Do people EVER consider NOT going down into that mess? (4x4)

I learned to drive off road in a dead stock 1960 Willys pickup with 7.50x16 bias plys (which I still have). Hooked a rope onto a lot of classmates with their jacked up Toyotas and Datsuns (this was mid 80's) that wanted to see how far they could go before they were stuck buried to the axles. Because they always kept spinning their wheels until they were stuck up to the axles! Something about fools boldly going where a wise man fears to tread. Maybe it was the time I got stuck, walked 5 miles downhill back to town and my dad handed me a shovel, so I walked 5 miles back uphill to dig the truck out. That's a pretty pissed-off yellow XJ them boys have.