Snow Wall Removal – 12/17/22
Posted: December 15, 2022 Filed under: Access, Maintenance, Travel | Tags: Placer, snow, snowwall Leave a commentFlash Run to remove the snow wall left by Placer County after the latest storm.
Saturday, December 17th, 10am. Bring a shovel and a pick-axe!
The wall isn’t that bad. Only four feet tall and two feet deep. The plan is to remove the wall but not create a ramp into the street.
I figure it will take about an hour and a half, then you can all go play. I’ll be in my truck.
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Rubicon Ronin
Snow Run and Shovel Work
Posted: November 12, 2022 Filed under: Access, Maintenance | Tags: snow, snow wall, stakes, stuck Leave a commentThe Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s did a flash run just out to the staging area this morning. (Sat, Nov 12th) It was Doug, Keith and Dean. The snow was probably 16 inches deep. We did not have plans to go any further than the staging area although others had.
Not pictured is the very stock Mercedes G-Class SUV we picked up in the residential area. (Not a Hi-Lo member) He had a new rig and wanted to play in the snow but knew better than to play alone. We put him between us and headed in. No picture of the ‘stuck’ but the Mercedes got a little sideways and Dean had to pull him forward.
The trail had some deep snow, but we weren’t the first ones out on the trail. There was quite the pair of ruts to follow.
Once at the staging area someone discovered a still smoldering camp-fire, built on the asphalt parking lot. Seriously, I can’t make this stuff up. We got out the shovels and piled on the snow a stirred it around.
On the way out, we did a little shovel work at the entrance. The plan is to stop by regularly to keep the “wall” extremely low or no “wall” at all. No snow in the foreseeable forecast.
Late last month, three Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s came out and installed three new snow stakes to delineate the trail. RTF agreed to reimburse the club for the cost of the materials.
Thank you, guys!
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Rubicon Ronin
Winter is here, and at the Rubicon
Posted: November 4, 2022 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: bathrooms, plowing, snow Leave a commentSnow has arrived on the Rubicon Trail. But it looks like Placer County has yet to figure out their 2022-23 plowing routine…
But the push of extra snow toward the trailhead has begun. The true plow line should be right up the middle of the photo below.
Proof my Grand Cherokee went ‘snow wheeling’.
For the record, it doesn’t have a whole lot of ground clearance! Yes, I was scraping the snow in spots.
But it was gorgeous up there. And the bathrooms were unlocked.
Please be safe out there. Remember to pack food, water, extra clothing, a shovel, recovery equipment, etc. Be prepared to spend the night. Don’t go alone. Let someone know where you are going and when you will return. Carry a ham radio.
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Rubicon Ronin
Rubicon Trail Conditions – May 20, 2022
Posted: May 20, 2022 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: snow, trees, water, wet Leave a commentIn short, the trail is still very wet. Lots of snow along the Tahoe National Forest from Miller Lake out to what I call Potato Patch.
Six rigs went in from the Tahoe side Friday morning at 10:30. It was a late start but we are all retired so who cares about time. At the bottom of Cadillac Hill we turned on to the Long Lake Trail to check conditions. We didn’t get back to the staging area until 7pm.
The usual tourist shot before we went down Cadillac.
Once on the Long Lake Trail, we found minimal trees down along the trail. But we did clear off most of them.
I would suggest staying off the trail until the big snow melt slows down. If you do go, please tread lightly on the wet trail.
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Rubicon Ronin
Still a lot of deep snow!
Posted: April 30, 2022 Filed under: Travel | Tags: snow, spring, winter Leave a commentA small group of dedicated wheelers headed out on the Tahoe side of the Rubicon on the 28th of April. They encountered a lot more deep snow than they expected.
This is probably just before where the Rubicon crosses the Pacific Crest Trail, lots of tall trees shading the trail, preventing the snow from melting.
As in my last post, if you go out, be prepared for anything and everything. Bring food, drink, shelter, extra clothing, extra recovery gear, ham radio, winter boots, etc.
I’m sure the snow will be melting fast but right now, even in the open sun the snow is still deep.
My guess for this location is before Observation? But I’m really not sure. Please note the amount of snow still out there. The vehicle track just above the rear view mirror tells you it’s still deep.
Personally, I’m going to wait a while for more snow to melt. I enjoy snow wheeling but don’t need to make it a multi-day slug fest. I’ll enjoy a snow run when the snow is more just a long drift here and there and the daytime temperatures are warmer.
Please always Tread Lightly! Stay on the trail, “Turn Around, Don’t Go Around.”
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Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 