On instruction from LR trained instructor some parts of course were driven using "Mud and Ruts" others GGS.
I had no traction problems over the 3 hours which included some very steep hills and descents.
Very interesting part was going UP very steep icy hill with hard packed snow which,I thought would be impossible, we made it almost to top before struggling.
Instructions:
engage descent control, DO NOT increase throttle, allow to stop, DO NOT touch brakes, when it comes to rest wait a couple of seconds and increase revs slowly to about 1800, DO NOT be alarmed at noises when traction control starts operating on spinning wheels just increase revs slowly
Outcome: we pulled away from rest and reached top easily.
Was told that if I had not allowed car to stop it would just have dug in when forcing it. He let me try it a 2nd time without prompts. Magic!! All FL2's (3) Gone
2011 Mercedes C180 CGI Gone
FL2 GS Auto SD with heated leather, factory tints, alloy spare and a few other bits.

Ooo, interesting that a 'stop' will change how the TR assists on the slope.


Chains grabbed from Shamus (many thanks!) have been duly thrown on, and there seems to be just enough room.



Measured the gap at 21mm from tyre to strut, so all looks good

Just back from a month in Tignes. The FL was excellent in all the varied conditions we encountered (with nokians)

the snow gods chose to bring the heavy dumps of snow we had been hoping for all month the night before we were due to depart
so, we leave just as 1metre plus snow arrives

This did give me the chance to have a play fitting the spikes spider chains and see how they perform in quite deep snow. These are the only ones that land rover recomend due to clearance issues on the go behind the wheel.



first of all, they are an absolute doddle to fit, literally 5 mins a side, it took nearly as long to get them out of the bag than to click them onto to the (prefitted back home) mounting plate.

good up to 30 mph, (a bit too noisy for hearing comfort above 30mph) despite a mix of packed snow/ice under 4/6 inches of newly fallen snow where the ploughs couldn't keep up
also had a play with the "mud, snow etc" settings...braking and steering inputs produced no dramas, plenty of traction too.

once down towards the valley bottom, chance to remove chains, once again 2 min job and believe me this is sooo much better than the conventional chains used on previous trips which all seem to involve having to grovel around in the slush wrapping the damn things around the wheel!
chains off, asc back on, freelander just made such light work of the still snowy road, we were only held up once by a BMW 5 series touring that decided to shed one of its chains off the back wheel ahead of us and then slithered into the snowbank at roadside.....surely with rear wheel drive you need chains front and rear...steering and braking are just as important if not more than traction and drive?? (fitting them properly helps too, I think bmw had wheel arch damage from this incident)

from the avoidance of hassle in snowstorms etc when fitting them the spikes spiders are worth every penny for anyone who spend any time in alps in winter, or highland areas I guess

heres us just departing the resort, there is a two lane road at this point somewhere under this lot!