Sierra Nevada Snow Camping | Getting Stuck In Deep Powder

Описание: Deep snow… and we still tried to reach camp.
The Sierra had other plans.

We head deep into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and into the El Dorado National Forest just days after some of the biggest storms of 2026—where up to 100 inches of snow has completely transformed the landscape.
Our goal? Explore Ice House Reservoir and find camp in the snow.

But getting there wouldn’t be easy.

Breaking trail through snow up to the hood of the Jeep. When we reach Ice House Reservoir, it feels like stepping into another world—silent, frozen, and completely buried in snow. The dogs waste no time diving in and enjoying the deep powder before we continue deeper into the unknown.

And that’s when things get real.

Climbing steep mountain roads in deep, unconsolidated snow, progress slows to a crawl. Traction disappears. Momentum becomes everything. And before long, we find ourselves stuck—slid off the side of the road. With daylight fading, we winch our way back onto the trail.
At that point, the mountain makes the call for us.
We throw in the towel for day one, unable to reach our planned campsite.

But we’re not done yet.

The next morning, we regroup and head back for round two—this time approaching from farther south. Overnight, the snow has compacted just enough to give us a fighting chance. The trail is still challenging, but this time… we make it.

At around 4,000 feet, we carve out a massive campsite in the snow. What follows is everything we love about these trips—building a snowman, sitting around a crackling campfire, cooking an incredible dinner, and soaking in the silence of having the entire mountain to ourselves.

Under a sky full of stars, we sip Irish coffees, fix the diesel heater, and settle into the tent for a cold night in the mountains.

By morning, it’s bacon, eggs, and one last look at a winter landscape we won’t soon forget before making our way back down the mountain.

This trip reminded us why we keep coming back.

❄️ Deep snow wheeling
❄️ Winching and recovery
❄️ Remote winter camping
❄️ Sierra Nevada beauty at its wildest

👉 Don’t miss an adventure — Subscribe to Goldens Gone Wheelin (   / @goldensgonewheelin  ) 🐾

We’re sharing Jeep Wrangler Rubicon overlanding adventures with our golden retrievers — camping under the stars, exploring backroads, and discovering trails across California, Nevada, Oregon, and beyond. 🚙⛰️🐕

⸻

📺 Watch More Adventures
    •    Overlanding Destinations and Adventures -    • Overlanding Destinations and Adventures  
    •    Off-Roading Adventures -    • Off-Roading Adventures  
    •    Gear and Equipment -    • Gear and Equipment  
    •    Rigs, Routes and Recaps -    • VLOG: Rigs, Routes and Recaps  

00:00 Intro and Trailer
01:31 Heading up the Mountain
03:31 Breaking Trail to Ice House
05:02 Ice House Reservoir
07:06 Dgos in the snow
10:35 Deep Snow Steep Trail
12:51 Stuck in Deep Snow
14:23 Winch Recovery
17:15 More dogs in the snow
22:16 Day two on the moutain
23:52 Finding a new trail
26:21 Snow camp
31:40 Snowman
32:39 Heater Setup
35:05 Snowy Sunset
38:04 Dinner
41:21 Broken Heater
43:13 Crisp Morning
44:12 Drive out and Wrap-up