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PHOTO: SPIDER LAKE ON THE RUBICON TRAIL
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| Photo above of Spider Lake on the Rubicon
Trail by Jesse Rivers |
Please get the most current news from the Rubicon Trail Offroad
Community Network - GO!
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5/24/07 - Newsletter
Info from Del Albright, Trail Boss |
Rubicon Trail News Update, May 2007;
In this note:
Rubicon Trail Celebrates being accepted to Outstanding Trails
Program
Wheeling Season Begins in Full Swing
FOTR Work Weekends
Side Trails Closed to Vehicles (lawsuit)
Spider Lake Closed to Vehicles (lawsuit and human waste
issues)
FOTR Email Network (alive and well)
Cantina on the 'Con (Labor Day weekend big fund-raiser)
1. Rubicon Celebrates Acceptance
to Outstanding Trails Program. June 30th, big party, work day
and free dinner and raffle. Robbs Resort near Loon side trail
head. Award will be received from BFGoodrich in partnership with
Tread Lightly and United Four Wheel Drive Associations. Signup
here: www.delalbright.com/Rubicon/workday.htm
2. Wheeling Season: Memorial Day weekend
marks the start of most good wheeling. This year the snow may
still be around so we recommend waiting a while if you have the
choice. The trail will dry out quickly with warm weather. The
Tahoe side still has large snow drifts. Visit the Rubicon Trail
Talk forum in the Bulletin Boards section for more info: <http://www.pirate4x4.com>www.pirate4x4.com
3. FOTR Work weekends: June 9th Tahoe
side rock hauling weekend (free dinner); June 30th BFG event
and work weekend; July 21-22; and big work weekend inside trail
Aug. 18-19. Signups here: www.delalbright.com/Rubicon/workday.htm
4. Side Trails Closed: due to the still
pending lawsuit, all side trails from the main Rubicon Trail
are closed to vehicles. You must keep your vehicle within the
50 foot right of way, meaning you must be within 25 feet of centerline
with your rig at ALL TIMES. This makes camping tough; so please
be patient, courteous and watch where you park. BlueRibbon Coalition
and the Calif. Assoc. of Four Wheel Drive Clubs are leading the
charge with FOTR in this lawsuit. You can donate to either group
to help the fight; earmark your donation for the Eldorado Lawsuit.
Email for more info: del@delalbright.com
5. Spider Lake Closed to Vehicles: this
is permanent. You can walk in; but you can't drive up close to
the lake any more. It makes sense as there were just too many
people in too small an area, with too many not following the
rules. We must protect this resource.
6. FOTR Email Network: This email list
is still the best way to stay tuned into Rubicon issues and work
days. It's free and you won't be loaded up with junk mail. Signup
here: http://www.delalbright.com/Rubicon/join.htm
7. Cantina on the 'Con: Our biggest
fund raiser of the year conducted by This Dysfunctional Organization
(TDO 4x4 club) on behalf of the Rubicon Trail Foundation in support
of the Friends of the Rubicon. First year they raised over $5000.
Last year it reached $8500. We are shooting for the moon this
year. Send a donation or gift package to our raffle. Come by
and eat some tacos and great Mexican food in the spillway right
at the trail head. The raffle will be great, and the food is
awesome. Email me if you'd like to make a donation or help out
in some way: del@delalbright.com
All for now. Wishing everyone a great wheeling season.
Del
Del Albright
Trail Boss, FOTR: President, Rubicon Trail Foundation
Rubicon
Trail Foundation |
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2/01/07 - Rubicon Trail
gets BFG Outstanding Trail Recognition! |
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Hi gang,
Chuck Goodenough here.
I was very proud to be asked by Del (because I'm LA local) to
attend this media event in his stead last night in Santa Monica.
From BFG:
"So what does this mean for you and your club? As a part
of the program, BFGoodrich Tires would like to host an event
at each Outstanding Trail, to highlight the uniqueness of each
location as well as to partner with the conservation and the
responsible use of the trail. BFGoodrich Tires will also give
a grant to your off-road club to help with the costs associated
with the trailís conservation."
This was a terrific event & GREAT NEWS for the RUBICON.
