Where did you last boondock?

Lots of Stuff, that is a good story -- we have come very close to getting stuck a few times but have always managed to wiggle out of it. So far. Whenever that happens, I tell my wife, "Remember, the term 'four wheel drive' really means 'you get stuck two hundred yards further in than you otherwise would've.'"

She laughed the first time she heard that. Not the second time, though.

Lots of stuff...one of the biggest lessons they taught at the class was that of stopping, getting out and walking forward to see what was around the corner or down the hill. I don`t know if that would have applied in your case. A bad spot to be in, for sure. However..after all of that, you made the right calls. Staying put in safety for the night and calling for the truck to get you out. Plus..you made room for the others. Not everyone would have done that. Full marks.


Gary Haupt

Ok this is the how of how we got stuck.

We had driven up Bear Camp road. It's a paved road.
Once going down hill we ran into patches of unplowed show with many vehicle tracks through them.
Should have turned around at that point. But my truck is four wheel drive and was almost new.
So we kept going.
Soon we were at a snow patch that continued around a bend in the road.
Fewer tracks in this patch should have been a warning.
We however drove on around the bend the tracks stopped and showed signs of the track maker getting stuck then backing out.
We did not get much farther as our truck was now pushing snow with the front bumper.
All wheels were turning on pavement but the truck was not moving high centered in snow and going downhill.
We tried removing snow so we could back out but we only had a kitchen sauce pan for a tool.
(We now carry a folding shovel)
We were able to arrange for a tow the next day on the cell phone so we settled in for a nice remote night in our warm and dry camper on the truck.
The tow truck only had to pull me back 20 feet and we were free But $750 was charged to our credit card.

The Texas couple arrived after dark in our tracks. Their rental car was stuck in our tracks.
They spent the night with us in our camper. I think they would have been in a lot of trouble if we were not there as their cell phone could not reach anyone.
Oh yes they paid $750 for their tow as well !

Sand and snow stuck....

I was fortunate enough to be sent on a two day 4 wheel driving course by the NPS when I was working for them down in the Mojave and one of the long discussions and then on-scene training was sand stuck and it applies equally to snow.

Firstly...know when you are stuck and stop spinning yourself in deeper.

Air down the rear tires. All four if you have duallaies. That will spread the rubber, soften the load on the sand or snow and most/many/almost always, get you out. Of course, you then have to air up again, so..a compressor or a really good bike pump and patience. although you can drive v-e-r-y slowly on 20-25 lbs, if needs be.

Just home from nine days.

Just outside Grand Forks BC



for this




Nakusp Hot Springs,for this





Nelson BC



this is the view from the bedroom side




Highway 16, 50k's east of Prince George




Peterson Beach Rec Site on Fraser Lake,BC.





Gary Haupt

profdant139 wrote:
Lotsofstuff, when I saw that you had been to Bear Camp Road, it triggered a distant bell in my head -- haven't people gotten fatally stuck out there? I did a little checking and sure enough, there have been deaths on that road -- folks lost, stuck in the snow, out of gas. Pretty remote, I guess!

Yes Bear Camp Road has a sad history.
Problem is in the past there were no signs warning the road is not plowed in the winter. There was a gate but it was open so local folks could access the lower part.
We got stuck on the road in February 2006. A couple from Texas got stuck right behind us.
They spent the night with us in our camper. Next day we were towed out. Thank goodness my cell phone was able to reach 911. The people from Texas were not able to get anyone on their cell phone!

Next day the wife and I stopped by the Josephine County Sheriff's office to complain about the lack of signs. They did nothing.

In November/ December of 2006 Mr Kim lost his life when he and his family were stuck just off the road.
Now they finally have warning signs on both ends of the road.
Bear Camp Road is a very beautiful drive in the summer.

Last for me was Rawhide Nv, next is somewhere in Idaho.

Lotsofstuff, when I saw that you had been to Bear Camp Road, it triggered a distant bell in my head -- haven't people gotten fatally stuck out there? I did a little checking and sure enough, there have been deaths on that road -- folks lost, stuck in the snow, out of gas. Pretty remote, I guess!

What I have in mind is tows out of places like this - not 4X4 extreme stuff - but camping spots over reasonably accessible and remote roads where you may be way back in for 10-20 miles:







I'd easily pay $200 a year premiums for an ERS that would save me an occasional $750 or more towing fee - plus the stress that would go along with the experience - every once in a while. What I'd really like is to continue with my current ERS, but merely pay an adder fee each year for rare remote area rescues.

We do not know what the tracked vehicle Salt Flats tow cost was.

Our only remote tow came on Bear Camp road in southern Oregon some years ago.
It was $750 !
We we were members of the Allstate Motor Club. The tow truck had an Allstate club sticker but the operator said Allstate would not cover the remote tow.
We wrote a complaining letter to Allstate. Allstate sent a check for $200 with no explanation.
We cashed the check.
We are now AAA members. Yet I don't think AAA would cover that tow.

Bear Camp Road