Osceola National Forest ATV Trails

OK so the neighbors have 2 ATVs and we agreed to ride some trails with them at the Osceols National Forest over the Thanksgiving weekend. We had recieved 1/2" of rain the day before Thanksgiving and that made for some standing water on some of the trails in the lower areas.
The ATVs made a trail around these areas, but we had 4X4 capability so we forded these areas with ease. The farther we went on the trail the worse thes areas got, so we eventually turned around and backtracked.
Since we had come through these areas on the way out, it was a given that we could go back through.
I was wrong as I didn't stay to the side of one of these watery areas and the right front bottomed out about 3' below the surface of the water. I imedatly turned the engine off so not to suck the water into the carb.
The 2 250cc ATVs hooked on with a tow strap, but our machine didn't budge. So I hade to get out and stepped into 2' of water on my side. I was able to get to the winch and my wife operated the winch control so I could pay the cable out and hook it onto a tree. The winch grunted a little, but it pulled us up ---and after taking another bite on another tree---we were out.
The engine fired and we were on out way again. Our little Chineese UTV plulled throug like a trooper.
We look forward to riding these trails again now that we know we can get out of these situations.
C-YA RL