I lost a family member…
Posted: May 26, 2020 Filed under: Travel | Tags: CJ-2A, vehicles, willys Leave a commentDuring the summer of 1985, I bought my first four wheel drive vehicle. Actually, it was the first vehicle ever registered in my name.
It was a 1947 CJ-2A, about as stock as you can get. The original flat head had no power but was fine in low range. I drove it for awhile but soon figured I needed more power to be able to do the speed limit on the street. In comes a Buick 225 odd-fire V-6 from a 1969 CJ-5. (the ’69 Chevy PU was my daily driver: 307, long bed, 2wd, 3-on-the-tree)
Just getting in to working on vehicles, it had been bicycles and skateboards before then, I didn’t have a shop to work in. I sort-of highjacked some room in my father’s plumbing shop.
Well, 35 years later, a Buick 231 in place of the 225, a 4.3 in place of the 231 but never finished, the T-90 replaced with an SM420 and the day finally came.
On Saturday, I sold my beloved flat fender as I’m moving to a new house that doesn’t quite have the storage the old house had.
There’s not much stock on it any more, basically the frame and body.
There will always be Jeeps in my life, just not my first love.
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Rubicon Ronin
Rock delivered and placed!
Posted: May 19, 2020 Filed under: Maintenance | Tags: Cadillac Hill, helicopters, rock Leave a commentLast weekend (5/15-17/20), Vickie Sanders of El Dorado County oversaw the delivery of rock and construction of gabions on Cadillac Hill, among other chores on the Rubicon Trail.
A fellow Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s (Gary) and his step-son (Jason) had a ring side seat of the deliveries as Jason works as an aviation photographer as was doing a story on the moving of the rock.
Siller Helicopters was contracted to move rock from near Wentworth Springs several points along the trail. Jeepers jamboree had a crew on hand to build the gabions on Cadillac Hill.
The trail was temporarily shut down to keep everyone involved safe.
Rock was placed at several places along the trail to harden water crossings and stabilize the trail.
No before and after pictures yet of where the rock was eventually placed.
This photo just in (5/23) of the rock and gabions placed on Cadillac:
From Vickie Sanders: I want to thank all the volunteers for an outstanding weekend in the Rubicon Trail. Jeepers Jamboree built a gabion on Cadillac Hill. Bob Sweeney took a mini ex and repaired the wall at hairpin, dug some water bars in Big Sluice and drained Scout Hole.
Tim Green and Mike Elrod did an amazing job with communication once again. Keeping everyone informed and the rock loads going to the right spots. Simon was on the trail assisting with locations and rock drops.
These projects take a lot of coordination and I can’t thank everyone enough for all that the volunteers put into the trail and assisting in the effort.
I went out yesterday to Buck Island. I cleaned and restocked the restrooms. They all look great. Thank you everyone who takes care of them. The community is amazing.
The trail is ready for a busy weekend. Enjoy the trail it looks great!!!!
Thank you user community, you are truly an amazing group of people and I am honored to work for you.
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Rubicon Ronin
Rubicon Trail to Close, May 15th – 17th!
Posted: April 29, 2020 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: Cadillac Hill, closed, helicopter, maintenance Leave a commentCLARIFICATION: Only the El Dorado portion of the trail will be closed although there will be work going on from Observation and to the west, specifically Cadillac Hill. Please avoid the area that weekend.
El Dorado County will being maintenance efforts in May. They will be flying in rock to Cadillac Hill for the hardening of water bars and to build up the lower edge of the trail along Cadillac Hill among other projects.
The trail will need to be closed for safety reasons while flying the helicopter. I do not know exactly where the trail will be closed but let’s just keep our distance for that weekend.
A few more details and the official announcement on the “Rubicon Gazette” page on Facebook.
Thank you,
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Rubicon Ronin
Tahoe Side Update…
Posted: April 29, 2020 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: conditions, snow, spring Leave a commentA member of the Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s ventured out to the Tahoma staging area yesterday (4-28-2020) .
The report is that there are some VERY deep ruts just to get to the staging area. He said he was dragging his diffs and he runs 40″ tires!
For now we should be staying home and staying healthy. But I get that some us us are getting stir crazy. If you go, be safe. Social distance as best as possible but don’t go alone.
Since there is still snow out there, load up the rig as if you’re going to spend the night: food, water, proper clothing, tent, sleeping bags, light. Make sure you ham radio is up and running.
What you don’t have a ham radio and license? Well, get them! Cell phone don’t have very good coverage, if any, on the trail.
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Rubicon Ronin
Rubicon Update 4/22/20
Posted: April 22, 2020 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: El Dorado County, meeting Leave a commentWith all this Covid-19 thing going on and the ‘stay-at-home’ orders, you would think I’d have a lot of time to post about the Rubicon Trail. Well the truth is there isn’t a whole lot going on right now.
Sure there was a rescue of a few people from the Loon Lake area last week. And the snow berm issue has not been settled, but there’s not much snow at the Tahoma Trailhead right now. And anyway, we’re not supposed to be doing any unnecessary travel.
There was going to be a big Rubicon meeting in Reno to talk about everything Tahoe side in March but that got cancelled due to the Corona virus.
Vickie Sanders of El Dorado County has posted a document that has many of the answers that were going to be shared at the Reno Rubicon meeting.
Here is the normal Rubicon page on the El Dorado County website: http://www.edcgov.us/Rubicon/
By clicking on the ‘Click Here’ link under Placer County Trail Update at the top of the page, you will be taken to the newly released document.
Here is a direct link to the document: http://www.edcgov/Government/Parks/Documents/Rubicon%20Update%20Placer%20County%20%281%29.pdf
Maintenance will happen this summer. Helicopters will be flying in rock to Cadillac Hill. Hopefully, volunteers will be able to help.
Stay home, stay safe, work on your rig, get out your camping gear. Summer will come and we will get back out on the Rubicon Trail!
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Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 