They sure do get toatlly packed in with snow! The brakes don't hold out for very long once you've been cruising in the deep stuff. Somehow, my old lady managed to break my winch cable right at the thimble splice yesterday pulling out one of the Kubotas that was stuck trying to feed horses way out back. I think she had the rope hooked back to itself, and that's what did it. Otherwise, I can't imagine a sxs in the snow generating enough traction to break a 1/4" Synthetic winch rope. They rate it at 8900LB breaking strength, but that number significantly reduces when you start pulling it hooked to itself. I guess I should have made sure she knew to use a strap and pull straight on the hook. Oh Well. At least the rope did it's job and didn't recoil when it broke.