Mother’s Day Wheeling
Posted: May 12, 2014 Filed under: Maintenance, Travel | Tags: Placer, Rubicon Leave a commentOn Sunday, after calling my mother and wishing her a happy Mother’s Day, a few of us headed up the Rubicon Trail.
Eric Agee, the new FOTR Placer side lead, wanted a quick tour of the Tahoe side. Two rigs and three people headed out of the staging area around 9:30am. Eric drove his Cruiser as I rode shotgun and talked about the trail. Paul followed in his CJ-7, just to have two rigs on the trip. Ham radios on a simplex frequency kept us in touch.
We stopped a lot along the way discussing different needs of the trail, which agency was responsible for what and what FOTR could do while Placer County did the proposed grant work.
The trail is still VERY wet and soft. I would encourage anyone thinking about driving it to put off your trip for a week or two. There were a few snow drifts along the way and we only went as far as the old mud hole that FOTR drained and filled in years ago, just west of the Potato Patch.
With the snow fall from the day before, there was running water where the seasonal creeks cross the Rubicon. This allowed us to get a good idea of what was working well and what would need a tune-up.
Yeah, that snow storm. I was up helping the Hi-Lo’s do some maintenance work on the Twin Peaks Trail in South Tahoe on Saturday. I decided to take the scenic route home up the west shore. Once I got to Tahoma, the snow started falling. By the time I got to Tahoe City it was a full blow snow storm. Unfortunately, my Jeep was only sporting a soft top with metal half doors and no uppers! And the back window was off. Needless to say I had a cold ride home. The snow finally stopped at stateline on 80 but it did turn to rain. I was having to wipe down the INSIDE of my windshield.
The ‘weekly photo’ is from inside my Jeep when I pulled in to the Shell gas station in Tahoe City.
On the way out, Paul heard a strange clunking sound coming from underneath his rig. We stopped and checked it out and the rear spring hanger on the right front leaf spring had been ripped off the frame. Eric suggested using the winch cable to wrap around the frame and actually through the spring hanger. It worked.
You never know what going to happen on the Rubicon.
The Story of the Snow Gate
Posted: January 12, 2014 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: LTBMU, Placer, Rubicon Leave a comment
Once upon a time, like 1999-2000, some very anti-OHV people tried to close the Rubicon Trail. They argued that Jeeps crossing seasonal creeks caused erosion and released sediment which found its way to Lake Tahoe. The only solution they saw was to close the trail.
In 2000, FOTR was formed. In 2001, 1800 cubic yards of crushed rock was placed at 28 newly built rolling dips at each seasonal creek crossing on the Rubicon Trail. This was not enough for the anti-OHV people. They argued that the rest of the trail was still wet and they wanted a gate to close the trail after the first rain of the fall that was to be opened only after the trail had completely dried out.
The private property owners said they would have to have a key to that gate and that after receiving that key they would make copies for their 10,000 closest friends. The county needed another solution.
A snow-gate was proposed. The snow removed from the neighborhood streets would be piled at the entrance to the Rubicon throughout the winter, thus creating a “snow” gate and preventing winter use of the Rubicon Trail. Come springtime, once the HUGE pile of snow had melted, the assumption was that the trail would be dry enough for wheeled use.
More than a dozen years later, equipment improvements have allowed wheelers to use the Rubicon year-round. The trail never officially closes. Wheeling over the snow is probably the most ecologically friendly type of wheeling as you’re leaving tracks on several feet of snow that once it melts, you’ll never know anyone was there.
Snow is still piled at the entrance but if you have a capable enough rig, you can legally drive over the ‘snow-gate’ and access the Rubicon Trail.
John Arenz, of RTF, has compiled a list of things to carry with you while winter wheeling:
- SIGNALLING PANEL, Ultra High Visibility, two color 24” x 69” heavy duty nylon (1)
- SLEEPING BAG, mummy style w/compression stuff sack (1 for each person)
- TENT, 6 person (1)
- SLEEPING PADS, insulated (1 for each person on board
- WATER PURIFICATION TABLETS, germicidal, (25 quart )
- HAM RADIO, dual band, w/ clamshell battery and spare AAA’s
- GPS, portable
- SNOW SHOES (1 pair for each person)
- COMPLETEOUTDOOR CLOTHING (for each person)
– Full gore-tex shell
– Full inner layer
– Spare socks
– Snow boots
– Insulated gloves (2 pair)
– Snow hat
– Ski goggles
– Day pack
– Water bottle
- BUTANE LIGHTER, visible reservoir without childproof lock
- STROBE, red, emergency signaling w/industrial ‘D’ cell battery
- ALUMINUM SNOW SHOVEL (2)
- CHAIN SAW, minimum 24” bar, w/ spare fuel and chain
- FOLDING SAW, portable
- SIGNALING MIRROR, Unbreakable
- FLASHLIGHT, LED (2)
- SHELTER TARP, polyethylene reinforced/grommeted 16’ by 20’
- SUNSCREEN, SPF 30 or better
- SIGNAL FLARE GUN, w/ 12 flares
- MEAL, READY TO EAT, Assorted Menu (6 Each)
- HI CALORIE DRINKS, powder (6 quarts)
- STOVE, portable camp
- POT, portable camp
- FLARES, 15 minute for fire starting and/or signaling (6)
- COMPASS, Lensatic
- REPAIR WIRE, four-spool stainless
- LOW TEMPERATURE BLACK TAPE, ¾” x 66’ Roll (2)
- SURVIVAL WHISTLE, Dual Chamber with Hypothermia Lip Guard
- LOW TEMPERATURE RED “100 MPH” TAPE, 2” x 20 Yards
- STORMPROOF MATCHES, With Sealed Striker (Box Of 25)
- SPACE BLANKETS, silver 54” x 84” (4 each)
- PARALINE CORD, 650#, 100 feet
- POLYETHYLENE BAG , orange, multiple use, 38” x 38” 2.5 Mil (6)
- AXE, one piece
- DUFFEL BAG, High Visibility
- HAND TOOLS
- SPARE PARTS BOX
- WELDER (underhood, Premier, with cables, hood, and tools)
Those anti-OHV people still monitor what happens on the Rubicon Trail. If you go during the winter, Tread Lightly! Cross country travel is only allowed by factory tracked vehicles. Don’t spin your tires as you transition from water crossings to snow. Winch more frequently than you think you should.
Let someone know where you are going and when you plan on returning. Carry all of the stuff listed above and more, like tools and spare parts. Never wheel alone or as a single vehicle.
And my personal favorite and this website’s motto: Turnaround, don’t go around.
The 'Other' Rubicon 