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.
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Rubicon Ronin
Another Beautiful Snow Run
Posted: May 17, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: snow, water, winter Leave a commentMay 17, 2025. 43 degrees. Overcast. 9am start. Seven rigs. Awesome day!
The climb out of staging is clear.
There is still a ton of water on the trail. If you go, please Tread Lightly! and stay on the trail.
As you climb, you will find lots of snow. It will be around for probably two or three weeks. Memorial weekend will probably be chaos with too many people trying to get out. We were out at 9am and half the group turned around at 1pm. The first rig we saw was at 1:30 on our way out.
The snow drifts and the way they melt shifted us to the side of the trail a number of times. Many off camber sections.
We did cut a few trees from the trail. We drove over a few that we didn’t have time to deal with.
I failed to take a picture of the largest tree we cut and winched off the trail. Carry a saw as there will be more trees to deal with as the snow melts and there was at least one widow maker that could come down at any time.
We got to the Arizona (concrete) crossing just west of the Ellis Peak Trail at the pond. The group split here and three rig continued on for another hour of so; the other four of us turned back.
Here is as far as most of the group got. If you’re wondering, that’s “Space Junk”. It’s got a front wheel drive engine mounted sideways, no transfer case, no low range and works really well. He did make it up the ledge, as did many of us, but most turned around as we were done.
Here is the pond on the way out. Really slushy snow driving out in the afternoon.
No real issues on the trip. Yes, a few people needed a strap. At the end of the day, I realized I had forgotten to reload my air hoses. Oops. Thankfully, I was with friends who shared theirs with me.
And the bathrooms at staging had been opened, cleaned and stocked.
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Rubicon Ronin
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
ENF Delays OHV Trail Openings
Posted: March 28, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: snow, Travel, winter Leave a commentThe Eldorado National Forest has delayed opening our OHV trails until April 15th due to the late and wet storms we are experiencing.
For the purposes of this website, that really only means the Richardson Lake Trail to Sourdough Hill. For what it’s worth, there’s so much snow out there that no one is getting up that trail anyway.
Many trails around Loon Lake and on the west end of the Rubicon Trail will be affected.
 U.S. Forest Service Eldorado National Forest 100 Forni Road Placerville, CA 95667 530-303-2412 www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado  News Release For Immediate Release March 28, 2024 Contact: Placerville / Pacific Ranger District: 530-644-2324 Amador Ranger District: 209-259-3774 Georgetown Ranger District: 530-333-4312 www.facebook.com/EldoradoNF Twitter: @EldoradoNF Seasonal Closure of Dirt Roads and Motorized Trails Extended through April 15 on the Eldorado National Forest PLACERVILLE, Calif. – Based on recent and predicted rain and snow, the seasonal closure of dirt roads and motorized trails is being extended through April 15 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 in a given year. 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 8:00 am to 4:30 pm 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 ### The U.S.D.A Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer. The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. |
Winter storms are still coming across the Sierra. If you go out to play, be prepared to spend the night. Bring food, shelter, water, clothing, ham radio, etc.
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Rubicon Ronin
It Snowed, a LOT!
Posted: March 5, 2024 Filed under: Access | Tags: berm, plowing, snow, winter Leave a commentThe drive from Tahoe City to Tahoma on Highway 89 was a little sketchy but at least there was two-way traffic. Once on the side streets of Tahoma, it was a one lane road.
The trailhead didn’t disappoint. With 89 inches of snow falling during the last storm, there was quite a berm at the entrance. The rotary plow had not come through the neighborhood at all. Not only was the berm taller than my truck, once it gets plowed, it will be MUCH taller than my truck.
This shows the width of the berm and that Placer County is still plowing the entrance straight across the entrance.
The locals are up and over the berm, on foot, and skis. It will be some time before a wheeled vehicle makes access.
This is the road off 89 on my way out. That’s 89 in the distance. At least this road was down to the pavement.
I’m not sure when the next storm is coming in but there will be another one.
If you go out, be prepared to spend the night: shelter, food, water, warm clothing, means for keeping warm. Ham radios work all year ’round. Don’t travel alone. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back.
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Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 