Posted: October 2, 2018 | Author: Rubicon Ronin | Filed under: Uncategorized |
I want to start by apologizing for the course language later in this posting. But it’s not my language. I have decided to re-post a very good friend’s blog about the current fire south of Elko Nevada, in the Ruby Mountains, specifically, Lamoile Canyon.
Although this is not directly related to the Rubicon Trail, and I hope it NEVER will be, we need to keep it in mind. We’ve had some close calls with fire this summer but the Forest Service stepped up with air drops and close calls and took care of the fires very quickly. The fires I’m speaking of took place near Ellis Peak. I do not know the cause of those fires.
The blog below is in reference to using firearms outside, and inside, a local gun range. I think that along the Rubicon firearms are not really an issue. Two thoughts though: we do have the possible danger of campfires, welding or disabled vehicles starting a fire and if you read the blog below and think of some of the irresponsible things some OHV users do, it’s similar story.
Not that I am not advocating anyone of you go out and play law cop, unless you have law enforcement training and then I’m begging you to go out and play cop. I am asking that you play firefighter if you come across an abandon camp fire. That, I think we all would do. But when a fire is attended and it’s out of season, please approach cautiously and respectfully request they put the fire out, while explaining the current fire restrictions and the dangers of open fires.
The temperatures are dropping. The temptation to have a camp fire is growing. Sometime in the future the fire restrictions will be removed. I’m asking that this fall, we all abstain from having camp fires. This summer has seen a lack of rainfall, so the forests are alarmingly dry.
I’m suggesting that the risk is not worth the reward. We all have propane stoves to cook on; we all have layers of warm clothing to keep us warm; the clear skies (if they are clear) are more beautiful to look at than the fire.
Please read the blog below and pray this never happens to the Rubicon. Let’s be fire safe this fall!
Rubicon Ronin
https://rubymountaintrails.blogspot.com/2018/10/black-is-color-of-my-heart-today.html
Black is the color of my heart today
Lamoille Canyon burned. This photo is from around 3:30 PM, September 30, 2018.
The canyon was sacrificed to stupidity. To people who didn’t have the common sense to put a rifle range someplace where a fire could be contained, and to close it down – or at least staff it – during extreme fire danger. To people who ignored another, smaller, fire started by shooters using the range a couple of years ago, who ignored another, smaller fire just west of the range a couple of weeks ago.
To people who ignored red flag after red flag after red flag.
The people who started the fire were the apex of a huge heap of people making stupid, selfish decisions all based on their BY GOD given rights TO SHOOT THEIR FUCKING GUNS ANYWHERE AND ANYWHEN THEY BY GOD FEEL LIKE IT. High winds and extreme fire conditions be damned. And reality be damned, too – it’s been amply demonstrated that many, many people in this area aren’t at all responsible when it comes to firearm ownership and use. People who consider themselves responsible firearm owners have a responsibility to face the FACT that a large percentage of people who own guns AREN’T responsible. DON’T make good decisions. Since our Constitution says that any Tom, Dick and Harry can buy a gun, responsible gun owners need to be responsible enough to establish and maintain boundaries that safeguard the rest of us from these asshats’ complete fucking stupidity.
The Second Amendment crowd goes on and on about onerous firearm regulation. Bullshit. I fail to see the regulation, here. Whoever started this fire likely bought their gun legally by flashing a drivers license and passing a laughable joke of a background check. There was no requirement for education, no requirement for the most rudimentary demonstration of skills and knowledge. No requirement that this idiot show that he knew enough to not be out there shooting in high wind in dry grass on a red-flag fire condition day. On a day when we hadn’t had rain in months.
Spring Creek Association posted a few rules for their rifle range, assuming these idiots would read and follow them. Well, guys, they didn’t. And that, my friends, was entirely predictable. As were the consequences.
Lamoille Canyon burned.
Road at the mouth of the canyon. The Secret-Lamoille trailhead area burned, as did the remains of the historic flume. Firefighters saved Ruby Dome Ranch… the fire burned down to the corrals where cowboys were scrambling to finish the work they’d started early in the day before the fire overwhelmed them.
Right Fork Canyon
The access point for Terminal Cancer Couloir.
Scout Camp, including the ruins of the lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.
The canyon road will be closed through November 30th. The Spring Creek Rifle Range and Campground are closed until further notice. That means access to the following trails is closed: Secret-Lamoille Trail, the Ruby Crest Trail (Lamoille Canyon trailhead), Island Lake Trail, Right Fork Trail, Thomas Canyon Trail, Hennen Canyon Trail (accessing Griswold Lake and Ruby Dome), Seitz Lake Trail.
Posted: September 3, 2018 | Author: Rubicon Ronin | Filed under: Access, Maintenance | Tags: education, grant, politics |
On Wednesday, August the 29th, I lead a tour of the Placer County portion of the trail for agency representatives responsible for maintenance on the Rubicon Trail. We had 23 people, nine rigs, one side-by-side and one quad. We had nine different agencies and groups represented.
