El Dorado County to vote on Rubicon Resolution
Posted: April 29, 2023 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: closure, El dorado, emergency, fire Leave a commentOn Tuesday, May 2nd, 9am, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors will vote on a resolution to determine who can close the Rubicon Trail and for what reasons.
This applies to El Dorado County only, not Placer County.
The Rubicon Trail Foundation and many, many other Rubicon Trail users and advocates worked with the county to get something written that actually makes sense. Below is the video put out by RTF to explain how we got to where we are. Ken Hower did a very good job of explaining situation. It’s worth seventeen minutes of your time.
Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this happen.
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Rubicon Ronin
Let the wheelin’ begin
Posted: April 18, 2023 Filed under: Access | Tags: snow Leave a commentThere are wheeled tracks on the Rubicon at the Tahoma entrance. They are faint because last night the area got 6-8 inches of snow. Yes, snow in late April.
There is a ramp for access.
But the ramp is really steep and already has deep holes. We should probably get out there and knock down the wall and build an access ramp.
I didn’t walk in too far, so I have no idea how far they got. If you look close, there is a tree leaning across the trail. If you go, be prepared to deal with trees.
All the same safety items are still in play: don’t go alone, be ready to spend the night, food, water, closing, heat, ham radio, recovery gear, etc. It’s an endless list. The most important is to Tread Lightly!
El Dorado County now has the ability to close the trail as they wish. That could include a bunch of people getting stuck and needing rescue. Don’t be that person. Let’s not give them reasons to close the trail.
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Rubicon Ronin
ENF pushes back opening date of ‘seasonal’ roads
Posted: April 13, 2023 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: closed, snow Leave a commentThe Eldorado National Forest has pushed back the opening for seasonal roads and trails by one month. For the Tahoe side of the Rubicon Trail, this means the Richardson Lake Trail (14N39). As we’re already halfway through the extended closure and the snow is still epically deep, I don’t think this will affect us much.
Expect other forests to do the same. Please check the website of whatever forest you plan on visiting before you head out.
Next week, I’ll post pictures from the trailhead. At this point, only the most well-built rigs should attempt to get on the trail. Memorial Weekend will still bring challenges on the Rubicon Trail.
Please Tread Lightly! if you head out on the trail. Stay on the trail, don’t spin your tires, use tree saver straps to winch, etc.
Groundhog Day on the Rubicon
Posted: March 11, 2023 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: melt, snow, spring Leave a commentAs I said in my last post, not much has changed. Looks like I had a weird filter on the phone when I took this but there was 7-8 feet of snow at the Tahoma entrance. The notch is almost gone. The snow is stupid wet. Maybe after a few dozen thaw freeze cycles we might be on the trail. But there are not a bunch of freezing cold days forecast.
The roads along the west shore were still unplowed. More snow on the way and it’s going to even wetter. Don’t travel unless you have to. This weather pattern is going to be with us for another four days.
For the record, I was at my cabin, on the roof, in the rain, shoveling…
After clearing a path on the deck to get the ladder in place, I started in on the roof. There will be a round two on Monday to remove more snow. We’re expecting more than a foot by Monday. The worry is the added weight from the rain we’re getting. The snow just soaks it up.
Be patient. The trail will always be there. Summer will happen. We will get on the trail.
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Rubicon Ronin
Two feet of fresh snow and it’s still snowing…
Posted: February 27, 2023 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: plowing, snow Leave a comment2-27-23 Narrow streets. The plow guys are working their asses off and can barely keep up. The roads were well plowed considering the amount of snow that the Basin has received this winter, specifically, this latest storm. the Rubicon trailhead is straight ahead. That’s a private plow operator, up on the right, clearing berms and driveways.
It doesn’t look like any vehicle has tried recently. Two more feet of snow expected over today & tomorrow. At least the notch is holding up so we know where to make access, once the snow allows.
It might be redundant, but I’ll post up after the storm passes.
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Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 