Rubicon Side Trails – report

Every winter is different, but every spring is the same. Regardless of the strength of winter, spring always shows all the trees that were dropped over the winter. This year, my spring tree clearing trip on the side trails of the Rubicon was delayed with the huge winter dump of snow. I actually went too early as I couldn’t make some of the trails.

I started in Blackwood Canyon, going up the Middle Fork Trail 15N38. The trail was unusually wet. A lot of the drains off the rolling dips need to be cleaned out. No trees down to speak of but I picked up a wheel/tire that probably bounced out of the back of a pick-up truck. Since I didn’t want to haul it around all day off road, I left it at the pit toilets at the intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail for the Forest Service to deal with.

The Red Cabin Trail 16E79 was next. It did once have a red cabin, but it was gone well before I started Jeeping in 1985. It didn’t take long to find the first sizable tree across the trail. There was evidence that someone had driven around this tree.

It literally winched off the trail with no need for a chainsaw. But I used my new toy (chainsaw) to limb off the side once the log was moved.

There were many smaller trees on or encroaching the trail that were not worth taking pictures of. This one deserved a photo. The chainsaw came out and then it was winched to the side

After moving the log, I had to navigate the snow. I very much appreciate my locking differentials.

Much further down 16E79 I couldn’t follow the trail anymore. With too many tree wells trying to suck in my TJ, it was time to turn around.

Once back up to Forest Road 03, I took 03-04 around to the bottom of 16E79. There were a few small snow drifts on 03-04. Almost immediately the snow was hiding the trail enough that I didn’t bother heading up the trail.

Below 16E79 is Barker Meadow OHV Trail, the Hobbit Trail or 16E76. Too many names for one trail. It was wet but minimal snow. Mud in spots. The photo below doesn’t show well but there were a few similar spots with small trees and branches across the trail.

There were two snags hanging above the trail on 16E76. As they were not blocking the trail, I didn’t remove them. I’ll send the coordinates to the FS to deal with those.

Once on the Rubicon, I headed back towards the staging area. There were many places where it was obvious people had driven off the trail to get around now melted snow drifts. Please, “Turn Around, Don’t Go Around”. Snow isn’t that difficult.

The Ellis Peak Trail 03-04-12-05 had snow at the higher elevations. Before I ran in to a few Jeeps coming towards me and taking their time in the snow, I was able to get stuck. I turned around to avoid the snow in the trees and the four Jeeps coming towards me.

From the direction I was going, I didn’t see the undermined section of snow, but I should have assumed it. Tree strap, winch line, unstuck and moving.

I finished the day running up to Sourdough Hill on the Richardson Lake Trail 14N39. Beautiful views up there. On the way back down, I broke a local myth about rattle snakes. I had heard that there were no rattle snakes in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Too high an elevation and too cold in the winters. Well, this not so little guy was right along the trail at the old sheep herders cabin. It was a very healthy snake, probably over three feet long. I used the zoom feature to take the picture!

I mentioned a new toy, I mean tool. This DeWalt electric saw was worth the price. Perfect for the little branches sticking out along the trail that might rip a soft top or for limbing up a log along the side of the trail to prevent ripping a sidewall. I had extra batteries but never needed them.

Under the don’t do what I do category, I removed two safety features of this saw. One was a trigger lock that required one finger to unlock and then one finger to activate. The second was a plate at the tip of the saw to prevent kick back. Both would have slowed me down and caused many frustrations.

I’ll try and get back out as soon as possible to remove more trees so others won’t be tempted to drive off trail.

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Rubicon Ronin