Getting Stuck

 

    After a few days of blizzardly weather Oren and I headed out to check our traps. We were planning on pulling our foothold sets because we didn't know for sure when the next time we would be able to check them. I had morning practice for basketball, so we headed out after school. We didn't get very far. At one point the trail crosses a narrow steep sided creek that can be difficult to cross when the snow piles up, but is usually a non event once the trail has been broken.
    As we were going out today I was making the crossing with all the nonchalance that I could muster when I suddenly found myself sliding off the trail and heading for the willows. Still thinking I could regain a solid purchase and throttle up the steep bank I leaned hard to the side and applied throttle. My trail had other plans. As I attempted to regain the trail the hard pack deflected me back off and into the willows just as I was going up the bank. Not going to make it. Thinking to myself I wasn't stuck yet, I would just be able to back up and regain the trail that way. I was able to back down a little ways but now the hard packed trail was a hindrance to my attempts to free myself. Every time I backed up I would run into the edge of the hard pack trail and spin out. After several attempts going back and forth I resigned myself to the fact that I was stuck.
    This was going to take a little more effort than simply reversing back and forth. I realized I had forgotten or neglected to bring along a shovel. On multiple occasions I have found myself alone with a stuck snow machine. I no longer worry that I wont be able to get out, but I do know that it will take a little more time and effort to get unstuck when I am by myself. I hit the kill switch and dug out the hatchet. First I chopped down several small spruce trees. I dug out the rear of the machine and slid a few of the boughs under the back. I dug out the front and slid some more boughs under the front of the track. I started the machine up and tried to go forward. I was able to go a little, but the bank was too steep and the track started slipping on the branches. I tried reverse, same thing.
    Back to the drawing board. I cut down more branches, dug out the machine even more, and this time tipped the machine way over on its side to really get the branches completely under the track. Once I got the branches filled in under there was less ski pressure and I was also able to pull the skiis down off the bank and turn them towards the creek bottom. Between piling branches, digging out, and being able to turn the machine I knew that I was no longer stuck. I got everything packed back up and went to start the snow machine. Rrrrrrrr. Rrrrrrrr. Rrrrrrrr. Nothing, not even a cough or a sputter from the engine.
    Hmm. After trying a couple times I tell Oren I will set a 5 minute time and I will not touch the starter for that time. Timer goes off and still nothing. "Alright," I tell Oren, "We will go check our marten set that is just up the trail and if it still doesn't start, I will text mom and let her know and then I will call our neighbor to see if he can come drag us home." We walk out to check the trap and we have a small marten in Oren's foothold set for a fox. We get back to the snow machine and it still won't start, but it is at least showing signs of life. It stutters and coughs now, but it still won't stay running. I try calling our neighbor, but cell service keeps dropping. I end up sending a text and he says he'll be right out. He has followed me a few times, so he knows where the trail is and also the particular place where I happen to be stuck.
    I figure it is going to be a real pain in the butt to get my machine out of the creek by pulling it out, so I get to work trying to dig it out more and get it turned around. I try to start it a few more times, but even though it sounds more promising it still doesn't stay running. I get the machine mostly turned around and pretty much level. I try starting one more time, thinking the last step is to pull the belt off to have it ready to drag, and it fires right up. I send a text to neighbor saying if he hasn't left yet, don't I got it started. As we pull up and out of the creek I can see the snow machine headlights coming through the trees. The rest of the way home was uneventful, and even though I didn't end up needing help, it was good to know it was there.