That's great. My Sister and Brother-in-law live in San Diego, Ca., during the winter but in Washington State, all summer. Both are retired already. I retired last May and would like to travel out that way to ride some day. My wife didn't retire yet either.
If you can get four seasons out of 4000 ft. up, I would move too. I enjoy fishing for trout here but I never catch 'em. I think they go to school...
Enjoy,
Chuck

 

Where in Washington does your sister and her husband stay during the sumer? I've been L&Ied out at this point and waiting to hear what SSA has to say. Either way I will be unable to work full time again. The wife is trying for a Para-medic position down there and when the next one opens up we will be moving. That is probaly the only way the last daughter will ever move out. Hell, she's 19 and in college and working, it's just cheaper to stay at home.

 

What kind of tires do you folks have? You might need a good mud and snow tires. I just bought some 26" gators and they perform really well in the white stuff, could this be your problem? I live in Canada and we get it real good up here. You know we live in IGLOOS right? LOL!!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Fufighter, I have friends with the same tires you have and I can say, my 589's are at least as aggerssive if not more. Gators are nice but maybe a little heavy. The one thing I miss is four wheel lock. But how often do you need it? Even they get stuck some times. I've gone through holes they were stuck in, in the past. But they've pulled me outta some bad places too. Wouldn't trade the 500i for anything but EFI...
Chuck

 

Whoa Chuck lets get back on topic, I just wanted to know if you guys had aftermarket tires cause I can't see getting stuck in snow with a mud snow tire being a problem. When I had my stock tires on my machine would get caught in a rutt and just go straight, with a mud snow tire I noticed that my limited slip diff would work alot better it was harder for the tire to start the dreaded spin that leads to getting stuck, plus momentum has alot to do with it just like in mud. But I dont think a snowmobile would work any better in 2 feet of snow I've got a polaris 500 that gets stuck faster than my bike does. LOL!!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Didn't mean to sound agressive Fufighter. I think I had just finished responding to the post on AC being ashammed. Kinda got my blood boiling.
I was just saying, the tires do work fine on my AC 500i and I hope yours do as well. I know guys that ride on brand name tires, like yours and do well on them. The stock two ply tires are no good for anything but hard, flat ground riding. If anyone thinks otherwise, make sure you take a winch on the next trip. I bought my AC with the 589's. They are an option at your dealer.
Chuck

 

i live in bc canada and we just had 3 days of snow and two days of rain the snow in my back yard is over my knees deep. and i was just out there with my AC this morning makeing a trail i got stuck a couple of times but i just hooked up my winch to a tree and pulled my self out of the rut, then i unhooked the winch and backed up onto the stuff i already packed down then i tryed again.
i just put mine in low first and try to pack it down and ride on top of the snow, i take my time and as soon as it starts to spin i stop and back up then try again. also if you stay seated your weight is over the back tires and your least likely to spin as much backing up.thats what i do when its packing snow when its powder i just give er bullets.
stock tires work very good in the wet packing snow and on frozen snow with powder underneth they just ride on top of the frozen stuff where as my big tires break through the hard stuff.
but the big tires work the best in all terranes.
ps. i will take some picks of the trail i made in my back yard tomorrow and post them on my page, i cant do it today cause my son has the camara in town.
but i do have some pics from about a month ago makeing trail with my buddy bob and his 450 kodiak.

 

One word -

Plow

 

Before I'll plow, I'll snow blower. Easier on me and my machine.

 

I found the best way to get threw deep snow is a Cycle Country V-blade, set about 6 inches off of the ground, and alot of momentum. 2 feet of snow is about too much for any stock 4 wheeler unless it is dry powder.