Skipping the winch was my biggest regret on the Ontario trail

Last fall I ran the Ganaraska Forest trails on my 570 and figured I'd save weight and cash by skipping the winch. Thought I'd never need it solo, then 14 km in I buried the front end in a bog hole that looked solid from the other side. Three hours of digging, chopping brush, and using a tow strap around a tree finally got me out, but I was shaking by the time I hit the truck. A buddy with the same machine and a cheap 3500 lb winch pulled himself out of worse in 20 minutes flat. I'd rather carry the extra 40 pounds and pay the 400 bucks than ever do that again. Why do folks still ride deep mud alone without a recovery plan? Anyone else learn this lesson the hard way?

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andrew_kelly19d ago

Three hours digging solo in a bog is the stuff of nightmares, I felt cold reading that. I always thought a winch was just for show until I watched a buddy drag his machine out of a creek like it was nothing. Now I carry one and a come-along as backup, so I never have to rely on pure panic and a tow strap again.