So, almost died last night...

We just got done hiking the whole side of the mountain and didn't see a thing except a bunny, said screw it, the blizzards coming in lets go home. So we pull out of our parking spot at the top of the mountain and start heading out, well my hunting buddy told me the wrong turn on our way back, I'm in 4hi and 2nd at this point until we hit a patch of ice that almost careened me off the cliff face, no trees on the immediate edge of the road. We decide that turning around was the best idea at this point, so I pull into this small bank and get turned around, switched to 4lo now. Well we almost got through the ice patch to the top of the road where there was some dirt to grab on to, but we're short 10 feet, so we start sliding BACKWARDS! I push down my brakes, nothing
I push down my e-brake, nothing
I put the damn thing in park and we're still sliding back! So thankfully my buddy pushes his door open and just starts digging his boots into the ground and that took about 15 feet, we were really close to a right turn at the "bottom" piece of the road so if we wouldn't have stopped...
Anyways we try going up the road again and we slide down to where we were before. We can't go up, so I get off the icy tracks on the road, and get on the packed snow closer to the cliff-face to get some traction and reverse down the road for quite some time (reverse camera FTW) until we hit another turn-around and we get front-facing on the road again. I stayed in 4lo and 2nd until I got off the mountain. Thank god we didn't get hurt.

 

Ice is a scarymofo. Most of the time you dont know you have hit it until you are already out of control. Glad everyone made it out ok.

 

nuts! It can induce some serious panic when friction under the tires appears to completely vanish. I live in the land of ice and snow half of the year and know very well what it is like to feel like I am losing traction entirely. Thankfully never at the edge of a cliff!

 

Florida FTMFW. no snow no ice and no cliffs!

 

this, don't know how many times my truck has slid out of the driveway during winter. nothing compared to OP's situation but after a few years living here in OKC where we get consistent ice storms, learned to take my time and respect mother nature more lol

 

I like studded snow tires for those conditions...and I live on a mountain with cliffs and no guard rails.

 

Glad you are ok.

Guessing you don't have actual winter tires like Blizzracs or Nokias?

 

@Clearwater Bill
I do have some Toyo A/T's that did fine last year, this was my first year hunting in that part of the country in Montana so I didn't really know what to expect.

 

*foot

 

That makes two of us

 

Wow....

This would be me during the slide



Glad you're both alright.

 

So how did the trucks abs handle it.

 

Glad ya'll made it down safely.

I highly recommend dedicated Winter tires if you intend to go back there, or in similar conditions on a regular basis. My 2 cents FWIW.

EDIT: or maybe a good set of tire chains; chain up before you head up the mountain.

Here we go ...

 

Damn helpless feeling, isn't it? Been there more than once before, in both ice and mud. It's one reason I have a winch and ground anchor -- you never know when you may need it to just crawl away from an edge. Glad you managed to stop and get back safe!

 

I'll carry a set of chains as a "just in case"... if nothing else, it's a few more pounds over the rear tires during winter.

 

I owned my first truck when I lived in Montana, chains lived in the toolbox year-round. Glad you guys made it out

 

I'm amazed that pot did not get stirred.