Trip Report

Old Como Road (Dayton, Nevada) Trip Report

Trip time allotted: 4 hours driving total and 4 hours for trails
Trip time taken:24 hours(ish)
Map Sources: OnX and Gaia GPS
Total food consumed: 2Spicy chicken sandwiches from McD’s and 3 ClifBars
Water consumed: ~48 oz

Trip Summary:
Wednesday morning I awoke with a plan of exploring some trails. All of the fun trails around me are buried in snow so I looked towards Carson City for my adventure knowing that the snow that they had was gone in the valley floor and that any snow up top would likely be minimal. I had some supplies already in the truck. I added to the supplies some ClifBars and extra water. I texted the misses where I was heading and I was off.

I drove the two hours stopping for McD’s and gas along the way. I got to the trail head and aired down to a modest 18 psi. I was ready to go do a little trail running and hopefully find the ghost town of Como and a mine that was near by. I knew the trail would be rocky and have some snowy patches so I proceeded with enthusiasm and caution. As I expected, as I gained elevation, the snow started to show in the northernly exposed areas. No worries, I was in 4Hi for the main part and would put it into 4Lo when needed. As I continued up the track the patches of snow started to get longer and deeper. It was still easy going for my new Goodyear DuraTrac’s so I continued.


Soon I was seeing the first signs of ruins and tailings piles of the Mohawk Mine! Excited I knew I couldn’t be far from Como! I rounded a corner that was fairly deep snow in spots and pointed my truck (Powder) further uphill. The next corner had me slamming on the brakes, man was the snow deep! On the upward hill side there was a gully with about 3 feet of snow and a drop off of at least another foot. I knew right away I must turn around. I was running solo after all and with no one to help get me out, I had to play it very safe.


Oh well, I could always go back to Mohawk and take a look around before I headed the two hours home.


I found a suitable place to turn around and started making my way back to the abandoned mine. I had also seen a marker for a natural spring named Nomad Springs. There was a hiking trail there so I figured I would walk around the area and explore.


I had taken a look at the roads cutting through the spring area on the way up the mountain and they looked safe so I went down the first one I came across as I was heading back down the mountain. It had some snow on it, but none of the snow I had been through up to this point had been deep. Hell, on stock tires I had driven through two feet of powder a couple of weeks before. I had this with no problems as I had gotten familiar with the new tires this morning.


Stuck?


How could that be?! I have been driving around the area all afternoon. And now I am stuck. No forward and no backward.


Shit.


Now what?


I had given my wife details of my location and what I was planning to do. I had also told her that if she didn’t hear anything from me by 9pm to call SAR. My name may be Aaron, but I’m not cutting my arm off to save my life (127 Hours movie reference). I got out of the truck to have a look around and formulate a plan. As I got out, I noticed I was standing on top of the snow and was looking over the cab of my truck. I was in some seriously deep snow. On level dry ground, I am nearly the same height as the truck. I remember making this reference when I bought the truck so I could quickly visualize how deep something was. I didn’t think I’d be using it this day.


As I walked the surround areas I learned that Nomad Springs was more of a bog where I was at and less of a spring. There were many places with standing water that wasn’t frozen. The surrounding snow was both ice covered and post holes in other spots. I routinely sunk to my knees as I was walking near the front and passenger side. As I got further away from what I was learning was a three foot deep drift, the snow gave way to very muddy surfaces.


Upon my inspections, I learned that going back the way I entered the snow bank would be my easiest bet. Easy? My ass! I had to dig through feet of snow. It’s 2:30 now and I’m watching as the sun is darting to the Sierra Nevada mountains to my east. It wasn’t going to be long before I lost my light and heat source.


I got to digging. Around the back of the truck is where I started as that’s where my tools were. Dig dig dig. More digging. The process was a long one for sure. Then I started seeing the fruits of my labor. I had managed to dig all of the snow away that started at the hitch level and dug a big empty space the width of the truck and several feet back. I now had plenty of room to place my knock off traction boards. The same ones I had used two weeks ago to rescue a Land Rover Defender from our historical snow storm. The same boards that had broken on their first use.


I dropped the tailgate and had a break.


Should I call the misses and tell her of my situation yet? I looked at the time. She was finishing teaching her last high school English class of the day. Telling her now would cause her useless panic. I’ll wait.


I started to dig around the drivers side as that was the way my truck was leaning. It was at this point I realized just how much snow I was on. It was up to the doors. As I dug further, I noticed that I hadn’t hit dirt yet and I was well below where my tires stopped.


I dug some more. My back in serious pain, I dug on. But I needed a break. I looked at my phone again. My bride would be done teaching for the day and would be finishing up any after noon work. I turned the truck on and used my ATT WiFi. Man ami glad I paid for that year subscription! I had enough WiFi signal to get an Apple to Apple call out over their FaceTime feature. While I could not do video due to a minute signal, I was able to use voice and talk to her. I alerted her to my current situation and what I felt I was looking at as far as how long I’d be there. All night I told her. I also told her not to panic yet as I was still digging and had most of what I needed in the truck with me.