Not just the $$ but worldwide recognition by BFG and their OUTSTANDING
TRAILS program.
http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/outstandingtrails
This is the second year of the program which was initiated
in part because BFG wanted to clearly show support for those
trails with great clubs & volunteers behind them. The people
behind FOTR and RTF were recognized as extremely passionate in
their support of the Rubicon Trail.
The Rubicon Trail is a no-brainer in my view.
The volunteers from FOTR and RTF who are behind this trail are
a BIG reason why the Rubicon is getting this honor. These volunteers
put in an amazing number of personal hours just to deal with
trail issues like maintenance, education & ethics and it's
great to see a LARGE Corp. like BFG recognize this effort in
this way.
Kudo's to Del Albright for his relentless focus in bringing
all of us together in our mutual support.
This event was the official public announcement event &
attracted several outfits like Petersen's 4-Wheel & Offroad.
Crawl Magazine, John Stewart of United 4-wheel was there. Sand
Sports Magazine. A whole lot of great industry people. Let it
be noted that it was John Stewart of United who put the Rubicon
Trail in front of BFG & recommended it as one of the trails
for selection.
http://www.ufwda.org/
I was able to speak for a moment & recognize Trail Boss
Del Albright, FOTR and RTF as well as to LOUDLY thank BFG &
Tread Lightly for their recognition, for the up coming sponsored
June event at the trail, and for their generous $ donation.
A big thanks to the folks at BFG for selecting OUR TRAIL!!
(the dinner & drinks part was pretty freakin' great too)
I didn't get a chance to speak with everyone so I expect we'll
see some more information on the BFG site soon as well as some
PR releases on some other offroad websites.
Thanks Del for asking me to represent you, RTF & FOTR.
It was an honor.
Chuck
http://www.rubicontrail.com
http://www.rockytrail.com
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1/23/07 NEWS RELEASE
Placerville, CA... Forest Service management of the
Mormon Emigrant Trail
Click here to get this news
More Current Rubicon Trail News on the Pirate
Forum or Del Albrights Page
5/13/06
Del's"make a phone call" request
FOTR:
This letter is from the American Sand Association, a partner
organization fighting similar battles as us, and it fits our
Rubicon efforts as well. These bills affect is directly on our
trail. Make a call as soon as you can. Get your two cents in.
This is an easy one to do.
thanks, Del
###
On Wednesday morning May 17th, a California legislative committee
will consider 3 very important bills on the future of off-road
recreation in the state. WE DESPARATELY NEED YOU TO HELP BY
MAKING ONE SIMPLE CALL THIS WEEK!
The three bills in question are AB 2784 by Assemblywoman Nicole
Parra, Assembly Bill 2298 by Assemblyman Roger Niello, and Assembly
Bill 2337 by Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia.
AB 2784 will extend a "sunset" on the Off
Highway program. Without this bill, the whole program will expire
at the end of the year. This program has been in existence since
1971 and is responsible for providing off-roaders with places
to go that are legal, safe, and environmentally suitable. This
is an important program that is paid for by the users through
fees that should be continued.
AB 2784 will fix a problem that was discovered by the
State Auditor where the State Parks Department was using Off-Highway
vehicle money in parks that did not provide any off road vehicle
opportunities.
AB 2337 will provide for a more balanced Off Highway
vehicle Commission by adding a couple of State officials and
members of the legislature to this commission that decides how
and where to spend the money in the OHV Fund. The recent audit
of the program by the State Auditor found that the existing Commission
has become dysfunctional. This bill will fix those problems by
adjusting the makeup of the Commission.
YOU NEED TO CALL AT LEAST ONE LEGISLATOR WHO IS ON THE ASSEMBLY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND HAS NOT YET COMMITTED TO VOTE FOR
THESE BILLS. The members of the committee that we are targeting
for calls are listed below. Along with that is a general description
of the district they represent and the phone number in their
CAPITOL office where they normally compile information for support
or opposition of bills. Take a look at this list. If you have
time call several of their offices, otherwise call the person
that represents your area; or at least the one whose district
is closest to your home. Our key targets are in bold below. Tell
them that the bills are scheduled to be heard in Assembly Appropriations
Committee on Wednesday, and that you really want the Assembly
member to support these bills.
It is a very simple call to make. The office will accept
the information and thank you for calling. They will not get
into a debate with you or challenge your interest in these measures.
PLEASE DO THIS FOR YOUR SPORT.
