Official Rubicon Bypass
Posted: July 16, 2020 Filed under: Maintenance, Travel | Tags: bypass, mud Leave a commentSo, I’m not seeing where I posted about the large mud hole on the Tahoe Side of the Rubicon, but there was one. It was so bad, 4 of the 5 in our group the day we encountered it got stuck. We were all in well built rigs on 35’s or more.
The users created an illegal bypass but it was blocked off by ‘those in charge’. Unfortunately, ‘those in charge’ did nothing to FIX the mud hole.
Guess what? ‘Those in charge’ just created a “temporary bypass” around the mud hole until it can be properly repaired.
There has been no word on when repairs to the mud hole might take place.
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Rubicon Ronin
Unauthorized Work
Posted: July 14, 2020 Filed under: Maintenance | Tags: adopt a trail, fs, volunteers Leave a commentOn July 8th, I received an email with four photographs. They were photos of work done on a local Tahoe trail just off the Rubicon. No explanation of the work done, who was involved, paperwork, sign-in sheets, nothing. The problem was, there was no approval for this work.
For years, this project had been discussed. That conversation even included the Forest Service. But there were always other projects to do or just not enough volunteers with the drive to get it done.
So, it seems a few of our fellow wheelers went out on their own and did this project. They never got permission from the FS and they never reached out to the local 4wd club that has adopted this trail since the early 80’s.
So, although we have a new anchor point on the Buck Lake Trail, we can’t do this people. There has never been a great relationship between the FS and OHV. That relationship has had it’s ups and downs over the years. Honestly, I think it’s getting better. But when someone goes out and does this kind of work without approval or the cooperation of others, specifically the club who has worked it for years, it’s unacceptable.
The FS is open to well thought out projects that will enhance our trails and make them safer. Do not be afraid to ask permission. Yes, there will be paperwork involved but they will help you with that.
Let’s work to improve our relationship with the FS so we can build trust and work on not just more projects in the future but the projects we want done.
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Rubicon Ronin
Side Wall Blowout
Posted: June 30, 2020 Filed under: Maintenance, Travel | Tags: tire, trail repair Leave a commentSooner or later it will happen to all of us. This is my third off-road flat.
This morning, I headed out on the Rubicon to try and clear a water bar on Cadillac Hill and to try to improve the mud hole on the Tahoe side.
Staging Area at 8:30; the 03-04 intersection by 9:02. but at 9:40, I blew out the sidewall of the front right tire.
This is just past the Barker Meadow OHV Route and just before the usually wet obstacle before Hummer Bend.
Double throw bottle jack underneath, rather than a Hi-Lift jack under the bumper. Tire under rig for safety.
I tried to refill it, hoping I just lost the bead long enough to flatten it, but upon closer inspection, I wasn’t going to fill it.
10:08 I was back on the trail. Not the same tread but the same size. I turned around and headed home. The maintenance will wait.
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Rubicon Ronin
Long Lake Trailhead Sign
Posted: June 29, 2020 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: Hi-Lo's, long lake, map, signage, TNF Leave a commentSeveral years ago, the Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s installed a trailhead sign at the entrance to the Long Lake Trail (16E12). It’s the left turn just before the graves on the Rubicon Trail.
Well, over those years the sign was a little neglected. That changed this past weekend at the Hi-Lo’s returned and installed new posts for the sign and updated the information on the sign.
It was truly a team effort. I provided the signage, Michael brought a power auger, Gary brought hand and power tools (and the trailer to haul all this stuff), Scot provided the cement, Carlos was do everything man of the day. Kade served as the finisher making sure everything was squared away at the end.
Hopefully, fewer people will take a wrong turn there as they head to Cadillac Hill and Lake Tahoe as probably six rigs did while we were there! I do want to add a small “Dead End” sign.
The post and sign are not going anywhere with the concrete, pipe and brackets used!
It needs paint and a piece of plexiglass but it looks great.
I personally want to thank everyone that had a hand in this project. It was really a team effort and with so many people stepping up, it didn’t take a whole lot of effort. The hard part was getting our act together before hitting the trail to make sure we had everything.
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Rubicon Ronin
Rubicon Management :-(
Posted: June 11, 2020 Filed under: Maintenance | Tags: maintenance, MOU Leave a commentStarting at the end of last season, management of the Rubicon Trail was changing. Placer County had officially backed out. The Tahoe National Forest (TNF) officially stepped in. A ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ was signed by six agencies.
Then the Tahoe National Forest went out on their own and built rolling dips with heavy equipment in late November.
Over the winter, El Dorado County organized an effort to fly rock to Cadillac Hill and Observation Point to save Cadillac from slipping off the mountain and to harden the rolling dips from November. The TNF told El Dorado County to cancel the project as there was more paperwork needed between the agencies before any work could be done.
CA State Parks stepped in and rock was flow until the weather shut down the operation. The Cadillac work was done, the rolling dips were not.
Just recently, and I’m talking days ago, the TNF presented El Dorado County with a stack of forms that need to be filled out. Unfortunately, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors need to approve those forms once they are filled out before El Dorado County can work on the Rubicon. We’re talking MONTHS.
Vickie Sanders posted this on ‘The Rubicon Gazette” Facebook page. It’s a pretty good source of Rubicon info:
County Update:
Placer County Side:
There has been a recent change that I want to communicate with you. In February El Dorado County, Placer County, California State Parks Off-Highway Division, Eldorado National Forest, Tahoe National Forest and The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for the Rubicon Trail. This agreement was to provide a seamless experience on the Rubicon and enable El Dorado County to assist with project on the Placer County side. El Dorado County cannot assist until we complete one more Forest Service agreement. I am working on that agreement but it will take a few months to execute.
So in the meantime, if you have any projects, questions, or volunteer efforts for the portion of trail within the Tahoe National Forest please contact Joe Chavez- Trails/Recreation Specialist at the Tahoe National Forest at joe.chavez@usda.gov, phone 530-478-6158. This would be 5.3 miles from the El Dorado/Placer County line heading to Tahoma.
The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) manages 1.9 miles of trail which includes the staging area in Tahoma. If you have any projects, questions, or volunteer efforts in this portion please call me Vickie Sanders at 530-621-7538 or email at Vickie.sanders@edcgov.us. I will coordinate with LTBMU.
El Dorado County Side:
On the El Dorado County side of the trail, I am looking for frequent Rubicon Trail users that would like to volunteer to stock the restrooms on the trail with toilet paper. We keep the back of the units stocked with TP. We are out once a week cleaning, stocking and pumping but it has come to our attention that mid-trail staff will not be assisting with stocking of the restrooms. If you are interested in assisting, please let us know and we will get you a key. Any assistance is appreciated. You can contact Justin Williams at 530-621-5554.
Edit*
Just received an email from Rubicon Trail Foundation that mid-trail will assist when they can. Thank you RTF.
Thank you
So, in typical government fashion, one step forward, two steps back. I’m trying to stay positive and think long term. Maybe in a few years they’ll get it figured out.
Over the last few days, an effort has been made to get all of the agencies who signed the MOU, property owners along the Rubicon and users groups to start communicating. Everybody now has everyone else’s contact information at their fingertips. Hopefully, things will happen faster.
On a different note, The TNF is going out on the trail to look at water issues within the TNF. Hopefully, they’ll get something going to start fixing the issues. I know that one deep, thick mud hole is high on their list.
Stay tuned and be ready to support Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) when they ask for volunteers.
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Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 