Simple Man
NAXJA Member #979
- Location
- Nevada
Rubicon Trail Tour
July 21, 2005
On Thursday July 21, 2005, a tour of the Rubicon was conducted. The day was a huge success. Although all we did was drive the trail, take pictures and talk, it was a huge step in getting both Forests (Tahoe and Lake Tahoe Basin) and Placer County together to recognize the problems facing the trail and neighboring forests.
Representatives from the Tahoe National Forest, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Placer County were in attendance, along with FOTR, RTF and trail users.
We had three drivers who volunteered their day to drive these representatives all the way in to Observation Point to observe the conditions of the trail: Jesse Rivers from the Dysfunctional Rock Crawlers and
(www.NAXJA.com), Darren Jackson (with his dog Zeus) and myself, Doug Barr representing the North Tahoe Trail Dusters, RTF, and FOTR.
I want to personally thank Jesse and Darren for taking the time to help out. Yes, it was a day on the Rubicon but without them this tour would not have happened.
Amy Green from Placer County Department of Public Works was very open to the users working the trail to prevent further erosion. We don’t have free rein to do as we please but as long as our project is within the best interest of the Trail, the County will probably be okay with it. The only catch is money. The County does not have any money to put in to maintaining the Trail. They are willing to work towards getting grant money and will look in to other means of possibly financing future projects.
There was an agreement between Placer County and the Lahontan Water Authority about Placer County being responsible for preventing sediment runoff from Rubicon McKinney Road reaching Lake Tahoe. It was a twenty year maintenance agreement that has recently expired. This agreement was put in place with the project that originally built the cement creek crossings and created the cobble rock roads and the “pet rock prisons”. Placer County is still stepping up and doing what they can but are looking for a way out. This has become somewhat of a political hot topic within Placer County officials.
Suzanne Jensen and Doug Ridley from the Forest Service are open to the users doing what was needed to prevent illegal bypasses thus protecting the forests. Again, as long as it is in the best interest of the Forests. They are very willing to meet us and work projects together that will block bypasses and protect the forests. They are actively seeking grant money to restore the forest where illegal bypasses have been created, where people have driven through meadows and where the trail has widened over time.
Aside from the water bars needing some attention and the water bars needing signs the two main issues that came up were illegal bypasses and water holes. The first major problem was between Miller and Lily Lakes. The water hole there had a bypass around each side. These were very new, within the last two weeks. These bypasses can be blocked and the Forest Service was more than willing to work with us to clean up this area. A second mud hole comes in to play west of “Million Dollar Hole”, “Bottom Dollar Hole”, “Potato Patch” or what ever your club calls the last major obstacle going east bound. There is no easy fix to this hole. Early in the season it was swallowing 42” tires and the bypass was covering 35” tires! We are open to suggestions on this one.
The last water hole we want to deal with is just before “Airport Flat” or “Helicopter Flat”, where the Trail opens up and you travel over granite for the first time going west bound. There is a bypass to the south that will become the trail. The water hole will be blocked off and restored to forest land.
Trash along the Trail was minimal except for the refrigerator that was dumped within the last few days. Yes, a refrigerator! (The Hi-Lo’s will be taking care of that this weekend.)
We are working on getting a tour of Judges, Supervisors and Law Enforcement from Placer County out on the Trail to let them experience the Trail so they are aware of the problems that we are facing.
I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome from this tour. All parties involved were open to doing what it takes to get the job done. I look forward to working with these individuals again.
July 21, 2005
On Thursday July 21, 2005, a tour of the Rubicon was conducted. The day was a huge success. Although all we did was drive the trail, take pictures and talk, it was a huge step in getting both Forests (Tahoe and Lake Tahoe Basin) and Placer County together to recognize the problems facing the trail and neighboring forests.
Representatives from the Tahoe National Forest, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Placer County were in attendance, along with FOTR, RTF and trail users.
We had three drivers who volunteered their day to drive these representatives all the way in to Observation Point to observe the conditions of the trail: Jesse Rivers from the Dysfunctional Rock Crawlers and
(www.NAXJA.com), Darren Jackson (with his dog Zeus) and myself, Doug Barr representing the North Tahoe Trail Dusters, RTF, and FOTR. I want to personally thank Jesse and Darren for taking the time to help out. Yes, it was a day on the Rubicon but without them this tour would not have happened.
Amy Green from Placer County Department of Public Works was very open to the users working the trail to prevent further erosion. We don’t have free rein to do as we please but as long as our project is within the best interest of the Trail, the County will probably be okay with it. The only catch is money. The County does not have any money to put in to maintaining the Trail. They are willing to work towards getting grant money and will look in to other means of possibly financing future projects.
There was an agreement between Placer County and the Lahontan Water Authority about Placer County being responsible for preventing sediment runoff from Rubicon McKinney Road reaching Lake Tahoe. It was a twenty year maintenance agreement that has recently expired. This agreement was put in place with the project that originally built the cement creek crossings and created the cobble rock roads and the “pet rock prisons”. Placer County is still stepping up and doing what they can but are looking for a way out. This has become somewhat of a political hot topic within Placer County officials.
Suzanne Jensen and Doug Ridley from the Forest Service are open to the users doing what was needed to prevent illegal bypasses thus protecting the forests. Again, as long as it is in the best interest of the Forests. They are very willing to meet us and work projects together that will block bypasses and protect the forests. They are actively seeking grant money to restore the forest where illegal bypasses have been created, where people have driven through meadows and where the trail has widened over time.
Aside from the water bars needing some attention and the water bars needing signs the two main issues that came up were illegal bypasses and water holes. The first major problem was between Miller and Lily Lakes. The water hole there had a bypass around each side. These were very new, within the last two weeks. These bypasses can be blocked and the Forest Service was more than willing to work with us to clean up this area. A second mud hole comes in to play west of “Million Dollar Hole”, “Bottom Dollar Hole”, “Potato Patch” or what ever your club calls the last major obstacle going east bound. There is no easy fix to this hole. Early in the season it was swallowing 42” tires and the bypass was covering 35” tires! We are open to suggestions on this one.
The last water hole we want to deal with is just before “Airport Flat” or “Helicopter Flat”, where the Trail opens up and you travel over granite for the first time going west bound. There is a bypass to the south that will become the trail. The water hole will be blocked off and restored to forest land.
Trash along the Trail was minimal except for the refrigerator that was dumped within the last few days. Yes, a refrigerator! (The Hi-Lo’s will be taking care of that this weekend.)
We are working on getting a tour of Judges, Supervisors and Law Enforcement from Placer County out on the Trail to let them experience the Trail so they are aware of the problems that we are facing.
I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome from this tour. All parties involved were open to doing what it takes to get the job done. I look forward to working with these individuals again.