The Committee members are:
Assemblywoman Judith Chu from the Monterey Park-Rosemead-San
Gabriel-San Marino area (committee chair 49th district) (916
319 2049)
Assemblywoman Karen Bass from the Culver City north of
the airport (47th Assembly District) (916 319 2047)
Assemblywoman Patti Berg from Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino,
Trinity, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties (1st District) (916
319 2001)
Assemblyman Ron Calderon from Downey, Whittier, Montebello,
Hacienda Heights areas (58th Distict) (916 319 2058)
Assemblyman Hector De La Torre from Bell-South Gate-Lynwood-Commerce
areas (50th District) (916 319 2050)
Assemblywoman Betty Karnette from Long Beach-Signal Hill
(54th district) (916 319 2054)
Assemblyman Johann Klehs from the East Bay cities of San
Leandro, Hayward, Castro Valley, Mt Eden (18th District) (916
319 2018)
Assemblyman Mark Leno from San Francisco (13th district)
(916 319 2013)
Assemblyman Joe Nation from San Rafeal and parts of Marin
County (6th District) (916 319 2006)
Assemblywoman Jenny Orepeza from Carson-Dominguez Hills
(55th District) (916 319 2055)
Assemblyman Mark Ridley-Thomas from South-central Los Angeles
(48th district) (916 319 2048)
Assemblywoman Lori Saldana representing much of the area
around downtown San Diego (76th District) (916 319 2076)
Assemblyman Leeland Yee from San Francisco and Daly City
(12 District) (916 319 2012)
Thank you.
The American Sand Association
Unite, Inform, and Mobilize
Del Albright
Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon FOTR
Moderator, FOTR Email List
BlueRibbon Ambassador and Life Member
State Environmental Affairs Coordinator, CA4WDC
5/09/06
Gatekeeper Project info:
From: Mickey Microtus
Subject: [FOTR] Gatekeeper work project
We all know that the Gatekeeper as we remember it was blasted
last fall. Nothing we can do to change that fact. Prior to the
blasting the Gatekeeper area had a drainage issue. A work party
was in the planning stage after the blasting to help remedy the
drainage issues but was canceled following some heavy snowfall
and lack of time to coordinate a delivery of rock from the Eldorado
County DOT. The drainage issue at the Gatekeeper still needs
to be addressed before this years wheeling season begins in earnest.
There is a Gatekeeper project being planned with a tentative
date of June 3rd based on snow conditions. The final decision
on a date for the project will be determined by the 20th to give
a 2 week led time for those volunteers needing to schedule in
advance. In the event that snow conditions are prohibitive to
the work project it will be rescheduled to June 24 which is a
regularly scheduled FOTR work weekend.
Current plans are to fill the right side of the first corner
with large rocks.
Fill the area South of the Alligator Pit with large rocks.
Rebuild the log barriers and pungie sticks.
Make sure the water flows into the pit and across the trail.
Addressing the drainage issues is our number one priority.
With enough time and able bodies blocking off the alternate route
onto the slab that goes through the trees would be a bonus.
We have a commitment from the Eldorado County DOT for a supply
of rock for the project. The delivery location of the rock hasn't
been finalized yet but plans are to have it available in the
vicinity of the spillway.
We need volunteers and tools for this project.
In addition if there is anybody with a trailer available to
haul rock from the spillway area to the Gatekeeper your services
are requested.
This project mandates the use of trailers to haul rock the
short distance from the spillway. Without the trailers it's not
going to be practical to accomplish this work project.
For additional information on how you can help with this project
post up or send me an email at mickeymicrotus@yahoo.com.
Robert Lightfoot
Dixon, Ca FOTR, BRC, Cal4wheel
5/06
Open Casting for new 4WD TV
Show with Rick Russell!
Deadline May 24th
9/01/05
Eldorado NF - Route Designation Project Update
Vol. 1, Issue 3
Friends,
The Eldorado National Forest Route Designation Project Update,
Volume
1, Issue 3 is now available at the following address:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/documents/route/enf_ridp_v1i3.pdf
As you will notice, we have workshops scheduled in Placerville
on
September 14, and Jackson on September 15. Your help in getting
the word out will be greatly appreciated.
