Monthly OHV Reports
Posted: April 12, 2016 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel Leave a commentI just finished up-loading over a dozen OHV Reports I have presented to my local clubs over the last year and a half. I’ve created a link on the right side of the page under, of all places, LINKS.
As Vice President of two local 4wd clubs, I present a monthly report about what’s going on around the Tahoe area regarding OHV, including Deer Valley and the NV 4WD Association.
The reports are usually read to the members attending the meeting and I fill in a lot of details as I read and answer questions of the audience. So, the reports may read, not incomplete but sparse. It’s more of an outline.
Please feel free to ask me question about anything in the current minutes and I might not remember details from a meeting several months ago.
Here is the new page: OHV Reports (monthly)
Snowgate!
Posted: March 30, 2016 Filed under: Access | Tags: access, Placer, Rubicon Leave a commentSo I have the honor of contradicting myself.
February 1st, I published a blog about the “snowgate” at the entrance to the Rubicon Trail on the Tahoe end of the trail. Since then, I heard a story, learned a few things and spoke with Placer and local snow removal contractors.
The story, second or third hand, told by someone who knew someone who heard something about a few guys snow wheeling on the Rubicon this winter:
Three rigs were working their way over the snowgate in order to access the Rubicon Trail for a day of legal, wheeled, motorized recreation.
A plow driver (not even sure it was a county plow) stopped and started giving the guys a bad time about driving over the snowgate. He claimed they were not allowed to drive there. That plow driver was not expressing himself in a professional manner. The guys replied in a similar unprofessional manner, expressing their belief that the trail was open year round.
The three rigs made it over the snowgate and wheeled out as far as the intersection of the Rubicon and the Richardson Lake Trail. Upon their return to the entrance of the Rubicon, the rigs encountered a sheer six foot cliff. It seems the plow driver had come back and created the cliff, knowing the rigs were still on the trail.
Thankfully, the drivers were driving responsibly and realized the cliff was there before driving off it. They broke down the edge of the cliff and exited the Rubicon safely.
I shared this story in an email to Supervisor Montgomery.
According to Placer County, their snowplow drivers are not dumping or piling snow at the entrance. But, according to the local snow removal private contractors, Placer County is dumping and piling snow at the entrance.
I met with Supervisor Montgomery after exchanging a few emails and she confirmed that no one is allowed to dump snow on a public right of way. And that Placer County would keep an eye out for anyone attempting to dump snow at the entrance to the Rubicon.
I contacted the Rubicon Trail Foundation and asked for their help in securing year round access, which is in their mission statement. They declined to get involved and wanted to see how it played out.
Unless things change, the piling of snow at the entrance is a thing of the past.
Please enjoy your wheeling responsibly. Pack-it-in. Pack-it-out. Tread Lightly! Turn Around, don’t go around. Stay on the trail.
Reno Motorsports Show
Posted: March 19, 2016 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel Leave a commentYesterday and today I spent talking with fellow wheelers at the Reno Motorsports show. The show has dropped in size over the years so now it’s four shows combined: Motorsports, Home, Pet and RV.
I had an unexpected guest visit my booth: Smokey Bear!
Small booth but the price was right. I’ve been having a lot of good conversations about the side trails off the Rubicon on the Tahoe side. Many long time Rubicon travelers didn’t know there were so many trails in the area.
One more day, 11-5.
Snowgate up and working
Posted: February 1, 2016 Filed under: Access, Maintenance Leave a commentThe other day I stopped by the Tahoe entrance to the Rubicon Trail. I had no intentions of driving up the trail and when I got there, I was reminded of an agreement with Placer County.
I pulled my truck up to the wall of snow currently blocking the entrance for scale. Although the trail is open year round, the agreement is that local and county snow removal operators can dump and pile snow at the entrance to the Rubicon in order to allow only the most well equipped vehicles.
The basin received a major dumping AFTER I took these pictures. So, imagine this as a larger wall!
Come spring time, as the snow melts at the trailhead, the snow should be melting on the trail as well. The hope is that the trail will dry before the snow melts at the entrance. This doesn’t always work out but it’s better than a steel gate and seasonal closures.
Once over the ‘gate’ trail conditions mellow for a short time. There is a slight grade to the staging area and then a steeper grade out of the staging area. Both can ice over in a hurry.
Lake level temperatures are often warmer than temperatures further up the trail. So, the ‘gate’ comes and goes. There are some challenging sections during the winter on the Tahoe side.
If you go, please stay on the trail and Tread Lightly! There are many seasonal creek crossings. Use a winch and a tree strap rather than spinning your tires and trying to power your way through the trail.
It is possible to be cited for “resource damage” while driving on an open OHV trail. (I’m still looking for the actual language and code number than I know I saved somewhere.)
My input to the LTBMU
Posted: January 8, 2016 Filed under: Access, Maintenance Leave a commentSo, I sent in my comments about what I think the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) needs to do regarding OHV management. It was ten pages long!
It covered a gamut of topics and suggestions from specific on the ground projects to how to better mange the operation including better (two way) communications.
We as users and volunteers need to speak up. If we fail to give input on how we want OHV managed, the Forest Service (FS) will do what they think is best.
Below is a list of bullet points based on the comments I submitted. There are 100’s of other points of view and suggestions that can be made. I’d love to overwhelm the FS with comments. Please send to the FS what YOU believe is important regarding OHV.
Feel free to use any part of the bullet points below in order to send comments to:
comments-pacificsouthwest-ltbmu@fs.fed.us
Use the subject “LTBMU OHV Input”.
Remember, the LTBMU would like your comments by Jan 15th. Comments received after that will be considered but maybe for next year’s OHV season.
Bullet points for LTBMU OHV input, 2016
- Appoint a year round, pro-OHV employee for ALL things OHV related
- Create a contact list for OHV clubs, groups and organizations
- Engage users, especially the volunteers, while drafting grant requests
- Streamline the obtaining and delivery of supplies for maintain efforts
- Reinstate all Adopt-A-Trail agreements
- Reach out to the OHV community to encourage more clubs to partake
- Place signage at every trailhead and intersection
- Address the design and management of the Rubicon Trail Staging Area
- Harden the borders
- Re-grade and compact the parking area
- Designate a true staging area, 20 minute parking, for vehicle preparation
- Pour a concrete pad for assisting with vehicle preparation and repairs, 15’x20’
- Post no-parking signs along the border and in front of the kiosk(s)
- Protect trees w/i staging area – rocks and posts with 2×8’s
- Harden edges along the paved section of the Rubicon Trail
- Designate the overflow and oversized rigs and trailers parking area
- Middle Fork Trail work
- Signage
- Fix split rail fence at the top
- Fix down tree bypass
- Twin peaks
- Sign at the entrance
- Rock of all sizes
- Replace for the railroad ties
- Single email address for all things OHV within the LTBMU
- Create Recreational Opportunity Guide (ROG) for the greater Rubicon area (work with TNF and ENF to develop one ROG for all three forests)
- Improve the website
- Training
- Paperwork
- Tools
- Organization
- Trail maintenance
The 'Other' Rubicon 