Being a geologist (sedimentologist), I know what mud is.  As far as 4-wheeling is concerned a little extra sand mixed in helps.  The real "gumbo" stuff is the most fun (clay- and silt-sized sediment).  For those who 'bog, cleaning up afterwards is the least fun part, (especially the engine).  So if you choose to 'bog--do for as long as possible before you have to clean up!!  Make sure that you clean off all the mud before it hardens into little bricks all over and under your truck.  Don't forget to lube all of your u-joints and grease fittings before you go and after you clean up! Don't forget the tow hooks and tow straps.

The appropriate type of tire for mud and ruts

• Super Swampers (TSL/SX) (47 K) These tires kick ass! Remember when looking at these pictures that both of my differentials are "open" (for now) and I have yet to get stuck.
• 32x11.5/15 SX in action on muddy road (31 K)
• tread pattern, note the sidewall lug marks on the side of this rut (53K)

Tank-trap action (Fall, just starting to get muddy) Don't miss out on the pix next Spring when it gets real gooey!

• entering from the steep side (49 K)
• anybody down there? (66 K)
• powering out (39 K)

• Here we go (18 K)
• Nose dive (15 K)
• In deep (18 K)
• Coming out (18 K)
• Catching a little air (14 K)
• Landing back into the ruts (16 K)

• Submerging the rear (35 K)

• goo 1 (12 K)
• goo 2 (13 K)
• goo 3 (12 K)
• Where'd that tire go? (17 K)

Farm road (posted 'impassable')

• A dodge fullsize hopelessly stuck there for more than a week, and my friends 79 Bronco getting a little pull. (70 K)
• tanktrap looking quite a bit more ominous now, come back for pix (44 K)
• going to check out the dodge (48 K)
• getting deeper (44 K)
• progress halted (45 K)
• backing up (44 K)
• that dodge is stuck good (45 K)
• mud is cool! (36 K)
• Dammit, get some better tires! (40 K)

e-mail me at i6735189@wsunix.wsu.edu.
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