I have been reading the posts about the snow in Colorado this year and I am wondering how it affects road access on back roads/2 tracks? I am not going this year but plan on elk hunting there next year. Probably my greatest fear is getting stuck in the middle of nowhere. One thing I have learned with 4 wheel drive is that you get stuck a lot farther back than with a 2 wheel drive.

I'm concerned about the same thing, and I live here. This will just be my second season hunting elk. Last year there was no snow, except above 10'000 ft. I think this year is going to be different, so I may have to adjust my camp plans. The 10-day forecast looks pretty good for my unit, but that could change in a heartbeat. I agree though, the farther back in you drive, the more of a risk you are taking. I may be walking A LOT more this year.

I live in Nevada, and even hunting in September can pose some problems regarding road conditions and getting stuck way back, but usually don't pop up until at least late October.

There are several key issues one must think about, prepare for, and know how to handle in certain situations.

Rule #1 - BE PREPARED!! This is absolutely one of the most important things I can think of. You have to be willing to stay the night (or 3) where you are no matter what. Take plenty of water and food. Make sure you have a good sleeping bag and or blanket in your vehicle. Extra clothes are good too. Just in my Jeep, I have a shovel and pulaski, a few MRE's, sleeping bag, water bottles, wool blanket, some jumper cables, fishing stuff, extra boots, a camp chair, a cook stove, some eating utensils, a tarp, and a day pack with other various survival items, for fire, navigation, etc.

Rule #2 - LET SOMEONE KNOW!! Tell someone where you are going, tell them when you will be back, and following rule #1, make sure you have the supplies in your vehicle that you need to keep alive for a couple more days after that person actually calls for help!! I am quite religous about letting someone know where I am headed, and can at least have them within about a 25 mile radious when they start looking if it comes down to it. I can stay alive for days if I got stuck in a snowstorm, etc.

Rule #3 - DON'T CAMP in a hole!! Plan your camp setup to where you will be able to go down to get out if you need to break camp in a hurry. Its pretty easy to go down hill in rain and snow (though it does take some patience and common sense), but can be absolutely treacherous going uphill in mud!!

Rule #4 - COMMON SENSE!! If you are going down a road, and it seems like this may not be a good idea, then it probably isn't. Back down, get out of there, regroup and try something else. The animals will be there next year!! Have a back up plan in case the main plan goes screwy.

One more thing I learned from a co-worker that goes 4 wheeling quite often, is to mainly use 2WD. If you are in 2WD, then you have 4 high and 4 low to get yourself out in case something goes wrong. If you drive around in 4 low, then that is all you have if you get into a hairy situation. Now, there are some obvious exceptions, such as rocky or steep areas, where it is plainly obvious that 2WD just won't make it, but for most backcountry roads and even a good majority of two tracks, 2WD is all that is really necessarry.

Good luck, don't worry about it, go prepared and have fun.

Thanks for the tips, especially the one about going home downhill, make sense but would not have thought of it. It is true around here also that you rarely need 4wd on 2 tracks ( do not remember the last time i used it ) but when you are around home and get stuck it is inconvenient, but I am familiar with the area and know where to go. When you are in an unfamiliar place and get stuck, I imagine it can be a little scary.