RTF Update on Reroute

Posted: March 10, 2024 | Author: | Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: | Leave a comment

I 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:

FOTR

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Rubicon Ronin

Are we going to have a winter?

Posted: December 28, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are 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

Seasonal Trail Closures

Posted: November 7, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

As many are now reporting, the USFS has started closing gates for the winter. This happens every year.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is the first to close Rubicon area trails, by closing Forest Road 03 in Blackwood Canyon, June 15th – November 5th. This is the paved road to the summit of Barker Pass. The (second) lower gate is just past the river crossing before you head up the hill. There is a gate at the top that should also be closed. It reopens June 15th, depending on road conditions, typically, it’s a late opening due to snow.

I should mention that the Forest Service does not have the best record for closing the gates on BOTH ends of a trail. Just because a gate might be open at the top, do not expect the gate at the bottom to be open if it’s past the closure date.

Other LTBMU trails around the Rubicon SHOULD be open through November 15th: Noonchester Mine Road (14N34A), Buck Lake Trail (14N40) no upper gate, Ellis Peak (14N40B), Middle Fork Trail (15N38).

Forest Road 03 should close on November 16th but is typically left open to the river late, so people can collect Christmas trees, FS permit required. Forest Road 03 will close to wheeled vehicles for the winter, but is a ‘Winter Sno Park’ area for snowmobiles. A parking permit is required to park at the Kaspian Campground parking lot.

Many roads around the Rubicon are open until January 1st: Forest Road 03-04, Upper Barker Meadow (16E79), Lower Barker Meadow (16E76), Long Lake Trail (16E12), Ellis Lake Trail (16E18), Richardson Lake Trail (14N39).

It is the user’s responsibility to know the closure dates and to know where you are at all times.

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Rubicon Ronin

Fire Restrictions Lifted

Posted: October 7, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Both the Tahoe National Forest and the Eldorado National Forest have lifted fire restrictions.

TNF: “Fire restrictions on the Tahoe National Forest have ended, effective today, Oct. 2, 2023.”

ENF: “Due to cooler weather conditions and above average fuel moisture levels, the Eldorado National Forest will lift fire restrictions order 03-23-11 effective Friday October 6th, 2023.”

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has year-round fire restrictions. Fires are only ever allowed in official USFS fire rings in USFS official campgrounds.

Just because the fire restrictions have been lifted, it doesn’t mean there is no risk to a wildfire. Campfire permits are still required.

This is an image I never want to see again. This was the North Fire five years ago in the TNF.

From the Smokey Bear website:

  • Make sure you are at a site that allows campfires.
  • Make sure there are no burn bans and it’s not too windy.
  • Dig a pit away from overhanging branches.
  • Circle the pit with rocks.
  • Clear a 10-foot area around the pit down to the dirt, removing anything that could catch on fire.
  • Stack extra wood upwind and away from fire.
  • After lighting, throw the match into the fire.
  • Never leave a campfire unattended; an adult should supervise the campfire at all times.
  • Keep a bucket of water and shovel nearby.
  • Never put anything but wood into the fire.
  • Do not pull sticks out of the fire.
  • Do not sit on the fire ring or rocks around the campfire. They will heat up quickly and they’ll stay hot for a long time.
  • When it’s time to put the fire out, dump lots of water on it, stir it with a shovel, then dump more water on it. Make sure it is COLD before leaving the campsite. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave!

The question I will ask is: “Do you have a plan for putting the fire out?” And that goes for a fire that stayed in the fire ring and for the fire that somehow got out of your fire ring.

Do you have a shovel, staged at the fire ring? Do you have a container filled with water at the fire ring? Do you have a plan to refill that container because I don’t care how big that container is, you will have to refill it many, many times to completely put out the fire until the fire coals are cool to the touch.

Be safe.

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Rubicon Ronin

Reno Jeep Festival: Oct 12-15

Posted: September 19, 2023 | Author: | Filed under: Maintenance, Travel | Tags: | Leave a comment

It’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.

www.RenoJeepFestival.com

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

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