I took the truck out for the first trip with the new tires and they worked great. They ride over things so much smoother and are like tracks in the snow. I wasn't able to get as far as I would have liked to and several of the trails are still closed for snowmobile use so Il be back again soon.
Kid mountain poking out through the clouds on my way out
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/41105004432/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7875"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/888/41105004432_be8e01f6bf_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7875"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I didnt take many pictures on the way up the trail since I was solo and things were going really smooth. I aired down to 10psi and the tires were keeping me on top of the snow great and with the rear diff locked I was able to just keep chugging away up this hill. I ended up turning around about 1/4 mile short of where I wanted to because I just wasn't able to make much forward progress once I was in the trees. The snow was just too soft, Id spend 4 minutes backing up and resetting to get 4 inches of forward progress.
Coming up through the trees...
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/41105004732/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7877"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/877/41105004732_3962bf4c17_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7877"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Turn around point...
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/41105005292/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7881"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/868/41105005292_94fa81d726_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7881"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/27274831598/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7882"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/872/27274831598_36c350e5c0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7882"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I turned around and headed back down to check out some other side trails. The next on i went up had a fun little rock climb and then it headed out across a big wide open field. It quickly started climbing though and at the first switchback, I had to turn around again. I tried getting inside the drift and riding up the wall but the ground was really loose and muddy and 20 feet further the drift took up the whole trail and it was just too steep.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/39339051240/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7886"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/819/39339051240_4f98e726b0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7886"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/40253192595/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7894"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/818/40253192595_8035fb13e5_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7894"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/41105011452/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7895"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/865/41105011452_77f5a6f41f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7895"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I headed back out across the flat section and it was clear the mountain wasn't quite done with me. There was a spot I had broke through on the way in that 'i was trying to avoid since I thought I would sink further in and there werent really any winch points. I took a line more to the left and the front broke through again. I backed up, locked the rear diff, and gave it another shot and the rear sank up to the axle in sugary snow and that was the end of me moving under my own power.
I thought about digging but figured I'd end up moving 3 feet before the same thing happened again. I needed a way to get back on top of the harder snow. I looked around seeing if there was anything I could use for a winch anchor and thankfully there was a big rock poking through the snow not too far away. I dug it out, wrapped a strap around it and with a 3 second pull on the winch I was back on the hard stuff.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/40253194955/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7901"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/815/40253194955_91547840cb_b.jpg" width="1024" height="732" alt="IMG_7901"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/40253207055/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7902"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/798/40253207055_fc1fb09ccc_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7902"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/40436702194/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7903"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/868/40436702194_b1c390059f_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7903"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/147275993@N05/40253189615/in/album-72157693338171131/" title="IMG_7906"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/818/40253189615_de49860a87_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_7906"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Everything after this was smooth sailing. I was really impressed with how the truck handled but my front end sounds like a complete box of rocks. I think this is a combination of the worn out rack and lower control arm bushings so hopefully, I can get those replaced soon.