Caldor Fire threatens Rubicon Trail
Posted: August 17, 2021 Filed under: Access, Travel Leave a commentHere’s the deal, the Caldor Fire has closed Highway 50 and forced evacuation in the area, such as Pollock Pines. I’m just dumping a bunch of links to help get you information. I’ve heard yesterday 6500 acres, then 22,000 acres, now 30,000 acres. 0% contained as of 10pm 8-17-21.
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Update 8-18-21, 11am
Size: 53,722 acres
Containment: 0%
Caldor Fire Information Line: (530) 303-2455
El Dorado County has officially closed the Rubicon Trail:
Vickie Sassman Sanders: “El Dorado County has closed the Rubicon Trail. We have posted it on the Parks website.”
Here’s the El Dorado County link: https://www.edcgov.us/Rubicon/
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Please avoid the area. Emergency crews need access, not traffic from tourists.
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Another good mapping source. You can turn on the layers like Fire Active and Fire History:
https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=38.82368,-120.1355&z=10&b=mbt&a=modis_mp
The Eldorado National Forest is closed!
 U.S. Forest Service Eldorado National Forest 100 Forni Road Placerville, CA 95667 530-303-2412 www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado  News Release For Immediate Release August 17, 2021 Media Contact: Jennifer Chapman, 530-957-9660 jennifer.chapman@usda.gov www.facebook.com/EldoradoNF Twitter:@EldoradoNF Caldor Fire Prompts Emergency Closure of the Eldorado National Forest PLACERVILLE, Calif. – In response to the extreme fire behavior demonstrated by the Caldor Fire, and risks to public and firefighter safety, Forest Supervisor Jeff Marsolais has issued an emergency forest closure of all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the Eldorado National Forest. The forest-wide closure — Forest Order No. 03-21-14 – will be in effect August 17, 2021, through September 30, 2021 to facilitate unimpeded ingress and egress for evacuations, emergency response, and property access. The closure will also limit the public’s exposure to fire danger and impaired visibility due to smoke. In less than three days, the Caldor Fire has grown to over 30,000 acres, and California Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a State of Emergency to exist in El Dorado County as a result of the fire. The Caldor Fire has already burned numerous structures and caused at least two people to be hospitalized with injuries. Because the fire is not controlled and is actively burning, there is a high risk of flare ups or uncontrolled runs within the Forest. The closure Order prohibits the use of areas, roads and trails on the Eldorado National Forest seven days per week, 24 hours per day. Conditions will be assessed daily to determine if it is safe to lift the closure. The following persons are exempt from this Order: 1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order. 2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty. A violation of the Order is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. ### The U.S.D.A Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer. The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. |
General fire info:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7801
Smoke conditions:
NBC News, old:
Rubicon Gazette Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rubigazette/
CalFire website:
https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2021/8/14/caldor-fire
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Rubicon Ronin
Long Lake Trail Maintenance 7-28-21
Posted: July 28, 2021 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: 16E12, long lake, maintenance Leave a commentThe Long Lake Trail is at the bottom of Cadillac Hill and runs along the Rubicon River for 0.91 miles. Yes, I’m getting that specific as there is a definite end of the trail that we must adhere to or we could lose the entire trail.
The kiosk at the trailhead received some new paperwork as the old ones were wet and faded.
A few nuisance boulders were removed from the center of the trail. These were not obstacles that added anything to the trail experience, just something to go around and make the trail wider.
The campsite area had the old drive through route blocked off (again) and signed to explain why. The Forest Service has prohibited the area as a drive through. If we don’t play by the rules, we could lose the campsite.
This step got some reworking. There was an undercut developing which is nothing anyone wants to try and drive up. It only leads to breakage. And the boulder in the middle of nowhere is one of those nuisance boulders that was moved. This one was moved in to the undercut area and built in to a ramp.
Two routes were maintained. Easy towards the river (right side) and harder (but not tough) closer to the HUGE boulder.
The end of the trail has been blocked and signed to prevent travel and inform the users.
Please get out there and explore and enjoy your trails. The Long Lake Trail is adopt and maintained by the Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s.
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Rubicon Ronin
Jeepers Jamboree closure dates -2021
Posted: July 22, 2021 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: closure, JJ Leave a commentSorry they are late to be posted.
My understanding is that every year Jeepers jamboree gets a “parade permit” from El Dorado County. This allows JJ to close the Rubicon Trail for exclusive use by their participants. The trail is open to the public Midnight to 6am.
Let’s be clear, this is an El Dorado County closure only. All trails within Placer County are open for public use.
That being said, I would urge users to stay clear due to the sheer volume of vehicle coming out, specifically on those Sundays.
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Rubicon Ronin
Work on the Tahoe side
Posted: July 15, 2021 Filed under: Maintenance | Tags: rock, TNF Leave a commentAlthough I was told earlier this season there would be no work done on the Rubicon within the Tahoe National Forest in 2021, rock has been placed in some of the low spots.
As I was driving out on Wednesday, just west of the turn for Sourdough Hill:
Just east of the turn to Sourdough Hill:
Not remembering where this was:
West of Miller Lake:
Another west of Miller.
There were two or three other spots that had new rock placed.
It’s good to see this work being done. Hopefully, it will continue.
Work on the rolling dips within the Lake Tahoe Basin will happen next year.
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Rubicon Ronin
Trailer Tailgate Rebuild
Posted: July 6, 2021 Filed under: Maintenance | Tags: trailer Leave a commentYears ago, I picked up an old highway lighting trailer. I lined it with plywood, did a spring over axle, swapped to it 5 on 5.5 and put on a universal hitch.
Over the years, I’ve repaired and replaced the hitch, rebuilt the front side of the trailer after the my Jeep’s bumper fell off and replaced the tailgate and now it’s time for tailgate 2.0.
The trailer has served me well over the years. This is a very early shot of the trail and me hauling in the kiosk for the Long Lake Trail.
Though I’ve not always treated the trailer as well as I should have…
That was an empty trailer, too much speed and one tire hitting a rock. Two snatch blocks and a winch and I had it rubber side down again.
I did replace that slide down tailgate but it was time for a new tailgate. What I had laying around was a Jeep tailgate designated for my ‘project’ Jeep. Well, the trailer needed it more than the project. Out with the old, broken (again), slide in set-up.
Mocking up the brackets, yes, it is an old bedframe. Cheapest angle iron around.
In with the new Jeep tailgate.
I tried to get fancy with an adjustable bolt set-up for aligning the sides of the trailer to the tailgate. It’s just too loose. I need to weld EVERYTHING.
It’s still using the stock latch system.
Next week, off to Pick-n-Pull to get some tailgate straps, so I can hold the tailgate level when open or drop it vertical to unload rock.
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Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 