How to get unstuck from a bog?

To get unstuck from a bog, especially when driving a vehicle, focus on gentle, controlled movements to regain traction and avoid digging deeper.

Initial Assessment and Preparation

Before attempting to free your vehicle, take a moment to assess the situation:

Evaluate the Depth: Determine how deeply stuck your vehicle is and if there are any obstacles underneath that could cause further damage.
Clear the Path: If you have a spade or shovel, dig around the tyres to remove excess mud, reduce resistance, and create a clearer path for the wheels. Clear mud from in front of and behind the drive wheels.
Look for Traction Aids: Identify anything nearby that could be used for extra grip, such as sturdy branches, rocks, old mats, or purpose-made traction boards.

The key to escaping a muddy bog is to apply power smoothly and avoid aggressive wheel spinning.

Wiggle the tyres from side to side (while stationary): Gently turn the steering wheel left and right. This action can help widen the ruts slightly and compact the mud under the tyres, potentially creating a small amount of extra grip.
Attempt a gentle rock: If you have some room, try to gently rock the vehicle back and forth. Shift between a low forward gear (like second gear) and reverse, using minimal throttle. The aim is to build momentum incrementally to free the wheels, not to spin them.

Use a higher gear for more traction: For manual vehicles, pull away slowly in second gear. For automatics, select a low gear or 'L' if available, which can provide more controlled power. Using a higher gear helps to reduce the torque delivered to the wheels, preventing them from spinning excessively.
Apply power smoothly: Press the accelerator very gently and consistently. Avoid spinning the wheels at all costs, as this will only cause them to dig deeper into the soft ground. If the wheels start to spin, ease off the throttle immediately and try again.

Place material under the drive wheels: If your wheels are spinning, place sturdy material like wooden planks, old floor mats, cardboard, or even branches under the drive wheels (front wheels for front-wheel drive, rear for rear-wheel drive, all for all-wheel drive). This provides something for the tyres to grip onto.
Slow and Steady: Once the traction aids are in place, try to move forward or backward very slowly and gently.

Keep the momentum: Once you manage to pull away, keep the car moving. Avoid stopping again immediately, as the ground might still be soft, and you could get stuck back in the mud.
Choose your path carefully: When navigating through muddy areas, avoid the tramlines of other cars. These pre-existing ruts are often deeper and filled with churned-up mud, making them more treacherous. Try to drive slightly to one side of the ruts or straddle them to find firmer ground.

Action to Take	Action to Avoid
Wiggle tyres side-to-side (stationary)	Spinning the wheels
Dig around tyres with a spade	Stopping immediately after pulling away
Pull away slowly in second gear	Driving directly in other cars' deep tramlines
Keep the car moving once freed

For more general driving tips and vehicle maintenance advice, consider resources from reputable automotive associations or car care guides.