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Rubicon Reconnaissance:

  1. Guest former user
    #110 Jun 2011, 6:56 AM

    This Saturday, June 11th.



    Runing up to the Rubicon this weekend to see for our selves what the conditions are like, take some photos, to get an idea if the Round up is feasible. This was a last min idea, but we have quite a few people going. if you can and would like to join us, we are meeting at the Elm street Starbucks in Auburn at 8 am. Leaving promptly at 8:30. Going to be a long day. Plan on going as for as we can into the Wentworth side first. Then come back around and get a look at the Loon Lake side.

  2. JohnDF Member Joined: July 2003
    #210 Jun 2011, 7:13 AM

    Good luck to you guys. We'll be anxiously awaiting the updates.

    I used to wheel a lot. . .
  3. RobD Subscriber
    #310 Jun 2011, 7:33 AM

    Be really careful up there. There are a lot of sink holes that are swallowing rigs up there. You can't see a lot of them until it's to late. It occurrs from water running under the snow. There are a few rigs still stuck up there until the snow melts enough to extract them!!!

    __________________ 'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."- Ronald Reagan
  4. Justin Subscriber
    #410 Jun 2011, 7:40 AM

    This is from the Rubicon section on pirate4x4. It's from June 4th but they went up again yesterday so we should have an update today sometime.









    My guess is the trail won't be completely clear until the end of June (especTrail Conditions 2011



    I'm getting lots of questions, so I'm starting this thread to post current trail conditions. I'll try to update it fairly often and obviously anyone who has an update or a question is free to do so as well. I will update the original post, so you don't have to go hunting for trail conditions if you're in a hurry.



    Currently, updated June 4th, the trail conditions are:



    Loon trailhead: 1 to 5 foot hard pack base, some blacktop showing, lots of holes underneath, the sidehill at the second dam has been cut out and is driveable with a well set up rig, may need some shoveling to put it in shape as the melt continues. Tree wells are getting pretty big and punishing on the trail itself. From Ellis Creek on are deep drifts (up to 10'πŸ˜‰ with sidehill travel and lots of melt holes (dive in and winch out). There are wet muddy holes at gatekeeper and before Ellis, so now is a good time to stay off the trail past the kiosk.



    Wentworth Springs trailhead:Clear up to Airport. Past that, a packed 1 to 5 foot base, blacktop showing in places, lots of steep drifts pushing vehicles into the trees on the low side of the drift from the trail entrance at Wentworth to the cattle guard. Lots of water moving past the cattle guard, not recommended using the trail past there until the melt is complete. Not recommended between Airport and the cattle guard unless you have lots of experience in deep spring drifts, a built rig, and plenty of time on your hands for winching. The sidehills are sketchy!



    Tahoe trailhead:1 to 10 foot base, steep sloppy drifts interspersed with water which gradually give way to sidehill and steep drift conditions as you transition over Miller. First rigs in this year took all day to get to Miller and back on May 28th...capable experienced folks in well built rigs. Not recommended at this time.



    Bears: There have been two bear sightings in the last week, one at Airport and one at Gatekeeper. Both were obviously hungry and looking for food. With this late winter season, they'll be coming out of hibernation about now and looking to eat. Take precautions!



    ially the Tahoe side).



    There are currently no fire restrictions, but you MUST have a Forest Service permit to operate a propane stove or barbecue (charcoal or propane).



    Hope this helps.

  5. Anonymous former user
    #510 Jun 2011, 8:03 AM

    At least there is a week of warm weather coming. Conditions will definitely be better next weekend.

  6. Guest former user
    #610 Jun 2011, 2:55 PM

    Justin, thanks for posting that report. Can you post the new one here when you see it. I think since someone is running it today that we can just wait on there report and save the gas. So im out for tomorrow.

