The I-70 closure due to the mudslides through Glenwood Canyon has been wreaking havoc on traffic for weeks and it almost cost a bunch of lives. Thankfully, that was NOT the case when a Greyhound bus with 21 passengers got stuck on a backroad (Coffee Pot Springs Road) which is high up in the Rockies.

According to the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, the bus got stuck about 6 p.m. Friday on Coffee Pot Springs Road, which is a dirt and gravel road typically used by four-wheel drive and all-terrain vehicles, NOT Greyhound Buses.

One of the passengers was an elderly woman who had a heart condition, thankfully she was rescued by the Garfield County Sheriff and brought down to safety. As was everyone else on the bus.

This could have ended awfully due to a very bad and dangerous choice by the bus driver who tries to drive a huge bus on one of these mountain roads.

Typically these roads are dirt and gravel with huge bumps that are normally navigated by 4-wheel-drive and off-road vehicles with higher clearance.

The bus suffered significant damage to its oil pan and leaked a bunch of oil which could have also caused another dangerous situation. Thankfully this was cleaned up by hazardous materials crews.

Travelers are advised NOT to follow GPS mapping in an attempt to avoid the I-70 closure through Glenwood Canyon. Not only are these roads unpredictable, but the weather at that elevation can also change in an instant and strand even the most experienced drivers.

If you need to drive over the mountains, the way around Glenwood Canyon is exiting I-70 at Exit 205 (Silverthorne exit) and traveling north on Colorado Highway 9 towards Kremmling.

Continue west on US Highway 40 and south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and returning to I-70 at Rifle (Exit 90). When traveling east, reverse this path.

Sure, this detour is a pain in the butt and can add between 1.5 hours to 2 hours to your trip, but it's better to take a little more time to get to where you're going safely and enjoy some beautiful scenery than taking these dangerous backroads and not making it or getting stranded.

Be safe out there, crews are working tirelessly to get the interstate open again ASAP.

10 Shocking Images of the Glenwood Canyon Mudslide

New footage released from CDOT shows just how awful the mudslides are in Glenwood Canyon.

Is Your 4x4 Ready to Tackle Any of These Harrowing Colorado Trails?

From the high elevations of Paradise Pass to the monoliths of Utah, here are 10 great trails to go off-roading on this summer. 

More From 99.9 KEKB - Grand Junction's Favorite Country