Snow Wheeling in the PNW

Now much deep snow video but this was an epic trip for me in 2005. I was still on crutches after being wounded in Iraq in 2004 so I didn't get out of my Jeep much.
I got this beauty mark on this run and we didn't make it off the mountain until 3AM the next morning.

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OK Imma call this one wheeling. Weather forecast was good and I wanted to see how far I could make it up the mountain today.
Started by test fitting my (early) birthday present: chains!

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No sign of snow at the house, but just a few miles away was another world:

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I was impressed and appalled to find this guy had driven his chevy malibu this far. Got stuck and couldn't put his cables on, so I have him a tug and sent him back down the mountain.

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Few more miles and we were past any fresh ruts to follow and we had real trouble making forward progress. So we stopped to put on the chains.

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What a difference! Was able to walk right through stuff instead of repeatedly reversing and ramming to get the next few car lengths. Took a little video:


But a couple more miles and it got even tougher. Here's where we called it quits and turned around. Amazing what Just 9 miles and 2000 feet of elevation will do!

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OK Imma call this one wheeling. Weather forecast was good and I wanted to see how far I could make it up the mountain today.
Started by test fitting my (early) birthday present: chains!

View attachment 406694

No sign of snow at the house, but just a few miles away was another world:

View attachment 406698

I was impressed and appalled to find this guy had driven his chevy malibu this far. Got stuck and couldn't put his cables on, so I have him a tug and sent him back down the mountain.

View attachment 406699

Few more miles and we were past any fresh ruts to follow and we had real trouble making forward progress. So we stopped to put on the chains.

View attachment 406700

What a difference! Was able to walk right through stuff instead of repeatedly reversing and ramming to get the next few car lengths. Took a little video:


But a couple more miles and it got even tougher. Here's where we called it quits and turned around. Amazing what Just 9 miles and 2000 feet of elevation will do!

View attachment 406701

That's interesting, i've never tried the chains in snow, just ice. I guess if its fairly consolidate snow the chains would help dig in?
 
That's interesting, i've never tried the chains in snow, just ice. I guess if its fairly consolidate snow the chains would help dig in?

While the most common use is to get bite on ice and packed snow, they also work like giant lugs and work wonders in deep snow and mud.

Just putting them on the front was an incredible improvement. I'll get a set for the back too.
 
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Went up the hill again yesterday. Just an easy cruise and a little hiking with the dog.
Came across a guy in a nice-looking 4-door JK on 37s trying to make it up a side road and not getting very far. I asked about tire pressure. He ran 35 while I was at 8. My TJ walked right up that hill in 1st-low no problem.

I did take another run at the road that has been stopping me. Got a little farther but stayed on the gas 1 second too long at got stuck!

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A few scoops with the old shovel ('68 AMES) behind each wheel and I was heading back down the mountain.
Bet if I had chains on I could've backed out. I'm thinking the snow will be dense enough soon that I'll be able to stay on top.

The scenery was great.