Galactic Adventures

ISSUE 37  |  JANUARY 27, 2026

Hello, STORYTELLERS! Welcome to the 37th issue of Galactic Adventures -- our community-focused, community-informed newsletter.

 

This issue's featured photo comes to us from MODE Owner, Kayden Phan


If you would like to see your photo or story featured in Galactic Adventures, please send an email to daniel.mojica@storytelleroverland.com. We love to hear from you! 

Mishaps in Mammoth

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Andrew Kubik – MODE Owner

The season was looking bleak. Warm temperatures had melted away much of the early snow, and turned upper-mountain snow to ice. The skiing was miserable. After grating my skis like a block of cheese over a run covered in a snow-gravel mixture, I gave up. The next day we decided to explore, and checked out the historic town of Bodie up the road from Lee Vining, putting my new Toyos and Apex valves through their paces. 

 

The night before the anticipated Christmas-Eve storm was unusually warm, and we were not optimistic. Excited, and somewhat nervous given my boondock location several hundred yards off the 395 near the gate to the Scenic Loop, I regularly wiped the condensation off my Flarespace window to see how much snow had accumulated. 12:00 a.m. - nothing. 2:00 a.m. - a dusting. 6 a.m. - 8".  Giant flakes were rapidly descending and transforming the landscape. We soon made our way toward Mammoth, and the carnage had already begun. Some cars were already stuck trying to climb up to town from the 395/203 junction in heavy, slushy snow. A fifth-wheel was stuck at the entrance of the Mammoth RV park trying to get out of town. With 4x4 Low engaged, we made our way up to The Mill, a parking lot located up a winding road that leads to Main Lodge. We got a quality parking spot right next to the slope, donned our gear and then stood at the lift line for an hour, watching the ski patrol make their laps as snow piled high atop our hoods. Finally, the lower chairs opened to cheers from an increasingly impatient crowd. The snow was deep and getting deeper by the hour. 

By the end of the day, over 4 feet of snow had accumulated. That's when the next adventure began. Dozens of vehicles were trapped under blankets of snow, with many drivers ill-equipped to free themselves. After freeing the van with no more than some shoveling, we got to work helping others. First up was a brand-new Tesla Model Y parked next to me. The owner had been digging out for over 2 hours. I laid down my GoTreads under his front wheels and gave him a little push, and he was instantly free. Next up was a Volvo XC60, then a Mazda CX-5, followed by a GMC Yukon, a Toyota Tundra, and a Porsche Macan. To my surprise, I saw a 4Runner with traction boards struggling for about 30 min. I laid the GoTreads behind his front tires and he reversed out into freedom. Given the amount of uneven packed snow, his traction boards were not able to follow the contours of the snow as well as the GoTreads.

 

The longest battle of the evening was a Sprinter 170 2WD. It took about 5 tries to get it free. All told, we helped to free 10 vehicles over 2 hours before making our way across town to join friends for Christmas Eve.

I felt like I was well prepared for the conditions with my GoTreads, a couple of shovels, and an extendable ice scraper with a brush. Even so, I gained a new appreciation for the danger of deep snow, and this storm likely will change how Mammoth approaches similar future weather events.

Our HILT Ski Trip

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Kashy Ghazzagh – HILT Owner

We chose the Hilt for our adventure rig for a variety of reasons. Some of which are its driving capabilities, superb "R" value and insulation, energy management, and simplicity this rig offers vs other options. We love the great outdoors and try to be outside in the elements as much as possible. We have a passion for cycling, but in the winter, we love to play in the snow, enjoying hiking, cross country skiing and Alpine downhill.

 

Living out west in Northern California, Lake Tahoe is our go to destination for snow activities. This year however, we had an extensive cold and dry season in November and December. Back in December one of our planned ski trips evolved into a trip to Yosemite National park due to lack of snow in the Sierras.