Our Eldorado NF route designation website is being updated
regularly and can
be found at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/eldorado/projects/route/
The Project Update is also available for download from the
website, as
is the new Motor Vehicle Restrictions Forest Order #03-05-07
and the
Recreation
Opportunity Guide entitled "Using Motor Vehicles".
Please review this
document
to learn how the new wheeled motor vehicle restrictions will
affect your next
visit to the Eldorado National Forest.
Please feel free to forward the news and this note to your
e-mail list.
Thank you.
7/22/05
Spider Lake Closed AGAIN in 2005!
Read more about this on the FOTR website
Please check the Pirates
Forum for current trail conditions
Advisory and Suggestion for Memorial Day Weekend:
Many of you know that our official FOTR position is to avoid
the Rubicon Trail this coming Memorial Day weekend. That
is not to say no one should go up there; but we are asking that
if you have alternatives, to use them in stead. We would
especially appreciate no large groups being up there. The
trail is way wet and resource/trail damage is likely if we're
not careful. There's a lot of snow yet.
Also, be advised that CHP Sobriety Check Points will be established
in the vicinity. Further, law enforcement patrols will
be on the trail all weekend. So recreate smart. :)
Thanks, Del
Del Albright
Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR)
Moderator, FOTR Email List
BlueRibbon Ambassador and Life Member
State Environmental Affairs Coordinator, CA4WDC
RUBICON TRAIL MAY BE FLOODED FOR MEMORIAL DAY
5/25/05
Supervisor Sweeney has received word from SMUD that
there is a high probability that, between now and June 4, the
spillway at Loon Lake will overflow causing flooding.
People using the Rubicon Trail during the time period may
become stranded or unable to return home.
Please help get the word out so that everyone is aware of
this potential situation.
Julianne van Leeuwen
Assistant to Supervisor Jack Sweeney
El Dorado County Board of Supervisors
District III
Phone: 530/621-5652
Fax: 530/622-3645
****
A Public Session regarding the Revised Preliminary
Draft of The Rubicon Trail Master Plan will be held on March 19, 2005 at the El Dorado county
fairgrounds. Click here for more info!
Read more below:
3/15 Revised Rubicon Trail Master Plan posted by county:
Click here to view it
Click here to view what you can do to contribute!
***
11/24/04 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
**
1/22/05
Rubicon Trail Master Plan Meeting
**
11/22/04 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TREAD
LIGHTLY! RECEIVES FOREST SERVICE CENTENNIAL AWARD
Click here for the Tread
Lighty! text.
SPIDER LAKE AREA CLOSED FOR 120 DAYS
Spider Lake is Open
as of 11/10/04 Read More
Click for Spider Lake FOTR Clean up photos &
report
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IF you think we're kidding about Packing your waste
out, read on: |
National Off Highway Vehicle Council
Newsletter Article 8/25/04
Click for NOHVCC News on the Rubicon Trail
"Plan offered for Spider Lake"
by Cathy Locke 8/02/04
Read the Sacramento Bee Story
"A 'shame' at Sierra lake"
by Cathy Locke 7/14/04
Read the Sacramento Bee Story
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7/13/04 Board of Supervisors Declares a State of Local
Emergency
PLACERVILLE The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution
today declaring that a State of Local Emergency exists in association
with the use of the Spider Lake Little Sluice Area adjacent
to the Rubicon Trail, a popular recreational trail located in
the upper Sierra Nevada within El Dorado County. A significant
amount of human fecal waste has been deposited within this area
creating a health and safety threat to the users of the Rubicon
Trail, and a health and safety threat to adjacent lakes and streams,
which in turn flow into the American River Watershed. The unsanitary
conditions of this area of the Rubicon Trail have resulted in
the degradation of an environmentally sensitive area. Effective
today the Spider Lake Little Sluice Area will be closed
for recreational use for 120 days. The closure will not affect
the use of the Rubicon Trail as a thoroughfare.
Contact: Jon Morgan, Director of Environmental Management,
(530) 621-5300
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More from The Tahoe Daily Tribune
Gregory Crofton
gcrofton@tahoedailytribune.com
July 14, 2004
Unsanitary conditions close camping area on Rubicon
trail
El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday declared
a state of local emergency, closing an area off the Rubicon trail
to the public because of an accumulation of human feces.
