In my nearly 55 years of hunting the High Cascades Mountian in the winter, I've always had a two pairs of heavy-duty V-bar chains with me, or... on the rig, with that said; Since around 1974 I also never went up without a Warne winch on my rigs, with enough extra line and a good snatch block & shackles.
It quite easy to get into trouble even with chains on. Today, I run a Warne 12,000 lbs on my Ford F-350 super-duty deisle. I think, for hunting our just long remote travel trips the "Winch" is the best investment you can make for getting yourself or others out of trouble in the woods or on the road. My wife and I just came back from a trip through B.C. Canada over to Alaska, back to the Yukon, then up the Dempster WHY through North West Territory, to the Arctic Ocean then back to Washington I would have never make that trip without a winch on my truck. So, chains are great, but... a winch will give you a little peace of mind and help get you out if you should get stuck with chains on or off. Just my .02 Cheers