RTF Update on Reroute
Posted: March 10, 2024 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: reroute Leave a commentI posted earlier about this but here it is with more information from the Rubicon Trail Foundation:
I’m of two minds of this reroute. Yes, it needs to happen because one heavy spring rain could wipe out that shelf road. But until it does, I want to keep some form of access to that section of historic trail.
As I mentioned before, the section of the trail just west of 03-04 is not the original trail. Decades ago, the trail was rerouted out of the meadow. So, in reality we’re not losing a half mile of the trail, we’re only losing a couple of hundred of yards of original trail.
It sounds like volunteers will be involved in the building of the reroute. Get on the Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) email list to stay informed about when volunteers will be needed. I’m hoping they can find some rocky outcroppings to incorporate into the new section of trail. It sounded like RTF wants to make it more than just a dirt road. This should be the link:
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Rubicon Ronin
Are we going to have a winter?
Posted: December 28, 2023 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: news, plowing, snow, snow wall, snow-plow, weather, winter Leave a commentAre we going to have a snow wall at the Rubicon?
Last season gave us an incredible amount of snow fall. Some would argue too much. All that snow made for great spring runoff and the filling of our reservoirs.
Strangely, all season long, there was only the typical or expected snow wall at the entrance to the Rubicon. With record snowfall, there was no record tall wall. Individual efforts were made to maintain access to the trail:
Even group efforts were made:
And although these efforts were successful:
Winter continued:
As the above pictures shows, the efforts to maintain access were snowed on but clearly left a designation of where OHV enthusiasts should enter the trail.
My personal belief is that the reason we did not have a HUGE wall was due to the fact that Placer County plowed straight across the entrance to Rubicon Trail. When Placer County plows any kind of “dip” or “wide spot” at the entrance, that extra snow moved adds to the height of the wall at the entrance.
In the picture below from a previous winter, the “STOP” line is clearly visible in the plowed area of Evergreen Way. That stop line is several feet back from the edge of Evergreen Way. That shows that Placer County plowed an extra fifteen feet of snow on top of the wall, further attempting to deter OHV users.
Let’s hope Placer County continues to plow the entrance to the Rubicon Trail without a dip or wide spot.
Although really tall, the height is uniform across the entire stretch of the wall. No extra height from plowing a dip or wide spot.
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Rubicon Ronin
Almost made it…
Posted: October 30, 2023 Filed under: Access, Maintenance | Tags: FOTR, maintenance, snow Leave a commentThis morning, I met up with a few fellow FOTR volunteers at the entrance to Blackwood Canyon. The goal was to meet the dump truck full of twelve yards of rock for the upcoming FOTR maintenance effort on November 5th.
Well, we met up with the truck, but we failed to get the truck to the dump spot. The drive was tight.
The very last grade was a LONG north aspect that actually had the big rig slipping towards the edge and drop off. He correctly backed down and we decided the correct line of action was to turn around.
This was as far as the rig made it.
On a side note, even if you have a mobile ham radio mounted in your rig, always bring your handheld as a back-up. This antenna set-up does not work without the whip installed.
This is how I store the antenna when not in use, as it fits better in the garage.
But at some point, over the last few days, I lost the whip. About to call the Ham Radio Outlet to order a replacement. Maybe Amazon can next day deliver? If not, I’ll have my handheld.
Shannon is trying to work out the details to get rock delivered to keep the FOTR work party on the 5th on track. Stay tuned.
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Rubicon Ronin
Reno Jeep Festival: Oct 12-15
Posted: September 19, 2023 Filed under: Maintenance, Travel | Tags: education Leave a commentIt’s been a slow wheeling season for me. But lots going on around the house. I’ve signed up to do a booth at the Reno Jeep Festival’s “Jeep Takeover” of Idlewild Park in Reno. I’ll also be attending the cocktail party and the dinner.
It starts Thursday October 12th at the Reno Jeep Dealership with a cocktail party. Friday the 13th is the dinner at The Whitney in downtown Reno. Saturday the 14th starts with an all you can eat pancake breakfast, followed by the Jeep Takeover of Idlewild Park. There will be vendors along with a “Turtle Crawl” event, Show & Shine and they’re saying a “Beer Garden”. It will be October. On Saturday the 15th, they’re trying to get some runs organized but no details on that yet.
Here’s what the organizers are saying about the event:
Freedom. The Reno Jeep Festival fundraiser supports and celebrates the groups helping to keep our trails open and safe so we can reach, enjoy and reconnect with nature and our innate sense of adventure. All this and a chance to celebrate the Jeep brand we are so passionate about. We are SO excited about this show and the support it creates with the groups protecting freedom for our outdoor and off-road community.
FUNDRAISING
It’s the reason we put this whole thing on. To raise money and protect our trails. Our aim is to keep the trails we love accessible for current and future generations.
It should be a fun event.
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Doug
Side Trails Update
Posted: August 1, 2023 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: snow Leave a commentOkay, when at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. So, I tried the same route that I didn’t make do to snow and this time I got through. Now, there was still a few snow drifts. And up the Ellis Lake Trail, there were many!
Still evidence of people driving off trail to get around snow drifts. I threw a few small trees down but a larger effort (and tree) will be needed. This was the Red Cabin Trail (16E79).
Trail on the left, illegal bypass on the right. It’s uglier where the bypass comes back in to the trail.
Still 16E79.
This time of year, really? How hard are mini snow drifts?
One tree was not quite across the trail but pushing people to the side. I got out my new DeWalt mini chainsaw and trimmed all the branches on the underside.
Way off on the Ellis Lake Trail (16E18), there was a HUGE tree trunk across the trail. It is rotten, probably doesn’t weight a whole lot, but I decided I didn’t want to fight it today.
In the same area as the tree trunk, there are some very large snow drifts.
My favorite find of the day, was on the Rubicon. Okay, maybe it was Forest Road 03-04. But right at that intersection, someone decided to camp and build a fire! Unfortunately, it’s not the first time I’ve come across a campfire in the middle of the trail.
Get out there and explore those side trails.
Fire restrictions are now fully in place.
Be safe.
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Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 