Here's a chance for all of you to help out as you said you would. I know the 4th is a Wednesday and unless you're special you only get the one day off just as I do. It's also a day where many people have BBQ's and parties at home. However, the Fordyce needs work and we are going to be up there with two work parties that need help. If anyone is wondering why we aren't doing this sooner the date was driven by the earliest opportunity that the Forest Service could come along. Their input is needed at the big mud hole. Also, the FOTR is having a big work weekend on the Con June 30th and many of you are probably going to help out just as I am.

The FOF will be headed down to the major mud hole with the FS to survey the area and come up with a plan to fix the problem. Some work may be done at that time also but the main reson for going there is to have the Forest Service look at the area and tell us what they want us to do. We will most likey go back at a later date with a big work party to implement the plan we come up with.

Four Dice 4WDC will be heading up another group that will be going up to the creek crossing on the way to Winch Hill 3. Lately, each year the creek clogs up backing the water up and this causes a problem with the exit out of the creek. Their plan is to clear several logs out of the creek, eliminate the pinch point that causes the back up problem and build a log ramp on the exit to keep it from becoming more dug out. The blockades further up the creek also need to be repaired. They are going to need a bunch of help and anyone that can make it will be put to work there. Shovels, winches, chain saws, etc. are needed.

Both groups will be leaving the Cisco Grove camp ground around 8-9 in the morning on the 4th. We will be camping there Tuesday night.

Hope to see you there!

Bret

Is that the private campground at the end of the paved road?

East Directions :
FROM SACRAMENTO: 1.Take I-80 E towards RENO approx. 78 Miles. 2.Take the CISCO GROVE exit. 3.Turn LEFT onto CISCO RD. 4.Turn LEFT onto HAMPSHIRE ROCKS RD.

http://www.campingfriend.com/ciscogrovecampgroundandrvpark/

hey bret, do you have other work days planned? I have to work that day.

Looks like I can spring myself Tuesday noon, to come up and do some real work on Wednesday.

Lately, I'm more practiced with a clipboard, but I'm game to dig in and do some earnest work, if you promise to take it easy on a desk-jockey!

Randii

No other workday planned yet but after the survey we'll schedule something I'd imagine.

We'll be glad to see you there Randy. Why would you need more than a clip board? DOn't you just wave you hand and the work gets done? Seems kind of devine to me. Now how about that rig?

I would like to help. I have wheeled the Fordyce trail but but never in my Rover, spent a lifetime on the Rubicon. I cannot make the Rubicon cleanup but think this 4th of July cleanup at Fordyce will be a great way to see the trail for the first time with experienced Fordyce wheelers and lend a hand in the preservation of the trail.

I drive a 98 Land Rover Discovery with a 4" (spring)lift, 33" Tsl's, tube bumpers, three link, and a bunch of other junk (no lockers). Am I going to be a trail clogger, or be able to help out?

No lockers could be a problem although the wheeling to the work that Four Dice is doing isn't that tough. Go to the Four Dice BB for more info on that work. We would hate to turn any volunteers away but we do have limited time on the trail. Do you have a buddy that can go with you to help you if you need a tug here or there? We aren't going to be doing but a small part of the trail so no lockers may not be a huge issue. My suggestion is to register on the Four Dice BB and the FOF BB and let's talk about it there.

http://www.fourdice4x4.com/forum

Might be off. See why here.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=593785

I just talked to the forrest service. They said the way the restrictions were written were a little confusing.

"Off-Highway Vehicle Use – Only permitted on designated roads; the Prosser Pit area near Truckee; and the Sugar Pine OHV area north of Foresthill. (Not permitted on trails other than the areas mentioned.)"

They said this means no combustion engines (vehicles, chainsaws, ect...) are to be used off of any designated roads. Fordyce is a designated road so were good to go. We just cant use any chain saws off the trail.


EDIT:

Dont call the TNF office number on the web site or you will get the wrong information on the closure.

I just got off the phone with Mary Furney of the Tahoe NF. She has told me that the Fordyce trail is closed to OHV's. We could have possibly gone on our survey run as an administrative trip after our vehicles were inspected for safety equipment and spark arresting exhaust. Even then we had the possibility of being turned away based on the fire danger present that day and it's only going to get hotter this week. I am cancelling our run. You cannot enter the forest without FS personel supervision and as an additional piece of information I have just learned that the fire danger indeed has increased and the chance of being allowed in even as an administrative trip is very unlikely.

We are going to address these problems when conditions allow and with more time to plan we can do a better job anyway. This trip was planned on spur of the moment because it was important to come up with a solution with users entering the forest as the wheeling season begins in earnest. With the closure this is no longer as high a priority and the overriding concern is the safety of the forest. Staying away is the best thing to do right now.

I would recommend keeping an eye on the Tahoe NF fire restriction page for the latest information. I would not expect anything to change unless we get some rain. A lot in fact.

Again, the July 4th survey run is posponed until further notice.

With no disrespect intended to my green-stickered brethren, I don't drive an OHV. Mine is a fully licensed, street-legal vehicle (well, let's not talk about smog). Is the trail closed to my truck, as well?

I am cancelling our run.
This is the right thing to do for the work day, but we need to get after the Forest for a clarification ASAP. I know this is going to be a tough fire season, but the way to manage this is to ratchet up the fire controls (no flames, no cook stoves, maybe even no smoking) and not to close the trail!

Bumming,

Randii

With no disrespect intended to my green-stickered brethren, I don't drive an OHV. Mine is a fully licensed, street-legal vehicle (well, let's not talk about smog). Is the trail closed to my truck, as well?


This is the right thing to do for the work day, but we need to get after the Forest for a clarification ASAP. I know this is going to be a tough fire season, but the way to manage this is to ratchet up the fire controls (no flames, no cook stoves, maybe even no smoking) and not to close the trail!

Bumming,

Randii

Total clarification is what I am looking for as well.

X2

Total clarification is what I am looking for as well.

Posted on the fire restriction thread but needed here too.

"I added to the confusion a bit and was going to change it but PizzaFarno beat me to it. The order says "no internal combusion engines." It also says "off highway vehicle use" which I don't believe means the same thing as an "off highway vehicle." This information is in different spots. It depends on where you look.

The Fordyce is a "trail." If you go to the Tahoe Route Designation map you can see by the key that it is indeed a "trail" and not a "road." It would still be ok to drive up Rattlesnake Road and camp at Fordyce Lake for instance. Hopefully this is a knee jerk reaction because of the Angora fire and they can downgrade the restrictions soon but if the weather continues on the way it has been it seems to only be getting worse. I've heard second hand they are already talking about closing the forest to all users if it gets worse than it is now. Just a rumor right now. Mary Furney told me the humidity level dropped from 47% to 12% in one day up there which will dry things even more.

I'll try to keep more information coming as I get it."

Just got off the phone 530-622-5061 and she told me the Fordyce trail is closed to all internal combustion engines. There it is POOP I was driving down from Portland to run this trail tomorrow, good thing I web wheel on the clock =)

Sorry you can't run the trail but I'm glad you were saved a long drive for nothing (or a ticket.) :D

not sure where I should have posted this... but...


REMINDER!!!!!!!!!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PICKUP YOUR FAWKING CANS AND GARBAGE!!

I must have collected 30+ beercans left from camp sites and on the trail, along with misc food wrappers.

If you want this trail to stay open please pick up after it!









That is all... thank you :)