Snow Day!

It's been a while since I last posted- work has been an absolute bitch- I'm usually working a 6-day work week nowadays, somewhere between 49-58 hours! Methinks it's time to find a new job.

I was however able to take time to do a one day outing with my local 4x4 club, the Mathatters of Livermore. I am not currently a member, but I am hoping to one day be, if I feel that the club is a good fit. I grabbed my good friend Anthony to ride shotgun with me.

They had scheduled a snow day of playing at one of the ends of the Rubicon Trail. We started at Uncle Tom's Cabin, just outside of Georgetown, CA. After we mustered in Geogetown, we did the traditional visit to Uncle Tom's Cabin, then we headed for the trail, which was actually really a road covered in snow.

When heading out, I was the first one behind the leader, and I was the first one to get stuck in the snow! The snow got so slushy so suddenly, I wasn't even in 4-wheel drive yet! With a little help from Craig (with his gigantic and awesome Bronco), I was able to get tugged out of my mess. Apparently, I have nothing to be ashamed of, as just about everybody after me got stuck too, as we were waiting about an hour for the rest of the group to catch up. While waiting, I took the opportunity to air down to 15 psi (later 12 psi), and to get to know my fellow wheelers.

All went very well up to our lunch destination, a little clearing halfway up the road. We hadn't yet really had much traveling in snow, although there were some pretty good rocks to negotiate. I don't think anyone disconnected their front sway bars.

After lunch, that's when the shit hit the fan. One of the other locals, Walter, started getting stuck multiple times. He's been piecing together this 2008 salvaged Rubicon. It's bone stock, except for 33" tires. Once stuck, he would spin relentlessly until he dug himself really good ruts in the snow. My little jeep couldn't even tug him out! The first time, he got tugged out by someone from the rear with lockers. But then he got stuck 50 yards down the road again! He tried to winch himself out but he didn't know what he was doing. The Walter getting stuck thing became a running theme.

A little down the road, while I was just conversating with Anthony, not paying attention to what I was doing, I got high-sided on a giant block of snow! I didn't even know what my situation was until Cort behind me pointed out what had happened. It took no more than 5 minutes for us to get strapped together, where he was able to pull me off the snow. I then took a running charge at the incline and cleared the obstacle. Luckily, that was the last time I got stuck for the day.

Ultimately, the snow got too deep. Big Bronco Craig got stuck way ahead and while trying to winch himself out, he pulled his bumper right off his rig! Okay. That was the end of the trail. We all had to find a place to u-turn and head back to safety. Poor Walter kept getting stuck. He blamed his 33" tires claiming they were too small for clearance. I had earlier pointed out that I too was on 33" tires. Must be the driver. Hmmm.... very interesting. Walter literally had to get towed out by strapping onto Cort for at least a mile. He's going to get the boner award.

The day went well. We all had fun, despite the mishaps. I met some new friends and learned a lot about what my little rig can do. It was just a pleasure to get away and not have to work that day!