So - we are talking about ruts from tires. Got it.
A puddle crossing a trail is unlikely to be from this, as the ruts typically run in the trail direction, rather than across it.
It is quite possible that the wet muddy puddle that's already there, due to flow across the trail, created slippery conditions, and, tires dug in spinning while trying to cross it...which is bad form.
The problem for most trails under these conditions tends to be that the ruts, going in the same direction as the trail, tend to be where, say, a small tired 2wd silverado, etc...puts its tires into the same rut made by a larger tired Jeep Rubicon, etc...and, its axle or diff then drags, and/or it high centers, and the 2wd low rider rig gets stuck.
Of course, sometimes, if the ground is soft enough, merely driving over it to put a kayak into the water further down the trail will leave indentations in the soft mud. The skinnier the tire, the deeper the indentations, etc....due to the increased ground pressure per square inch of tread.
If several vehicles follow the same trail, these indentations deepen with time. An advantage to a paved road of course, is that the deepening of where the tires tend to pass is greatly lessened.
If driving off road, say on a trail rather than pavement...and you are driving a low 2wd rig meant for pavement, well, you are at a distinct disadvantage...as your rig is not meant to go off road.
I have found that rigs that are not made to go off road, like 2wd pick ups, tend to get stuck a lot, and spin their tires to try to get unstuck, or to maintain momentum and attempt to make it through low traction conditions...and, they tend to tear up trails more if they try to get through.
The decision for a 2wd pavement oriented rig to turn back when faced with actual off road conditions, is therefore a responsible one, as it tends to be less damaging to the environment.
Obviously, there are points of diminishing return, and some degree of off road driving can be done by a pavement oriented rig. I was passed by a honda accord on apple pie hill maybe 8 years ago for example, etc.
Conversely, I've seen brand new Hummers tearing up areas just to see rooster tails of mud fly up so their friends can take pictures of them "Off Roading"...but on dirt roads.
White trash might apply traditionally if they were in fact poor, which is not a common Hummer demographic, but, if "White Trash" can also apply to rich non-white bone heads, I suppose a non-ethnic slur might be appropriate, perhaps just "Trash". (Not all Hummer owners are actually White, etc...)
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