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Getting stuck in snow sure sucks, but it can happen to anybody living in a colder climate. Obviously if you had a shovel, a bag of sand and other implements you'd know how to get out. But what do you do when you don't have any of that stuff?

I'd say about 85% of the people that get stuck in snow can get unstuck without ever leaving the vehicle. All it takes to get out of the snow-pile you parked on is getting enough forward motion to "plow" your way through. The problem is usually technique. Many drivers can't get enough traction to get that forward motion.

The technique most people try when stuck in snow starts with flooring the gas pedal and making the wheels spin forward for a moment. Then they throw it in reverse and floor it again. When you jam on the gas, the wheels begin slipping on the snow and ice immediately and never gain any traction to move. So the car will move forward a few inches while the wheels spin, then slide back when you let off the gas.

To properly rock yourself out of a snow-pile, you want to first put the car in reverse and lightly press the gas. With just enough spinning motion to move slightly you may move only a few inches back, which is fine. When the car has moved as far back as it is going to, quickly let off the gas and press the brake pedal at the same time. This will keep the car from sliding back forward.

Now throw the car into drive, release the brake and lightly press the gas and move forward. Your car should be able to move a little farther than its original position. When you get as far forward as you can go, press the brake again so you don't slide backwards.

The idea is to keep moving a little farther back and forth each time until you finally can gain enough momentum to drive over whatever you are stuck in. The key is hitting the brakes after you move so you don't just slide back again. But if gently rocking the car out doesn't work, there's still things you can do even if you don't have the proper tools.

Get out of the car and try to break up the snow in front and behind the vehicle. You don't have to shovel it out , just kind of shuffle your feet through it so it isn't packed solid. Try to at least get a little two-track for your tires broken up through the snow. If you're wearing a good pair of gloves, you can try getting down and digging some snow from underneath the car. Once the area around and underneath the car is broken up a little bit, get back in and try rocking it out again.

Unless you've driven into the biggest snowbank ever and then left your car there while it snowed another 6 inches you should be able to get out. I've lived in Michigan all my life and have been stuck quite a few times, but I don't keep a shovel or any of that other crap in my car.

Learn more about this author, Dan Keizer.
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