by Sam Shoyer
As winter turns into spring, cold and ice make way for spring rain showers. Many communities refer to this time of year as “mud season.” I want to briefly talk about the mentality and techniques behind self rescuing from a ditch or mud. Similar to snow, if we try to drive quickly and aggressively out of the mud, we risk digging our tires deeper. Creating additional traction, driving gently, and creating a path of exit are the basic steps to self rescue. Like most elements of preparedness for road safety, there is a short list of items that can dramatically improve the outcome if we unfortunately wind up in a ditch. One piece of equipment that is growing in popularity for all drivers are “traction pads.” These are firm plastic boards that can be placed by tires in the direction you want to travel. They dramatically improve traction and are reusable. I personally recommend that everyone carry a small set of traction pads all year round as they are small, lightweight, and make a huge difference in emergencies. Other items that can help are a headlamp, small shovel, small axe or small saw, and a tow strap (more important if you drive your car offroad). Having the expectation set that you may need to cut and place wood and rocks by your stuck tires and try different configurations is the most important element of the mentality of self rescuing from a ditch or mud.
While preparedness and technique go a long way, it is very important to recognize when to immediately call for help. If the environment around your car is unsafe or there is mud up to or above the axle of your car, call for help. If a member of the public offers to tow your car but you do not have or know of safe anchor points along your car’s frame, refuse the help politely and call for professional help. Many say that a professional tow truck with a winch is cheaper than damage to your car caused by an unsafe tow.
While I hope our spring is full of safe travel and safe driving, I hope this information will come in handy in case of an unfortunate situation. Have a safe spring everyone!
Sam Shoyer is a ski instructor and outdoor industry entrepreneur who lives in Silver Plume, Colorado at 9,400’ elevation.