Rubicon Conditions – March 2022
Posted: March 24, 2022 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: snow, winter Leave a commentSome Hi-Lo’s headed out to the Rubicon Trail, I think on Tuesday the 22nd.
Condition were treacherous. Deep snow and deeper holes in the snow.
Not all was smooth sailing.
The group made it out as far as Bottom Dollar Hole, just above the Potato Patch. That required going past the shelf road along Miller Creek. Here is a great video of the technique used to get past it…
This level of snow wheeling takes a very well-built rig, lots of recovery gear, experience and super driving skills.
Do not travel out over the snow unless you are prepared to spend the night: food, shelter, clothing, water, communications, etc.
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Rubicon Ronin
Holiday Travelers on Rubicon
Posted: January 17, 2022 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: snow, stuck, winter Leave a commentAfter being stuck at home for more than a week, I finally ventured out to the Tahoma trailhead. Although I had no intension of driving out on to the trail, I brought the Jeep just because. The rig stuck on the trail with four guys in it were happy I did.
The neighborhood looks much better:
The berm is very doable and only a few feet tall:
But these guys needed help:
They had barely started up the first incline and got off of the compacted snow of the ruts and stopped.
A few gentle tugs backwards and they were free. I unhooked to get more distance between us and they almost drove out. They needed another tug or two to finally make the pavement.
The trail looks well-travelled but make sure you go prepared. As long as I was in the ruts, I felt very secure. When I got out of my rig, the snow off to the sides was obviously not firm enough to drive on.
The Sno-Park at Blackwood Canyon has been plowed out but remember, this is closed to wheeled vehicles until June 15th.
Be safe, be smart, don’t go alone, be prepared to spend the night.
Enjoy!
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Rubicon Ronin
Tahoma Trailhead Conditions 12-30-21
Posted: December 31, 2021 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: snow, Tahoma, trailhead, winter Leave a commentOnce the highways opened up, after a record-breaking December snow fall, I ventured up to the Rubicon Trail trailhead in Tahoma to see what it looked like.
Before I could even get there, I had to drive through the neighborhood. Single track! The county plow had been through but only one time and right down the middle. It will take two more plow passes to clear the road and then the rotary blower will come through to clean up the edges.
From a distance, the trailhead looks unbreeched by wheeled vehicles.
Sure enough, only one lone snowmobile track over the berm and up the trail. I did not have the time, nor the place to park, in order to snowshoe up the trail. But many snowshoe tracks already there.
There is a new trailhead sign. I don’t know who put it up but it has Forest Service colors.
My suggested signage for the trailhead was much more in your face:
(Yes, I realize there’s a misspelling in there)
Looking back from the trail, you can barely see the roof of my TJ with a 5″ lift on 35″ tires.
The berm is probably six feet tall, but once over the berm the snow is probably four feet deep.
So, I had to try it, but I knew if I made it over the berm I’d be stuck. Single vehicle; no way to winch myself backwards; but I did have a shovel with me. What the heck.
It’s a bad picture but it shows I didn’t get far.
Snow plow work is so far behind, understandably, that the entrance to the Sno-Park (Kaspian Campground) at Blackwood Canyon has not been plowed at all. FYI, no wheeled vehicle access from here, only snowmobiles.
The Rubicon Trail is open year-round. Only go if you and your rig are overly prepared!
Once the rotary plow comes through, there could be a five-foot face to the trailhead. Knock it down, make a ramp, go have fun. Stay on the trail. But beware as you exit, if there wasn’t a sheer face as you went in, there might be a sheer face on your way out. Walk it first.
Enjoy our public lands but be safe.
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Rubicon Ronin
Running the entire trail, in winter!
Posted: March 5, 2020 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: prepared, snow wheeling, winter Leave a commentAnother great source of Rubicon information is the “Rubicon Gazette” Facebook page. That is where I found this story and all of these pictures. El Dorado County frequently posts there to keep the users informed.
Just recently posted are the adventures of a few brave soles who traveled on the the Rubicon in the dead of winter. Ok, yes, winter is sort-of dead right now but it’s still brave to wander on to the Rubicon this time of year.
They started from Tahoma and found a few obstacles…
But they made it to Observation…
Believe it or not, they met some rigs coming up Cadillac Hill and out of Rubicon Springs. A group had just driven through the entire trail in March.
The group that entered from Tahoma camped for the night. I don’t know if they checked the weather or not.
They woke up to almost a foot of fresh snow…
Everyone made it out.
Any time of year, please be prepared for the possibility of spending the night. These guys knew they were spending the night and prepared. Not everyone expects to spend the night out there but things happen.
Remember to check out the “Rubicon Gazette” Facebook page for news about the Rubicon Trail.
Enjoy your trail but be safe.
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Rubicon Ronin
Snow, snow, snow
Posted: June 26, 2019 Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: snow, spring, trees, winter Leave a commentOkay, I got out on the Rubicon yesterday (6.25.19) as opposed to the Buck Lake Trail the day before that had tree issues.
We got as far as the pond at the Ellis Peak Trail and turned around at the intersection.
Below is the view looking further down the Rubicon. Snow! Lots of side hill action. That’s why we turned around.
This is the view up the Ellis Peak Trail. Nobody’s been there yet.
After the turn around, we poked up the Richardson Lake trail thinking we’d go to the top for the view from Sourdough. Nope! Again, crazy side hill right before the cabin. The pond on the right is a somewhat deep sediment trap.
If you go, be prepared to dig and saw. Snow everywhere, trees still across the trail.
Stay on the trail. If you are not prepared to deal with what is on the trail, Turn Around, Don’t Go Around!
Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 