Snow on sunday 11/20/05. Tips?

[wrecked]

My father works for the Forest Service and knows some places to do some snow wheeling(legally) on Mt.St. Helens and has volunteered to lead us up to them.

I have never wheeled in snow. I've driven to the ski resort a couple of times but thats all. I've searched here, PBB and some other places for some tips but thought that you guys may have some suggestions about PNW snow?

I am spooled in the rear and I'm going to run my 35x14.5 boggers as opposed to the 36x12.5 Buckshots for more floatation, aired down of course.

Any actual driving tips that you guys can give?

Oh and anyone who wants to go along is more than welcome to come.

-Kevin

 

[bass2323]

Boggers have a natural tendency to dig deep into the snow, when it starts gettin deep keep the wheel speed up like your in mud.

http://chrisneibauer.wayblur.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=11-13-05jackspass&id=DSC09740

 

[wrecked]

So should I maybe stick with the 36x12.5 Buckshots? Any tips on how to pull someone out in snow? I guess snow could be pretty similar to mud in characteristics, both can be slippery and deep. I've never gone before so it'll be a learning experience I guess.

-Kevin

 

[2xtreme]

This may be too late by now.

The last thing you want to do in snow is dig!!
Lots of flotation, and very little input as far as turning and throttle. The best bet is to take it very slow and very cautious. If you get off the trail or start to dig down you want to be able to correct the problem before it gets bad.

Once it gets bad, you can spend hours upon hours digging yourself out.

Take lots of warm clothes, food, and shovels.

Michael

 

[XJCasper]

Next Sunday is a Snow run. Good way to learn about the characteristics of snow is to watch others.

11/20 is too short of notice. Maybe next time.

Jason

 

[wrecked]

The XJ is all loaded up and ready to go. I've got food for 3 days, extra clothes, water, 3 shovels, MAPS of the mountain and our route marked on it, hi-jack lift, Sleeping bag, extra engine oil, tranny fluid, antifreeze/water preblended, Tire, air hoses to run from the compresser to the tires, cb, radios. And warm clothes.

-kevin

 

[hards91xj]

Sounds like your ready
Let us know what happened and what you learned :wave:

 

[wrecked]

Alright, today was not bad. The weather couldnt have been better. We went out to Woodland on I-5, we then jumper over to the 54 road which we stayed on until we got to the edge of Gifford Pinchot National Forest which e took road 57 to 5704 to the top of Calamity Peak were we caught the 319 to 58 up to the top of Bear Mountain, we looped down the 5407 to the 54 and back to Woodland. Overall start to finish we trekked 150 miles.

The snow was about 2 1/2-3 feet deep. We got a late start and ended up home about 8 o'clock.

I had 3 Toyotas with me, 2 of them got stuck a few times. I had no troubles. I just kept it slow and easy. 4-lo and 1st gear on the downhills to stay slow and avoid hitting the brakes too much and sliding on the downhills. We could have done alot more if we left on time.

It was fun and I plan on going again soon.

Damage of today: 1 broken front driveshaft(toyota), passenger side blown rear shock and a couple of really cold kids(they weren't prepared) :twak:

-Kevin

 

[wrecked]

Haha, I thought that I would mention that my dad was in the area doing some patrols and decided to check up on us to see where we were. He located us on the CB while one of the toyotas was stuck I ran back to meet him and give him the time I'd be back at the house. While I was talking to him he mentioned that he just stopped a guy a couple miles away with a 50 caliber machine gun! As in the ones the military mounts on top of trucks and inside helicopters.

-Kevin

 

[IXNAYXJ]

While I was talking to him he mentioned that he just stopped a guy a couple miles away with a 50 caliber machine gun! As in the ones the military mounts on top of trucks and inside helicopters.

-Kevin

Yeah, it was really cool meeting your Dad. He was surprisingly cool about the M2 I have on the roof.

-----Matt-----

 

[wrecked]

Yeah, it was really cool meeting your Dad. He was surprisingly cool about the M2 I have on the roof.

-----Matt-----

I sense sarcism in the first part(the second part is obvious). If you met my dad thats cool. Should have tried to stop us when we rolled past you guys.

-Kevin

 

[IXNAYXJ]

Yeah, sorry, that was pure grade "A" B.S. You'll figure out pretty soon most of what I say is similarly made up. On a serious note, I was up in Greenwater Sunday for a mini-snow run and we ran into similar conditions...2.5'-3' deep snow, but the weather was spectacular on the other side of the mountains.

And then I broke my front axle. And had to limp back with three tire fire...that was not so much fun.

-----Matt-----