Springtime wheeling is here!
Posted: May 7, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bathrooms, snow, springtime Leave a commentI made it out to the Rubicon today. There is still plenty of snow and plenty of water. Please Tred Lightly!
Sadly, even though I was told, by a very reliable source, that the bathrooms were open, they were not. It seems the local 4wd club who took on that responsibility has not been following through on their promise.
Yes, snow on the trail. This is the first climb out of the staging area. It will change daily as the temps will be in to the 70’s this week.
Don’t let springtime fool you, that same weather app says possible snow Monday into Tuesday! Always be prepared to spend the night on the trail: food, shelter, warm change of clothes, etc.
This is still the first climb out of the staging area. Not too slippery.
To be fair, once past this climb there were minimal snow spots. Until there were snow spots.
Well, I didn’t get too far. This is just past Water Bar (rolling dip) #19. This is where all the eight inch river rock is on the trail. I didn’t want to push my luck.
On the way out, I stopped at one of the many rolling dips. I think it was number seven. This one appears to have rocks piled to keep the water on the trail.
I spent maybe 20 minutes removing the rocks blocking the water from exiting the trail and throwing them where they block the water from running down the trail.
It made a huge difference. The next two weeks would be a great time for RTF, FOTR, LTBMU and Placer County to get out on the trail and survey the trail to determine where work parties should focus to prevent future lawsuits for water on the trail and running water causing erosion and sedimentation.
Get out there, have fun, be safe and be respectful to the trail and others.
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Rubicon Ronin
Eldorado Forest Extends Seasonal Closures!
Posted: March 28, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: closure, rain, seasonal, snow Leave a commentEven though the snow pack for the Sierra is below average, the Forest Service has seen fit to extend the seasonal closure of OHV trails and roads. Typically, opening on April 1st, their trails will now open April 30th.
On the Tahoe side of the Rubicon Trail, this only applies to the Richardson Lake Trail that goes to Sourdough Hill.
 Eldorado National Forest Forest Service News Release Contact: Kristi Schroeder kristi.schroeder@usda.gov Seasonal Road and Trail Closure Extended through April 30 PLACERVILLE, Calif., March 27, 2025 — Based on recent and predicted rain and snow, the seasonal closure of dirt roads and motorized trails is being extended through April 30 on the Eldorado National Forest. Using motor vehicles on dirt roads and trails when soil moisture is high can cause damage to roadbeds from rutting, and impaired water quality from excess erosion. A minimum three-month closure period from January 1 through March 31 was designated for the core part of the wet season in the Eldorado National Forest Travel Management Plan. This plan also allows the seasonal closure to start earlier or be extended based on actual conditions. The roads and trails that are subject to the seasonal closure are marked with a “Seasonal Designation” on the current Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) for the forest. The MVUMs are available from any forest office or can be downloaded from the forest website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd637014. The seasonal closure does not affect roads and trails in the Rock Creek Area near Georgetown which has its own wet weather closure process. For additional recreation information, contact the Visitor Services staff from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday: Forest Supervisor’s Office – 530-622-5061Georgetown Ranger District – 530-333-4312Placerville/Pacific Ranger District – 530-644-2324Amador Ranger District – 209-259-3774 ### USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender |
ENF OHV Grant “Virtual” Open House
Posted: February 25, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: ENF, grant Leave a commentSame as the Tahoe National Forest, the Eldorado National Forest is now looking for grant input. Actually, they are required to ask but not follow user input.
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| Eldorado National Forest |
| Forest Service News Release Contact: Kristi Schroeder kristi.schroeder@usda.gov |
| Eldorado National Forest Seeking Input on OHV Grant Applications |
| PLACERVILLE, Calif., Feb. 21, 2025 — The Eldorado National Forest welcomes public input to develop grant applications for State of California off-highway vehicle, also known as OHV, recreation funds. The Eldorado National Forest is developing California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division Grant Program preliminary grant applications this cycle to support facility maintenance, law enforcement patrols, and other work in support of OHV trails there. Public comments may be submitted for consideration by the following methods: In person during a virtual meeting on Feb. 27, 6 p.m. Dial-in option also available: 1 323-886-7051, Conference ID: 481 502 302# Email to Kristi Schroeder at kristi.schroeder@usda.gov with cc to OHV.Grants@parks.ca.gov after March 4 review online at olga.ohv.parks.ca.gov/egrams_ohmvr. Forest staff will use the public comments received for consideration as they develop the final grant application for submission in June. Reasonable accommodations may be requested through Kristi Schroeder at kristi.schroeder@usda.gov. For more information on the Eldorado National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado. |
A Day on the Trail, on the Snow
Posted: February 23, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: snow, winter Leave a commentGood news, bad news. The good news is I got out on the trail with a bunch of my friends. The bad news is that MY rig didn’t make it. The story is not worth telling. So…
We got to the trailhead, in the residential trailhead as a group of four was heading out on the trail. A half an hour later, we headed out. The trail had been driven on a lot so it was well packed, in the ruts. Out of the ruts it was quite soft and deep.
The creek crossing were the difficult spots. A steep drop in and what seemed to be a steeper climb out, going both directions. Occasionally, there was a side hill on the trail and that made it difficult to stay in the ruts.
This was one of the easier crossing at the Arizona Crossing #8:
Straps were used, winches were used, but we all got up the trail. The trouble came when we ran into that other group headed out. Not exactly sure how far they got but we meet them before we got to Miller Lake.
We started turning our group around at both ends. It took some doing but we got it done. The drive out was uneventful.
Most of the rigs on the trail were on 37s. Everyone had an issue at some point.
No breakage, no injuries, overall a great day.
And there was a lesson learned. We all stop at the “staging area” to prep our rigs for the trail. What exactly do you do while staging your rig? Air down, lock your hubs, disconnect the anti-sway bar, etc.
My suggestion would be to make sure all possible needed tools and equipment are handy if needed. That means before you drive in to the deep creek crossing, dig the winch controller out of the back of your Jeep. Maybe plug in your winch and make sure it’s hooked up to your battery. I promised no names.
Be prepared, be safe, get out and have fun.
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Rubicon Ronin
Carrying Spare Gas
Posted: February 19, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 CommentMany people carry extra cans of gas to make sure they have enough to get through the entire 22-miles of the Rubicon Trail and to then make it to a gas station. I try and fuel up on my way out of Reno, so I can get back to Reno without having to buy fuel in Tahoe City!
Unfortunately, I failed to check my fuel before heading out last week. That day I needed three gallons to get me back to Reno.
Gas in Reno was $3.99 a gallon that same day. The news just said the AVERAGE price of fuel in the US was $3.18. So, where is fuel $2.00 or $2.50 to balance out these high prices?
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Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 