Weather is coming…
Posted: March 24, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: snow Leave a commentDon’t let the warm weather fool you. The Sierra is going to get hit with a pretty good size storm next week.
And that is the Tahoma staging area report. The summit is forecast to get up to 20 inches of snow.
Always go prepared for the worst. Think overnight is a snowstorm. Bring plenty of warm clothes, food, water, etc. Don’t go alone. Summer will be here soon enough, don’t rush out thinking it’s already here.
.
Rubicon Ronin
March Madness
Posted: March 10, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: ice, snow, winter Leave a commentOkay, it’s not about basketball.
More appropriately, March Miracle? A few years back we got hammered with a few late winter storms. We can hope.
But until then, maybe use the good weather to go out and enjoy the trail. I was there today on my way to the Forest Service office. More on that in a future post. The trail was frozen solid. The warm daytime weather has melted the snow, and the overnight lows have frozen it in to ice.
Since my last conditions report, many users have been out on the Tahoe side. Alas, again, I was alone and didn’t venture out on the trail. I can only assume that the climb out of the staging area is ridiculously slick. In the afternoon, with sunlight and warmer weather, I would think you would have no control coming back down that grade.
Although the weather looks great for the next week or so, always plan for the worst case scenario. Bring the right gear to spend the night, maybe a few nights. Tell someone where you’re going and when you will return. Get a ham radio and a license.
The road to the staging area will soon be down to pavement. Hopefully, the bathrooms will be opened when that happens.
.
Rubicon Ronin
Trail(head) Conditions
Posted: February 26, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: snow Leave a commentOkay, you guys are probably tired of the same old conditions posts but until I make some friends and actually get ON the trail, this is all I can offer you.
Well, here it is, again. Post storms and rain, there’s maybe a three-foot berm.
The county is doing alright, trying to do a straight plow to minimize piling snow at the entrance.
Here’s the rub and I don’t know how to get the county to change. as they plow, snow gets blown to the left side of the trail only, creating an offset challenge. Let’s call it a “gatekeeper”. Maybe notch a grove on the left side to prevent you from sliding into the ditch on the right.
With all the rain from the last warm storm, a couple of good freezing nights should create a doable trail.
Anyone up for the challenge?
Please go prepared, don’t go alone, let someone know when you’re going and have a means of communications.
A future post will look at communication options.
.
Rubicon Ronin
Trailhead Update
Posted: January 21, 2026 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: snow, trailhead Leave a commentUnfortunately, no new snow. And there’s nothing in the forecast.
Not much there. Lots of evidence that people are out playing.
Yes, that’s my new 2021 Colorado. ZR2. I was a single vehicle, so I didn’t venture out.
Just past the entrance, there are many holes. It looks like people without lockers are getting stuck and spinning tires and digging holes.
I love the couple of logs in the snow that people used to try and get unstuck. Obviously, something worked to get them unstuck.
50 feet in and you’re on a nice hardpack, icy road.
New truck means the old one is for sale…
Pray for snow!
.
Rubicon Ronin
No Snow
Posted: December 11, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: icce, snow, winter Leave a commentOkay, there was a little bit of snow and some ice. Actually, lots of ice. I’ve been waiting for a good dump of snow to be able to go play in a foot of snow, but it hasn’t come. I haven’t waxed my skis and I have yet to get out the snowblower and prep it for the season.
On the road in, it’s back down to pavement. But beware, the bathrooms are locked. They should be open as long as users can easily drive in to the staging area.
The first climb out of the staging area was ice covered but a simple enough climb. I didn’t bother airing down because I was only doing a short trip in to Miller Lake.
Pooling water was frozen over in some places, not in others.
As I said, ice.
Here’s where it got interesting. Just before the end of the trail you see below, in the shade, the TJ slipped a few times. It actually got a little sideways. Locked the rear, locked the front, shifted to the side to get off the ice and on the rocks. No problem.
Here’s a picture coming back out. Lowest gear, very slowly.
I had my nephew with me from Oregon, so we played tourist, took 89 around Emerald Bay, 50 over to Carson City and drove up to Virginia City from the Dayton side. Call us tourists, parked in front of the Bucket of Blood Saloon.
If the snow ever comes, remember, there is ice underneath. Although there is no snow in the foreseeable future, it will come. If you go out, be prepared to spend the night in below freezing temperatures.
.
Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 