It was then that I learned I had no snow pants and no Sorel snow boots. I was going to have to make due with my hiking boots that were, luckily, water proof but I didn’t have one wool socks.


After the conversation I sent her the coordinates to my newly found camping spot and told her I’d be able to keep in touch so long as the truck was on. I also told her not to panic if she didn’t hear from me right away as Verizon had no coverage where I was at.


With that settled, I went back to digging. The drivers side of the truck was much harder to dig trough as there was a 6” layer of ice on top of the snow. That was fortunate for walking around, but hard as hell to dig through.


I had made progress though. I had dug out the entire length of my double cab long bed Taco! Why did I buy such a long damned truck?! I got the tarp and blanket out and set the up so I could lay on them and dig under the truck.


As I finished digging for the day, I had cleared a lot of snow. Half of the entire underside was now cleared. As it was dark and the wind picked up I called it a night.


I texted off and on with my wife the rest of the night until her bed time. The night was lonely but I had WiFi so I watched Matt’s Off Road Recovery YouTube videos like I do most nights lately. A few times throughout the night I would try to see if I could get unstuck. Nothing.


Sleep found me very early the next morning, oddly enough, about 12 hours after I got stuck.


At 5:30 my body awoke. I texted home letting her know I had slept for awhile and was still in good spirits. But nature called and I would contact her later.


By the way, have I mentioned it’s winter and the ground is frozen now? No where suitable to dig a proper cat hole. I’ll have to wait. I got back in the truck and figured I would give it one more try to get out now that everything was frozen solid.


I put Powder in reverse and eased on the throttle. It moved! A little, but it was more than it had moved in 18 hours. I rolled forward. A little movement! I was able to rock the truck a little bit.


It was at this time I decided to give it the berries!!


Back and forth I went!


Further and further on each motion.


Suddenly, I was to the floor backing over several sage bushes and a small pine! But I was free!! I had finally managed to free the truck from its icy hold.


I got the truck turned around and opened the tailgate. Sure, I was walking tools and tracks back to the truck a hundred yards away, but that was the penitence I paid for getting it stuck.


The rest of the trip was basic. I drove to the nearest gas station and took care of some pressing business. Then, after learning the gas station air compressor was broken, I dug out my

$221 ViAir 400P - 40043 Portable Compressor Kit. Tire Pump, Truck/SUV Tire Inflator, For Up to 35" Tires

ViAir 400P and started to inflate the tires. Once accomplished, I found food and gas again. Let’s face it, gas in Nevada is Cheap! About a dollar less than at home.


One hour and forty five minutes later, I was pulling up to my cabin. Put the truck in park and went to bed. For. Nearly. The. Whole. Day.


TL : DR, I got stuck and unstuck and made it home.

 

Great trip report! Sounds like you didn't panic and worked your way to self rescue....good on you. Any lessons learned for the next time?

 

I most certainly need all of my snow clothing if I’m headed to the snow. Oh, and a winch so I don’t have to dig.

 

Man, that was an epic TR! How many times have I wished I too had a short bed in similar situations?
I know that Como area, I'm surprised there wasn't even more snow...
Thanks for sharing, glad it (eventually) all worked out for ya.

 

Felt like I was reading a novel. Glad you made it back safe.

 

It's not the best option but a hi lift jack can be used to "winch" if you have a couple of tow straps. It looks like you have some great recovery points available.

 

Once that WiFi subscription ends, you should look into the Zoleo Satellite Communicator. Uses the Iridium network and you can text whoever you choose and send GPS Coordinates. Even has a nifty SOS button for the real emergencies.

That Maverik station...that was my waypoint to/from Montana when crossing CA/NV border and man...the amount of tweakers there!

 

That story had me so scared you couldn’t have hammered a finishing nail into my ass! Nice!

 

Thank you all for the kind words and replies. Overall I truly had fun (accept for the digging of course) because I was mostly prepared for this exact scenario. I wish I would have brought some more snow clothes as mentioned above and my 3 ton come-a-long. It has 50’ of synthetic rope and a snatch block. It may have been a lifesaver.

Oh, and beer. Beer would have been really nice at that point as well. And steaks. And something to cook them on. All stuff I have at home but did not have on the trail. Oh well.

 

Outstanding trip report and pics! Thanks for sharing. Out of curiosity when you were stuck did you try using crawl control?

 

Yes I did. The problem I had with CC here was none of my tires had enough down force on them to be effective. I have used CC in other situations in the snow, where I was not high centered, with great success. But because I had broken through the six inch think ice sheet, and my frame and associated parts were sitting on the ice sheet, it was not helping at all.