  7. Justin Subscriber
    #710 Jun 2011, 5:54 PM

    June 10th update from pirate4x4. Looks like I'm going to stay off the trail for a while. 😒 😒 😒



    Currently, updated June 10th, the trail conditions are:



    Loon trailhead: 1 to 5 foot hard pack base, fair amount of blacktop showing but still long runs on deep snow on the road, once you're on the trail lots of holes underneath, the sidehill at the second dam has been cut out and is driveable with a well set up rig, may need some shoveling to put it in shape as the melt continues. Tree wells are pretty big and punishing on the trail itself. From Ellis Creek on are deep drifts (up to 10'πŸ˜‰ with sidehill travel and lots of melt holes (dive in and winch out). There are wet muddy holes at gatekeeper, on the intertie, and before Ellis, so now is a good time to stay off the trail past the kiosk.



    Wentworth Springs trailhead:Clear up to the Y. Past that, a packed 1 to 5 foot base, blacktop showing in places, lots of steep drifts pushing vehicles into the trees on the low side of the drift from the trail entrance at Wentworth to the cattle guard. Lots of water moving past the cattle guard, not recommended using the trail past there until the melt is complete. Not recommended between Airport and the cattle guard unless you have lots of experience in deep spring drifts, a built rig, and plenty of time on your hands for winching. The sidehills are sketchy!



    Tahoe trailhead:1 to 10 foot base, steep sloppy drifts interspersed with water which gradually give way to sidehill and steep drift conditions as you transition over Miller. First rigs in this year took all day to get to Miller and back on May 28th...capable experienced folks in well built rigs. Not recommended at this time.



    Bears: There have been three bear sightings in the last two weeks, one at Airport, one at Gatekeeper, and one at Tahoe staging. All are obviously hungry and looking for food. With this late winter season, they'll be coming out of hibernation about now and looking to eat. Take precautions!





    My guess is the trail won't be completely clear until the end of June (especially the Tahoe side).

  8. Justin Subscriber
    #810 Jun 2011, 5:58 PM
    "JohnDF" wrote: We'll be anxiously awaiting the updates.



    My update is that I am not going. :|

  9. Guest former user
    #910 Jun 2011, 6:19 PM
    "Justin" wrote: [quote="JohnDF"] We'll be anxiously awaiting the updates.



    My update is that I am not going. :|



    X2 πŸ™

  10. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #1010 Jun 2011, 6:23 PM

    Hmmm looks like a copy of the previous update?

    Kathleen and Brad
  11. Justin Subscriber
    #1110 Jun 2011, 9:36 PM
    "BKGM Jeepers" wrote: Hmmm looks like a copy of the previous update?



    Did you even read it? There's like 3 words changed. 😁

  12. JohnDF Member Joined: July 2003
    #1211 Jun 2011, 9:23 PM

    Did anybody go on this run?

    I used to wheel a lot. . .
  13. Justin Subscriber
    #1311 Jun 2011, 9:50 PM
    "JohnDF" wrote: Did anybody go on this run?



    I don't think so. I think we contacted everybody who was going and canceled.

  14. Guest former user
    #1413 Jun 2011, 6:36 AM

    Well it sounds like we should push this run till a later date. What do you all think of bumping this run back a couple weeks. Maybe heading up there the beginning part of 4th July weekend?

  15. BKGM Jeepers President Joined: June 2003
    #1513 Jun 2011, 8:40 AM
    "LJ3" wrote: Well it sounds like we should push this run till a later date. What do you all think of bumping this run back a couple weeks. Maybe heading up there the beginning part of 4th July weekend?





    John should be up for a 4th of July Rubicon run. I know he loves wheeling with lots of people!

    Kathleen and Brad
  16. JohnDF Member Joined: July 2003
    #1613 Jun 2011, 10:15 AM

    Ya....

    No...

    Never on a holiday weekend. I like to actually drive and not just sit in the middle of the trail all day waiting for the guy in front of me to move. Also, I hate to see all the drinking and people acting like idiots.

    I used to wheel a lot. . .

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