1st rule, don't ride in wet sand (Cannock)
2nd rule Ride it like you stole it
Mountain bikes are hack bikes
Op why not just walk?
The weather/ likelihood of trashing a component doesn't dictate if I ride my HT or my much more expensive FS, terrain and how I feel does.
They're robust "mountain" bikes FFS, generally designed to be ridden through crud and over rocks etc
Got a five which I thought was great for blatting over the chase until a couple of years ago when a gritty November night wrote off the shiny xtr rear mech.
When I went to buy a replacement mech and saw the price (130 or so quid!) , there was also a new ss29er on sale at £400 odd quid.
Got it me self as a chrimbo pressie and never looked back. Fives been ridden 8/9 times since. Although obviously it doesn't look as 'cool' its shedloads more fun, lots less faff and cheap(er)
I keep my race bike for racing. The tyres are fragile, the transmission and forks expensive. For training/rides I have an XT level bike and a singlespeed for when it's really horrid, both are rigid and fitted with more durable tyres. No point trashing suspension and a £150 XTR cassette over the winter when I could trash a £50 XT one instead.