I finally got out on 16E16!
Posted: August 8, 2017 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: dual sport, hiking, motorcycle Leave a comment16E16 is the only motorcycle single track in the Rubicon area. I’ve been meaning to get my dual sport out on it for more than a year now. Well, I didn’t get the dual sport out but I did hike the trail.
Although this is an OHV trail, it’s primary users are hikers, although, I did see two mountain bikers. If you ride this trail, expect hikers around every turn, especially on weekends. Ride with caution.
The trail is about three miles long. It start at Barker Pass at the top of Forest Road 03. It ends at Ellis Peak but you need to walk/hike the last bit. There is a existing ‘trail’ that looks like you can ride to the top. Don’t! That trail is not legal. It is a loose rocky trail that is difficult and there is no place to turn around at the top! The first peak gives you a 360 degree view of Tahoe and everything west. You can hike a 1/4 mile or so to the actual Ellis Peak, just to the north, if you want to say you made the summit.
I would suggest riding this from the Rubicon end to the Barker Pass end. I started at the Barker Pass end and the trail started with a VERY steep climb. This climb had switch backs and large wood beams had been used as water bars. Tough but not impossible to negotiate on a motorcycle.
Just a little further up the trail there is a very technical climb.
Once past the early ugliness, the trail is really nice. Tight in places but doable. Look closely for the snow on the trail. It was August 6th.
The views from the Barker end were awesome.
The trail changes from wide open areas…
To a tight in the trees experience…
Again, I would suggest an out and back from the Rubicon or Ellis Peak end of the trail. You can get more then 3/4 of the trail covered without getting in to the tricky stuff. If you do the one-way, again, I suggest Ellis to Barker.
I’ll try to get more pictures and details on the 16E16 page of the website, after Sierra Trek.
Rubicon Ronin
Post Winter Hazards
Posted: July 21, 2017 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: snow, STORM, winter Leave a commentIt’s been a long winter. We all want to get out on our trails. Feel free to do so but travel with caution. Although the trail below looks inviting, look closer at the tree across the trail 100 yards out.
The picture below is why I really stopped here. This is the Middle Fork Trail up Blackwood Canyon. It parallels the paved Forest road 03 to Barker Pass. I’ve actually asked the FS to close the trail until repairs can be done.
My fear is someone not paying attention, more likely at night, might drive off the road,
Back to the pictured tree across the trail. There is evidence that people are going off trail to get around the tree. My motto: “Turn Around, Don’t Go Around”. If you come across such an obstacle, use your winch or a strap to clear the problem. If you can’t stay on the trail and clear the obstacle, turn around.
On upper Barker Pass Road, there is still a little snow wheeling to be done.
I didn’t take picture of all the downed trees I came across. Most were smaller or not blocking the entire trail. On a motorcycle, it’s much easier to get around a tree in the trail without doing resource damage.
There are plans in the works to get out to all the side trails off the Rubicon to clear the obstacles. We’ll leave the snow for you though.
Rubicon Ronin
Trail Conditions – March 2017
Posted: March 13, 2017 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: snow wall Leave a commentI just got word that someone has broken through the wall at the residential area:
At the staging area. Those are the two pit toilets in the background!
Though you won’t get far. I think that’s right at the staging area (the creek would be Water Bar #1) but I’m not sure.
Please remember to Tread Lightly! if you venture out on the Rubicon. Don’t spin your tires in the dirt or mud. That will cause erosion and the sedimentation that gets in the water my find its way to Tahoe and the anti-OHV people will use it against us.
Use the winch, take a strap, wheel in as far as you can but don’t give the other side ammo to use against us.
Rubicon Ronin
Rubicon conditions
Posted: February 19, 2017 Filed under: Travel, Uncategorized | Tags: education, recovery, Rubicon, snow, winter Leave a commentRubicon
I’m continuing to follow the saga of the stuck rigs on the Rubicon. An effort was made this past weekend to reach them but it fell short due to mechanical failures. But they got to in quite a ways considering conditions.
Yes, that is the staging area and the two twelve foot tall pit toilets!
I’m assuming the photo below is the creek at water bar number eight, the first Arizona crossing on the trail.
That would be a cold, deep crossing on a Quad!
Please remember that this will be a very late OHV season. All trails will be very wet and probably not open on time. One can be cited for damaging the forest even while on an OHV trail. Always Tread Lightly!
Be patient, summer will get here.
Rubicon Ronin
FYI – Lake Tahoe has already risen three feet this year! And Spring isn’t here yet!
Snow is a four letter word
Posted: January 26, 2017 Filed under: Access, Travel Leave a commentIt’s official, this season of storms at Tahoe has brought more snow than the HUGE ’82-’83 winter some of us remember. And it’s only January! Many locals are using four letter words to describe the amount of snow.
Driving around on 89 you already get the feeling there’s a lot of snow. Turning in to the Tahoma residential area. The smaller roads are plowed with clean streets and steep, sheer walls.
A little further in, the roads are not much narrower and not as clean. I’m assuming they will get cleaned as time allows. Crews were working in the area as I was driving around.
When you get to the Rubicon trailhead, you understand the issues facing those who would like to go play in the snow on the Rubicon. The berm at the trailhead is currently about 11 feet tall! (My truck is about six feet tall.)
Looking up and down the street, not all of the other berms seem as tall.
If you poke your head around the backside of the Rubicon berm, you see that the snow naturally on the ground is four, maybe five feet deep.
This morning, I sat down with Placer County Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery at her monthly coffee meet & great that she holds every fourth Thursday of the month in Tahoe City.
She had already been made aware of the situation and we discussed options for dealing with the situation.
Since we don’t know who piled the snow there (Placer is firm that their plow drivers do not dump snow there.), we can’t go after anyone yet. Placer does not have the resources to place someone there to watch. A game camera has been suggested, but if it was placed when mentioned, it would be under snow right now.
I’ve asked for a “No Snow Dumping” sign with the proper County ordinance and fines listed. Montgomery was open to the idea.
This year might be too late to get a program in place to keep the trail open but I’m hoping for written agreements for next season.
Always travel/wheel prepared for anything. Carry food, water, a change of clothes, phone, ham radio, sleeping bag, etc.
Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 