The area includes a couple of hundred acres around the Spider
Lake-Little Sluice area, the most popular place to camp along
the 14-mile trail.
The order calls for the area to be closed for 120 days so
it can be cleaned up to the point that it no longer presents
a threat to public health and safety and the environment, said
Jon Morgan, director of the El Dorado County Department of Environmental
Management.
The order takes effect immediately and is to be enforced by
the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department and U.S. Forest Service.
It does not shut down any portion of the Rubicon trail.
"We had a number of reports from the public about the
increasing unsanitary condition and we confirmed it over the
weekend," said Jon Morgan, director of the El Dorado County
Department of Environmental Management. "There is human
feces and urine everywhere up there. Hopefully this sends a message
and reduces the impact of people on nature up there."
The trail boss for the Friends of the Rubicon, which represents
more than 400 off-road clubs from around the world, adamantly
opposed the closure.
"The government agencies involved have had three years
of management opportunities on this trail and yet have not completed
those," said Del Albright, trail boss for the Friends of
the Rubicon and member of the county's Rubicon Oversight Committee.
"This closure is too radical and too premature."
The Rubicon trail, a county road, runs west to east around
the northeast corner of Desolation Wilderness. It starts in the
Eldorado National Forest at Wentworth Springs near Loon Lake
and ends at Lake Tahoe at Homewood.
On a busy weekend there can be 1,000 people camped within
a half-mile of Spider Lake, with at least a couple of hundred
camped around the lake, Albright said.
Part of the land that surrounds Spider Lake is privately owned.
The rest is land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The landscape
is granite, making it difficult if not impossible to dig a hole
and bury human waste. The terrain is too treacherous to accommodate
any restroom facilities.
"This (closure) is the result of irresponsible parties,"
Morgan said. "There are a lot of responsible Jeepers who
pack it in and pack it out."
In 2002, the county bought $10,000 worth of portable toilets
and gave them to people who use the Rubicon trail, according
to Albright. The county also established the Rubicon Oversight
Committee in 2001 to work on a master plan for the trail.
"There's been no follow up by the county, the Forest
Service or the Rubicon Oversight Committee," Albright said.
"I believe before closing it the Forest Service should have
taken the bull by the horns and developed some campsites."
Albright said closure of the area will cause four-wheelers
to camp at Buck Island Lake, just down the road from Spider Lake.
"They are going to find other places; the same number
of people are going to go," Albright said. "If these
people move to the next lake, are they going to close that too?"
Lester Lubetkin, a Forest Service recreation officer, said
people need to bring portable toilets when they travel the Rubicon.
"What they really need to be doing is packing out their
waste," Lubetkin said. "Otherwise there are just so
many people and they'll go to another spot and end up with the
same problem in a new spot."
- Gregory Crofton can be reached at (530) 542-8045 or by e-mail
at gcrofton@tahoedailytribune.com
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El Dorado County division of
Parks, Rivers and Trails
Rubicon Trail Master Plan Phase 1 Report
(Draft)
The Rubicon Trail Master Plan is being developed to establish
a comprehensive framework for the management of recreational
uses along the Rubicon Trail and to implement plans and policies
identified in the El Dorado County General Plan. The Rubicon
Trail Master Plan will be implemented as a tool of the General
Plan, not as an element of the General Plan itself.
Interested? Read more: Rubicon
Trail Master Plan
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How you can help?
Please get the most current news from the Rubicon
Trail Offroad Community Network - GO!
FOTR clean up day is 8/07 Please get in touch with
Del Albright or the folks at
FOTR
for MORE INFO
Click here to sign up for the clean up day 8/07
If you can't be there you can still help by donating
$$ to the effort!
Rocky
Trail Outfitters is helping by donating several buckets of
Pooh
Powder to aid in the clean up.
Rocky
Trail Outfitters is also donating a complete PETT Portable
Toilet System to FOTR and another to be raffled off by the Jeepers Jamboree.
WE WANT TO HELP!
Click for Trail Sanitation Solutions
Every club /group should have one!
$25 from each system sale WILL GO to FOTR!
Click to read the discussion on the Pirates Forum
More News stories on the famous
Rubicon Trail Below
OffRoadVote.com
Yeah but off-roaders don't vote?
Please get the most current news from the Rubicon
Trail Offroad Community Network - GO!
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