On my early morning journey over Hartside Pass today I very foolishly chose to take the "short cut" at Hartside Cafe. My excuse is it was very early, it was a lovely day, and I did give it a quick look and seeing this :



.. I decided to go for it. BIG mistake.

About half way down a snow drift had come across the track which I ploughed into. Managed to clear the first drift, but the second got me well and truly stuck. (The following photos are "afterwards" - before hand this was virgin snow).



I sat cursing myself for my stupidity, whilst surveying a series of deep drifts in front of me and realising I was probably going to be here for a long time.

Had to climb out the window (too much snow against the door), collect my trusty plastic shovel from the boot, and start digging.

Cleared a foot or more depth for about 3 metres (that warms you up for sure), then switched off DSC and gunned it. Managed a few feet progress, before doing it all again, and again, and again.





That's a lot of digging.

Finally managed to get enough cleared to get sufficent momentum (all downhill) to clear a couple more drifts without digging. The final 5 metres though, back onto the road, were flat and deep (snow plough had ensured that) so got stuck again there and started digging again. Only now was I "relaxed" enough (ie I knew I was going to make it out) to take a couple of pictues of the car in the snow. The other pictures show where the car had been (and what I had cleared with my plastic shovel - there were no tyre tracks there before me to show just how deep it was).



(is that super extended ?)





"Phew !" - Nice view as well.

So the lessons I learnt are :

1. I am an over confident plonker that one day will get so hideously stuck I'll need a Chinook to get me out.
2. When the snow is over a foot deep, you are going to have a huge amount of drag on the chassis and lift the wheels clear of the ground, that forward motion is severely impaired.
3. Switching off DSC gives the tyres a fighting chance to push through - no chance at all with DSC still on.
4. Raise suspension to offroad height, then once stuck on the snow she will lift some more herself.
5. Go for super extended mode, by pressing footbrake and holding suspension raise lever for 4 seconds.
6. This car is very clever, hugely capable and truly impressive (I am not!). But snow ploughs are a whole lot better at ploughing snow than a Sport.
7. Always carry a shovel.
8. Spend time clearing the snow from wheel rims, suspension etc when you finally clear the stuff.
9. Go back to 1 above and slap myself soundly for being so daft !

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Last edited by Smarticus on Sat Feb 07 2009 7:16pm. Edited 1 time in total

Well done though - nice start to the day ! Nice pics !

 
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Mark. You complete muppet

Did you forget everything I taught you in Kielder ? You should have taken the D3, The drifts would have parted infront of you, Moses




















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Gareth wrote:

You should have taken the D3

.... afraid at that very moment the D3 was being uplifted by LRA due to another fault (check engine, handbrake malfunction and sluggish starting)

But at least Enterprise has brought the wife a Vauxhall Insignia

I kicked up such a fuss when I got home to find the Vauxhall, rang them and explained how treacherous the roads are around here (see above ) that they have promised to bring a FFRR out "first thing Monday morning Sir"  RRS TDv8 HSE Rimini
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Righty ho, well you better go and practice getting the Vauxhall out then  2004 Disco 3 TDV6 HSE in Zambezi Silver + Ebony
1966 Series 2a LWB Soft Top in Army green
1970 MG BGT with Wire wheels in Old English White
New Mini Cooper S Hyper Blue, white roof, spots, & stripes

Good stuff  TDV6 - gone
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top marks Smarticus - at least you went out to play

Smarticus, how did the front trim and the deflectors in front of the spare wheel stand up to being used as a snow plough?
Before Big Mart gets worked up - which tyres were you using - your summer tyres or the winter tyres? 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
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Last edited by Tim in Scotland on Sun Feb 08 2009 5:36pm. Edited 1 time in total

sounds like fun . Difficult to find anywhere to get stuck around here . WINNER - 2008 Best All New Photograph
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Also let us know if they hold true and bring you a FFRR  Runner up - 2009 Best Avatar Award
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