Just got back from a week-long, 1400mile camping and trip taking in Joshua Tree, Anza Borrego, Alabama Hills and Mono- lake areas. Mostly on-highway but some great off-roading and boon-docking in Anza Borrego. On our way back we decided to boondock overnight in the Alabama Hills.
While exploring some potential sites, I put us on a muddy trail that dead-ended in a muddy swamp. We passed through the first mud bath down-hill with enough momentum to clear it, before realizing that wed gone too far. After turning around and attempting to get back, I hit the mud bath going up hill, too slow and on a bad line. I buried our van to the frame rails. Totally and utterly buried, to the point that we were close to blocking the driver's door. Oh, and it was getting dark fast.
I had worried about this scenario and here it was. Time for the test.
My self-rescue kit includes an extra-long Hi-Lift, with a full complement of optional tools, including wheel hooks, 4 traction boards, tow ropes and a full-size industrial grade shovel. My plan was to lift the wheels and use traction boards.
I worked the rear, using the wheel hook attachment on our Hi-lift jack to lift each rear wheel high enough to get a traction board under it.
Meanwhile my heroic wife dug-out the front wheels to a depth where she could start to wedge a traction board under each. She came up with a brilliant idea to use the mallet we carry, to drive them far enough under each of the front wheels - it worked and I did the same at the rear.
I drove out on the first attempt - nobody was more surprised than me lol.
It was dark and cold, so I didn't get any photos of the extraction. We camped 50 yds back up the trail on firm ground overnight and I took these photos the next morning.
Some random post-action thoughts and observations:
1) I should not have driven through the mud in the first place. The ground was unbelievably soft from all the snow-melt.
2) The Hi-Lift acted up - because I had neglected to lubricate its pins for too long. This probably cost us 40min or so and a busted knuckle or three.
3) Once we got it working, it lifted each rear wheel clear of the mud with ease. I was able to put lots of daylight between the mud and the underside of the van and position the traction boards under the rear wheels.
4) A mallet is surprisingly useful for placing traction boards in muddy conditions.
5) We carry a full-size shovel and we are very glad that we do. One of those mini-shovels would have been a nightmare.
6) You typically only get one shot with traction boards, as they get buried in use. It's critical to prepare well and give your first attempt the best chance pf working. Placing the boards is critical and patience important. The plan worked!
7) I'm fortunate to have competent, experienced crew - my wife! She was utterly fantastic. Decades of sailing together probably helps.
8) A winch would have been useless - there was nothing to anchor to for a 100yards or more in every direction, and the ground was far too soft for an anchor to work.
9) A tow-out would have been problematic - I don't yet have front-mounted hard-points and shackles - that's getting fixed as a priority.
10) The cover/skid plate that I made for our under mounted water tank, pump and filter, did its job and protected all of the external plumbing.
The hardest part was getting all the mud of us, the van and our kit.
The best part was facing and solving a challenge together and the increased confidence that came from it.
The picture below doesn't really show how deep and soft the mud was. It looked very deceptive and that's what sucked me in (pun intended). The mud was soft to a depth of at least 2-3 feet. Two of the traction boards were driven deep into the mud, while doing their job. One was driven downwards at a 45deg angle and took me 30-40 minutes to dig out.
![Image]()
![Image]()
While exploring some potential sites, I put us on a muddy trail that dead-ended in a muddy swamp. We passed through the first mud bath down-hill with enough momentum to clear it, before realizing that wed gone too far. After turning around and attempting to get back, I hit the mud bath going up hill, too slow and on a bad line. I buried our van to the frame rails. Totally and utterly buried, to the point that we were close to blocking the driver's door. Oh, and it was getting dark fast.
I had worried about this scenario and here it was. Time for the test.
My self-rescue kit includes an extra-long Hi-Lift, with a full complement of optional tools, including wheel hooks, 4 traction boards, tow ropes and a full-size industrial grade shovel. My plan was to lift the wheels and use traction boards.
I worked the rear, using the wheel hook attachment on our Hi-lift jack to lift each rear wheel high enough to get a traction board under it.
Meanwhile my heroic wife dug-out the front wheels to a depth where she could start to wedge a traction board under each. She came up with a brilliant idea to use the mallet we carry, to drive them far enough under each of the front wheels - it worked and I did the same at the rear.
I drove out on the first attempt - nobody was more surprised than me lol.
It was dark and cold, so I didn't get any photos of the extraction. We camped 50 yds back up the trail on firm ground overnight and I took these photos the next morning.
Some random post-action thoughts and observations:
1) I should not have driven through the mud in the first place. The ground was unbelievably soft from all the snow-melt.
2) The Hi-Lift acted up - because I had neglected to lubricate its pins for too long. This probably cost us 40min or so and a busted knuckle or three.
3) Once we got it working, it lifted each rear wheel clear of the mud with ease. I was able to put lots of daylight between the mud and the underside of the van and position the traction boards under the rear wheels.
4) A mallet is surprisingly useful for placing traction boards in muddy conditions.
5) We carry a full-size shovel and we are very glad that we do. One of those mini-shovels would have been a nightmare.
6) You typically only get one shot with traction boards, as they get buried in use. It's critical to prepare well and give your first attempt the best chance pf working. Placing the boards is critical and patience important. The plan worked!
7) I'm fortunate to have competent, experienced crew - my wife! She was utterly fantastic. Decades of sailing together probably helps.
8) A winch would have been useless - there was nothing to anchor to for a 100yards or more in every direction, and the ground was far too soft for an anchor to work.
9) A tow-out would have been problematic - I don't yet have front-mounted hard-points and shackles - that's getting fixed as a priority.
10) The cover/skid plate that I made for our under mounted water tank, pump and filter, did its job and protected all of the external plumbing.
The hardest part was getting all the mud of us, the van and our kit.
The best part was facing and solving a challenge together and the increased confidence that came from it.
The picture below doesn't really show how deep and soft the mud was. It looked very deceptive and that's what sucked me in (pun intended). The mud was soft to a depth of at least 2-3 feet. Two of the traction boards were driven deep into the mud, while doing their job. One was driven downwards at a 45deg angle and took me 30-40 minutes to dig out.