There are plans in the works for El Dorado County, specifically Vickie Sander, to take over maintenance of the Placer County end of the trail. This would be done with a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ (MOU). There is talk that ALL the agencies would sign on: El Dorado County, Placer County, Eldorado National Forest, Tahoe National Forest, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, CA State Parks Central Valley Water Authority and Lahontan Water Authority.
This would streamline our efforts and get everyone on the same page. Funding for the Placer side should increase but matching funds could be tricky for the first few years. If you do any kind of maintenance on the Placer side (get permission first) document your work and the names and time spent for each volunteer. And turn them in to Placer County. Those hours add up.
We gathered at the Tahoma staging area around 8am. The safety and trip briefing were given at 8:30. The discussion started at 9am and by 9:15 we were on the trail.
Too many details to get in to here but we talked about everything from paving the staging area (May 2019) to work on hardening the ‘soft’ area west of Miller Creek.
All the agency reps stepped up, made constructive comments and sounded very positive about moving forward. The success of El Dorado in funding and work done on the trail had everyone leaving with very positive hopes.
FOTR should have a few smaller projects to be done before the snow flies. There will be more tours and we’ll need drivers. The Spring will bring a very early FOTR “Shovel Brigade” to clear the trail of major snow drifts to keep users on the trail. Spring tours are a must to see how and where the water currently flows during the spring melt.
Sorry for no pictures but I was talking most of the time.
We stopped a number of times on the way in to discuss current issues. Lunch at Observation was provided by the Rubicon Trail Foundation. We turned around near ‘Backdoor’ around 2:30. By 5pm we were back at the staging area. No break downs, no body got stuck, no body got hurt. It was a great day.
Again, thank you to my volunteer drivers, though most of the agencies brought transportation.
Rubicon Ronin
Posted: August 7, 2018 | Author: Rubicon Ronin | Filed under: Uncategorized |
Sierra Trek is this week.
It’s probably too late to sign up to make any of the runs but the base camp is open to the public, no charge!
Feel free to stop by Friday or Saturday. You can check out the vendors, buy raffle tickets, enjoy the live bands or just hang out and talk OHV stuff.
trek-map-mike-woll
North on 89 out of Truckee for 14.5 miles
Left (west) on Forest Road 07 for 9.5 miles
South on gravel road 10 miles, past White Lake, toward Meadow Lake
There should be markers at all of the turns.
Posted: July 29, 2018 | Author: Rubicon Ronin | Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: education, snow, winter |
Below is an email I received regarding the latest efforts by Anti-OHV activists to close our public lands to OHV use. It’s from the local Tahoe snowmobile group. They recently held a meeting in SLT but more importantly, they need public comments.
Please take the time to write the Forest Service and let them know you are against closing 73% of the current snowmobile riding areas!
The scarier line in this email and FS proposal is the 1000′ corridor of non-motorized use along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The Tahoe National Forest first put this ‘idea’ on a map several years ago. If they get their foot in the door with over the snow use, the next step is every other OHV use and all year long.
The Rubicon an many, many other trails cross the Pacific Crest Trail.
After the get their corridor along the PCT, thy will want it along every other trail in the country. Let’s stop this now.
Here is an easy way to send in your comments:
http://highmarkdesigns.com/tahoebackyardsledders/send-in-your-comments/
WE ARE AT RISK TO LOSE MORE OF OUR RIDING AREAS IN TAHOE/HOPE VALLEY/BLUE LAKES!!!
Enough is enough!
The Winter Wildlands have proposed closures of 73% of our existing riding areas in the ElDorado National Forest. And the Forest Service really, REALLY need to hear from all us so that the Winter Wildlands aren’t the only ones being heard.
And… as if that’s not bad enough — the Forest Service is pushing their “preferred alternative” which also closes and limits our riding areas as it imposes a 1000 feet “corridor” around the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Yes, the PCT goes through the Blue Lakes’ area and we would lose some of our most fun areas if the Forest Service got their way!!!
WE NEED TO PUSH BACK!!! WE’RE DONE LOSING RIDING AREAS!
Please go to our website for more info. And please SEND IN YOUR COMMENTS — deadline is August 6! Be respectful, be personal and be passionate in a constructive way!
http://tahoebackyardsledders.com/ | http://highmarkdesigns.com/tahoebackyardsledders/send-in-your-comments/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TahoeBackyardSledders/ and https://www.facebook.com/sierrasnowmobilefoundation/
Hanna Bernard
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS AND PHONE ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job,
wait until you hire an amateur.” — Red Adair (1915-2004)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Highmark Designs
Hanna Bernard
1221 Sleighbell Lane
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Cell (530) 318-3936
hanna@highmarkdesigns.com
http://www.highmarkdesigns.com
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Posted: July 22, 2018 | Author: Rubicon Ronin | Filed under: Uncategorized |
I just found the date on the Tahoe Nationl Forest website: July 16th.
No fires, no welding, no charcoal. Gas only and you still need a permit.
Don’t be that guy.
The 'Other' Rubicon 