I have always been an overachiever. I met my goal of getting stuck, and I exceeded my goal multiple times… several times, it was even on purpose.
We started our day at the Pevine staging area. Any day that begins with twenty-five plus off-road vehicles airing down and going into 4wheel drive is bounded to be a good day. So, after instructions and reminders of driving off-road in snow, we headed up the peak. I was in the first part of the group, following my friend Linda, my idol. We were doing great until I was almost at the peak.
I was doing as instructed, not taking my foot off the gas or slowing down. I followed in Linda’s tracks and came to a snowbank, and Honey Badger stopped. She wouldn’t budge in either direction. It was a warm day, the snow was slushy, and I sunk, high centering behind the snowbank. Flashback to Virginia City. I was relieved to hear that I wasn’t the only one stuck in the snow across the radio. We don’t know who had the white Jeep Cherokee, it had been abandoned in the snow.
The Jeep behind me attempted to go around to winch me from the front, but he also got stuck. Finally, one of the Jeeps came down from the top and used a tow strap to pull me free of the bank. Unfortunately, the bumper was damaged to free me from the bank, and Honey Badger might need a new one.
While waiting to extract multiple vehicles and get them to the top of the mountain, we had some fun practicing driving through deep snow and using tow ropes. I am hoping someone got pictures or videos of me.
After re-grouping, we headed down a snowy canyon, with me behind Linda to follow her experienced lead. About five vehicles were in front of Linda, cutting trail. Thankfully Linda stopped to make sure they made it through the snow before we headed farther in. Her actions saved us from getting even more stuck. The first vehicles all had a heck of a time. They would have been OK if the weather had been colder, but slush made the canyon a slippery mess.
When it became clear we would not be able to go through the canyon, those of us in the middle group decided to head back up the hill. But, of course, this was much easier said than done. I wish I could have seen it from the outside; I’m sure it looked like a comedy where circus clowns keep jumping out of a little car.
Linda, with her lifted diesel Rubicon, which I not so secretly covet, sunk to the frame. A jeep came from around and tried to winch her out, but he was sliding and got stuck. We used my winch line to secure the second Jeep so he could extract Linda, but that started pulling me over the hill and into the snow. Finally, a totally set up Escalade put a winch line on my rear to keep me from tipping and sliding down the hill.
Once we were all recovered, the debate was how to get back to the top. No one made it uphill through the snow, so we took off cross country.
I was doing great until I was almost at the top when an off-roader who made it up the hill first waved at me to stop. Then, he quickly came down the hill and around the Jeep. I jumped out of the Jeep and heard a new term, “popped a bead.” I learned that meant my tire had pulled off the wheel.
Leave it to me; it was in the worst place possible. I was in the sagebrush, tilted on a hill with the damaged tire downhill. We couldn’t tell if there was further damage. After much debate, we got the tire back on and learned I had torn the valve stem. Thankfully, we aired up it held, so I drove Honey Badger out and straight to the tire shop. Thirty minutes and $10, I was back on the road. The tire is good as new; I wish I could say the same about my bumper.
I had a great day playing in the snow with a wonderful group of off-roaders. I learned more than I expected in both driving and recovery. Emergency valve stems are now part of my recovery gear. We passed the ghost towns of Pevine and Poeville, but they were covered in snow.
I look forward to my next outing and going back and exploring the ghost towns.
2-21-2022
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