Rented a cabin for the weekend - being charged with "damage" to dirt roads

[kyleewenger]

We rented a cabin in 120 acres for 3 days this past weekend. The owner gave us a map with a series of roads and trails that we had full access to while we were staying there. This owner allows hunting, horseback riding, biking and hiking and other outdoorsmen activities throughout his property. He also warns you before you book that you will need a 4wd vehicle to access the property in the winter months. Cool, right? Well, we decided it was too cold to hike so we took our truck on the roads one of the days we were there. Keep in mind, these roads are clearly driven on (tire marks, etc) regularly. There are outbuildings on the property, horse stables, etc. You need a vehicle to navigate much of the property. Anyways... we got stuck on one of the hills while we were driving. We got so stuck that we had to walk back to the cabin to get a second vehicle to pull us out. Once we realized how slippery the roads were (the temperature was higher that day causing some of the ice to melt) we retreated back to the cabin and did not venture out again. Well, after we checked out of the cabin and went home we got a text from the owner stating that we caused "extensive damage" and "ruts" in the roads and he would be sending us a bill for the repairs. We were so surprised considering we were told to venture the property, never told not to use our vehicles, there are no signs stating we cannot use our trucks on the roads, etc. We were not trespassing, we were not intentionally causing damage, we were not off roading. We were DRIVING on his ROADS. He now claims that these roads are for hiking only (we were not told that, nor does our contract state we cannot drive our vehicles on the property) and we were "mudrunning". We told him we were absolutely not mudrunning, there was only one hill we got stuck on and that if he knew the roads were going to be so bad that he should have instructed us to not use them. We were completely unaware of the road conditions considering the main road to the property was not muddy at all.

So now here we are. We are totally surprised that this "avid hunter/outdoorsman" has the nerve to charge us for "damaging" his roads when we were never told not to use them with vehicles, and in fact ENCOURAGED to bring 4wd vehicles and to explore the property. What do you guys think?