This winter hasn't seen a lot of snow, and I figured the constant traffic to the spring would have kept the logging road relatively clear and drivable. Once we arrived at the turnoff to the logging road portion we see that it's icy but completely clear of snow. The girl we were with was driving and she takes the corner at an above average speed (but not unreasonably fast, I would've probably done the same) and we loose all traction and slide right into the ditch. Just as we hop out of the truck to access the situation, a tractor drives up right behind us and without much conversation the driver of the tractor throws me a chain, we hook our truck to his forks, and just like that were out of the ditch in under three minutes.
At this point I realize the truck clearly doesn't have winter tires, and is a rear wheel drive. I figure the drive might take a little longer because we would have to drive more cautiously, but we would still be able to make it to the springs. We decide to continue on our way to the hot spring. Poor decision #2.
As we continue down the logging road, the snow on the ground gradually becomes deeper and deeper. About 20km in, we re-access the situation. We've gotten stuck twice already although it wasn't anything major, and the road has become less of a road and more of a bunch of powder with two tire tracks for us to drive in, kinda like this:
I, along with the other two guys, expressed that we were indifferent to continuing or turning back. The girl driving points out that if we turn back now then the last 70km would have been completely pointless. She hasn't had any previous experience driving on snow covered roads and despite feeling a little uncomfortable driving, she chooses to continue. Poor decision #3.
At around kilometer 41 we arrive at a steep hill and the truck clearly can't go any further. I recognized the area and I knew the springs were at most another kilometer away, but at this point the girl driving begins having an emotional breakdown. And so after about 2 hours of driving we decide to turn around and go home. Our first wise decision.
Unfortunately turning around is much easier said than done. The truck is stuck on a narrow and steep section of road with about 30cm of snow on the ground, and a drop off on one side. I wouldn't turn around here in the summer if I had to. And the icing on the cake? There is no cellphone reception here. Awesome.
First thing, I tell the girl that we need to back the car down to a less steep section of road, a maneuver that she is currently too emotional to accomplish, so I get behind the wheel and back the car down and few dozen metres. Next, we needed to clear enough snow off the road to be able to pull a 25 point turn. Of course we didn't bring shovels so we used two snowblades and a pair of snowshoes. This was the best idea I could come up with, the girl kept whining about how the car would get more stuck and that we would never be able to get out of here, along with a lot of other things that didn't help our situation out a whole lot. She was having a very tough time keeping a calm head. I ignored her and focused on getting the car turned around because I knew it once we were facing back the way we came, she would calm right down.
Once we cleared enough snow, I got behind the wheel and went for the turn. The truck turned about 45 degrees on the steep slope and as predicted, became more stuck. Now the girl had been pretty emotional up to this point, but when she could see that the truck is now more stuck than it was before, she really started to freak out. Once again... not helping our situation. I continued ignoring her. One of the guys on mushrooms also starts to freak out. Also not helping our situation. The two of them decide to walk up the hill to find a more open place to turn the car around. The hill they walk up is the reason we are trying to turn around in the first place. I tell them "Awesome! Good idea!"
They left and I finally had some time to think clearly without anybody whining down my throat. The truck doesn't have enough traction to drive out of this. It has to be dragged or pushed into place so that it could drive along the tracks created by other drivers. I definitely remember wishing a guy would drive by on his tractor again. Then the one guy who stayed with me came up with the most brilliant idea I've heard all day. He suggested rocking the truck back and forth and sliding the front around. At first I was a little skeptical, but after trying it quickly just the two of us we were able to move the front about 5 inches. Once the other two came back down to the truck and heard our plan, they calmed down and started helping out. By now the mood got a little brighter I was able to get these two shots of our progress:
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Once the car was finally turned around, we made our way back home without another incident.
A MOMENT OF REFLECTION: A lot of shitty decisions were made that day. I will be much better equipped the next time I try going up there in the winter, and I will tell someone that I'm going up there before I head out. ....holyfuck.
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