I finally remembered to put the truck BACK in 4x4 and immediately was able to back into the area to get us turned around. Julie got back in the truck without saying a word. We had to increase speed so we could climb back up the steep switchbacks we had come down. It was only about 300 feet from the top but it sure seemed like forever. When we finally reached level ground I found a spot to pull over, put it in park and jumped out of the truck. I began to laugh hysterically as Julie began to cry. Our nerves were shot. Our limits were pushed and we had to surrender to the Lathrop Canyon Trail. Once we both calmed down a little we decided to eat our picnic lunch that was planned for the banks of the Colorado River and reflect on what just happened. All Julie kept saying was that she was thankful we got out of it unharmed as well as her dad's truck.