 

After Christmas, we knew storms were lined up to hit our area as well as the Sierras which would bring us ample snow. Since my better half (Tara) could not get away for as long as I could, I headed up to the Tahoe area with our dog, Zola, in the Hilt on New Years Eve! Tara was able to drive up separately and join us on January 2nd. Before our separate arrivals, the area had received some snow, but not very much. Most ski resorts weren’t even able to open! Boy how that changed so quickly! By January 4th we were skiing in nearly 3 feet of fresh powder. We skied in snowy conditions on January 3rd and January 4th in some deep, fluffy snow. It snowed so much that the main highway from the area we were at back home was closed for nearly 12 hours. The HILT got us to the ski resort daily and back to a SNO-Park where we have a permit to spend the night in the parking lot each day. It provided us with the utmost comfort and amenities we could have ever hoped for. The HILT not only kept us as comfortable as we could have ever imagined, but it also navigated the snowy roads like a surefooted BOSS!

By Monday January 5th, Tara had to make her 4-5 hour journey home in her 4x4 SUV along with our dog, while I chose to stay for two more days to really milk the incredible snow conditions. As a matter of fact we made a trip to a ski shop in Truckee so that I could purchase new boots, skis, bindings and poles for back country cross country skiing prior to her leaving the area.

 

I spent Monday and Tuesday exploring incredible areas west of Lake Tahoe directly from the SNO-Park we were camped at for nearly a week. This area is popular for snow shoes, cross country skis, snow mobiles and in the summer it’s an active area for runners, ultra runners, cyclists and hikers. I found myself completely lost in the snowy wonderland that I had hoped for.

Our trip was incredible. So much so, that we just returned from another 4 days in the exact same area on 1/18.  This time the two of us and our pup drove up together and returned together. We enjoyed near spring skiing conditions on this recent journey. We spent the first two days downhill skiing and the last 2 we skated with our cross country skis and our dog Zola. Yes, Tara bought new Cross Country skis too on this trip!!

 

The Hilt truly is an incredible tool for those who want to explore the outdoors in any season. We are absolutely delighted and feel fortunate to be an owner of this amazing rig. The entire trip, we felt as though we owned a luxury home near the ski lift or trails! Ski in and ski out… This weekend we have mountain biking planned near Santa Cruz!

Snowmads: Chasing Powder, Dirt, and Hot Springs

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Kayden Phan – MODE Owner

 

Powder Days & Van Lines

(L–R: Phil, Todd Arnold, me, Tara Hall, Brandt Lovell)

It was a full-on season of chasing powder, and Utah kept calling us back with endless options depending on what the snow gods delivered overnight. Each morning felt like a choose-your-own-adventure, deciding which mountain was getting first tracks. We backed the vans up on what we call “the beach” so we have ski-in and ski-out access all day.  One of those moments where everything clicks and you wish winter could last forever.

 

Dirt Roads & Hot Springs

(L–R: Me and Amy Sibert in my van, Tara Hall, Phil Quinnan, Todd Arnold)

The road to this one wasn’t easy, and that was half the fun. A rugged off-road trail winding through the high desert outside Mammoth, only passable with 4x4, led us to a tucked-away hot spring that felt like a secret. We crawled our way in, tires dusty, adrenaline high, and decided there was no better place to call it a night. Camping under the stars and soaking in warm water after the drive made it feel earned, the kind of spot you don’t stumble upon, you commit to.

 

Pond Skimming Chaos

Pond Skimming at Solitude, end-of-season energy at its finest. As the mountain gears up to close and the snow starts to soften, the snowmads come out in full force. Costumes, confidence, and questionable decision-making collide as riders send it across an icy pond, hoping to make it to the other side without a splash. Some glide across clean, others… not so much 😂 It’s loud, ridiculous, and the perfect celebration of another winter wrapped up with laughs, cheers, and freezing cold water.

The STO Index: Winterizing your MODE and GXV HILT

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Winter doesn’t mean the adventure stops, but cold weather does change the rules. check out these STO Indexes, as we take an in-depth look at how to winterize your MODE and your GXV HILT.
 

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Life's Greatest Luxury is saying YES to
the Next Grand Adventure!

We'd love to hear your stories and see your pictures from the road!
Send to Daniel at:

daniel.mojica@storytelleroverland.com

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