Going snow wheeling is great fun, but when getting stuck equates to spending the night in the front seat of a Jeep, the back of a truck, or hacking an igloo out of a snow bank, 
having the right gear is essential. Without a well-equipped rig, tools, and emergency equipment, and above all, experience, a casual day trip could end up as a nightmare. We can’t tell you the number of times we’ve come across a rig on the trail, frame-deep in the snow and the sun about to set. It’s often a young guy with his girl, and nothing but a cooler full of coldies in the back. No strap, winch, food, water or extra clothes. Nada, nothing, zilch... just the cooler... and the girl. Granted, shared body heat is one method of surviving extreme cold, but it won’t do you much good if you can’t wrap those bodies up in a sleeping bag. Reflecting back on such close encounters (of my youth) gave me cause to take a close look at our own gear.
It was a warm and sunny day as we packed our gear for a weekend at the 2009 Winter Fun Festival (WFF). The info-babe on the Weather Channel called for clear skies and mild temps in the High Sierra. But what if she misread her teleprompter? What if Mother Nature pulled a fast one and Old Man Winter dropped a cumulonimbus anvil on our party? Would I be prepared for a night or two, or three in sub-freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions? And if help didn’t come, would I have the gear, know-how and bravado to get out on my own?
 Tire Science: A Safety Seal kit, portable compressor, a few pry bars and a good gauge are the basics for reseating a tire bead, plugging a punctured tire or airing up at the end of the trail. |
 Recover With Ease: Our basic recovery gear includes a heavy-duty strap, tree saver, winch line extender, two snatch blocks, gloves and four D-shackles. |
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Prior to WFF, I pulled everything out of the Project Tacoma, dumped the contents out in the driveway, and took inventory. From behind and under the seats, the home-brewed carpet kit, and from the cubbyholes under the Extra-Cab’s rear seats, I retrieved stuff I didn’t’ know I had, and a few things I wish I hadn’t found. Because I have several 4x4s, items such as my ditch bag and personal gear go from rig to rig. But both vehicles have their own sets of recovery and emergency gear. What I found was that as MacGyver-ish as I think I am, there were some pretty big holes in my winter survival kit. Holes that even bubble gum wouldn’t fix. Rather than flunking myself from class, the exercise gave me the chance to restock things I’d borrowed (tire plug kit, shovel, tarp), items I’d used and never replaced (quart of oil, hand cleaner, presto log), and to revisit what we off-roaders should consider winter backcountry basics.
 Having a durable and properly mounted winch, and knowing how to use it safely, can mean the difference between sleeping in your own bed, or the front seat. |
 We don’t normally carry one, but if you’re going to be shoveling snow, why not bring a snow shovel. If things get really bad, stay with your rig! When the weather clears in a couple of days, you can dig your way out or burn the spare tire as a smoke signal. |
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 Basic Gear: Basic camping gear includes a sleeping bag for each person, a few gallons of water, extra food (again, MREs), toolbox, Coleman stove and a first aid kit. The Expedition One flat fuel cans stand upright behind the cab and are space-efficient (4-inches wide each), a Pelican case keeps my camera gear clean and dry, and Rubbermaid makes a variety of super-handy storage bins. |
 The Ditch Bag: There’s been a lot of hoopla lately about having a ditch bag, also referred to as a grab bag. In a worst-case scenario, this is what you grab as your rig drops through the ice and sinks to the bottom of the lake. It should contain basic items to keep you alive for a few days or more. Mine includes a sleeping bag, carabineers and rope, gloves, beanie cap, fire starter, flares and magnifying glass (yes, you can start a fire with this, I’ve done it with a pair of reading glasses), TP, sunscreen, rain poncho, flashlight and headlamp (make sure the batteries are fresh), basic first aid kit and a small umbrella (to stay dry, provide shade or collect water). |
We always look forward to the Winter Fun Fest, and it again lived up to its middle name. On Saturday morning about six hundred wheelers headed out on a dozen different trail rides, some in the high country and some on historic tours. As the Big Dipper and Orion circled the North Star that evening, we bellied up to Winter Fun’s watering hole and played blackjack until the wee hours. As for clear skies, the smiling bubblehead on the Weather Channel hit the mark, sunglasses and sunblock were par for the day and conditions were perfect. After a big country breakfast of biscuits and gravy Sunday morning, we headed out for another picture-perfect day of wheeling. Check out the next few pages of WFF action and ORA Winter Prep Guide. For details on the January 2010 WFF, go to www.cal4wheel.com or call 800-4x4-FUNN. See you on the trail.
 This is exactly what you shouldn’t do!! Duuuh! We quickly put a tree saver on this guys winch line and schooled him on the affects of wrapping a raw cable or winch rope around a naked tree. |
 Airing down your tires provides a larger tire footprint, enhancing floatation and traction. In soft snow, though this magazine and all manufacturers strongly advise against it, pressures as low as 8psi on a non-beadlock wheel will make a world of difference. Caution: This should only be at low speeds (>10mph) and extreme care should be used when turning, as the tire can easily come off the rim. |
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 Standard Equipment: If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, we don’t know if it makes a noise or not, but it sure can block the trail. A chainsaw, axe, handsaw, shovel and Hi-Lift Jack and base should be part of your standard gear. A good machete is also an invaluable tool for any backcountry trek as well as a Leatherman tool and jackknife. |
 Grub for the hike out: six military MRE entree’s (about 2000 calories each and they never go bad), SteriPEN water purifier (Kills bacteria and viruses in 60-seconds), Jerky and 1lb salted nuts (high in protein and fat), water bottle, Katadyn water purifier tabs (purifies water with minimal aftertaste), and a few bags of sterile water. You can survive for more than a week before you starve to death, but if you are stranded in an Arctic freeze or a Sahara scorcher, you’ll only make less than a week without water. |
