FOTR Work Day- A HUGE SUCCESS!!

[Rubicrawler]

Thanks to all that volunteered and pitched in to help! We had 60-65 individuals show up to work :D With your efforts we were able to repair 4 mud pits, block somewhere near 16 :eek: bypasses, cut and remove fallen trees in the trail and pick up a lot of trash. I need to mention a few people and groups that really stepped up to make this workday a success.

*Del Albright for helping me "visualize" the project and organize the event.

*Area Group Leaders:
-Brian Mix (Aggro) Alpha Group- standing water after Ellis
-Rusty Folena (twn44s) Baker Group- 1st mud pit after Ellis
-Todd Howe (Monkeyboy) Charlie Broup- bottom of Walker & Loon Lake Staging
-Motherlode Rockcrawlers- Delta Group- top of Walker

Other helpers:
-Steve Griffith (Binderfan2002) Loon Lake staging
-Matt (Rockslut) Gatekeeper Supe/Spotter
-Joel (Scout Dude) Gatekeeper Supe/Spotter
-Amanda Langford (RockGoddess) for taking pics and helping me layout the work sites Friday.

*Big Rich Klien (CalRocs)- he and his Jeep dragged more logs than I can count to block the bypasses!

A few clubs really stepped up to help out too. They are:

*Pirate's of the Rubicon- Mike & Kate Overmeyer (Maniac & Mrs Maniac) and family, Kevin Carey (UGETIT) and friends. Great work at the 1st Mud Pit.

*River City Rock Crawlers- they took time from there club run to stop, load there rigs with about a ton of rock, and distribute the rock at the work areas.

*Motherlode Rockcrawlers- 12 members showed up to take care of the work at the top of Walker! You guys really moved some rock!

*Joaquin Jeepers- 5 members worked the site at the top of Walker- The rock and bypasses looked great! Good work!

*Jeepers Jamboree- Dan Mainwaring, President: The JJ made a generous donation to FOTR to help out our cause!

All of the people that volunteered were working to KEEP YOUR TRAIL OPEN! If you know these people or meet them on the trail, please thank them for their efforts! They are truly “Friends of the Rubicon”!

In closing, I personally want to thank each and everyone that attended. The turn-out was fantastic. You guys and gals definitely GET IT! I would also challenge each of you to form a clean up or work party of your own. Kevin Carey (POR) said it best Saturday morning- it’s going to take more than the Pirate Clean-up to keep this trail open, we need to have several clean-up/work runs throughout the season. EVERY RUN SHOULD BE A CLEAN UP RUN!

See ya on the trail!

Mark


ps Pics to follow tonight!

[Monkeyboy]

Mark thanks for all the time and effort you and your family put into organizing this.

When are we going to make the next run?

[Brandon]

just thought I'd add Dan H did a great job of stopping at the water spots and pulling out the shovel to release some water. These were not the big spots but it made a noticable difference on our way back out! Such a simple thing to do too..

Oh yea, VERY impressive results!

[Monkeyboy]

I was wondering who did that.
I saw one trech that was dug out that must have been 15-20 ft long.

Originally posted by Brandon
just thought I'd add Dan H did a great job of stopping at the water spots and pulling out the shovel to release some water. These were not the big spots but it made a noticable difference on our way back out! Such a simple thing to do too..

Oh yea, VERY impressive results!

[Rubicrawler]

Originally posted by Brandon
just thought I'd add Dan H did a great job of stopping at the water spots and pulling out the shovel to release some water. These were not the big spots but it made a noticable difference on our way back out! Such a simple thing to do too..

Oh yea, VERY impressive results!

Brandon, thanks again for your clubs help! You guys are great! And, yes, the results were very impressive :)

[66CJdean]

I ended up getting up there at about 11pm Saturday night and saw how much you guys did and It was impressive. Good job to everyone who helped even if it was just a small part you all did a great job.

[H8monday]

I know Im only one guy, but I had a great time working with the POR crew, and representing the TIN:skull:BENDERS.
Everyone who planned this weekend, and made it happen has my respect, and I thank you.
Great job!

[Binderfan2002]

:beer: :beer: :beer: To all that hellped and Rubicrawler for Being one of the first to get it all started.

Steve

[Brandon]

Originally posted by Monkeyboy
I was wondering who did that.
I saw one trech that was dug out that must have been 15-20 ft long.



well he didn't do it all, the major sections were done by large groups and I don't know who to give credit, but we did stop at I think 3 other smaller pond places and dig them out. That big one was Brian Mix's project I think..

[Rubicrawler]

Originally posted by Brandon


well he didn't do it all, the major sections were done by large groups and I don't know who to give credit, but we did stop at I think 3 other smaller pond places and dig them out. That big one was Brian Mix's project I think..

Yep, that was Brian's site! He had some very hard workers working is some pretty nasty conditions. They did a great job!

[Rubicrawler]

As promissed, some pics of Saturday.

Alpha Group at Ellis Creek :)

[Rubicrawler]

:)

[Rubicrawler]

.

[Rubicrawler]

:)

[Rubicrawler]

Baker Group

[Rubicrawler]

:)

[Rubicrawler]

:eek:

[Rubicrawler]

Charlie Group @ the bottom of Walker

[Rubicrawler]

:)

[Rubicrawler]

:)

[Rubicrawler]

;)

[Rubicrawler]

Delta Group @ the top of Walker

[Rubicrawler]

:eek:

[Rubicrawler]

:)

[rockwrangler]

This was the most fun working WITHOUT PAY that I have ever done and I'll do this agian!!! :usa: Only in america
And special thanks to the motherlode rockcrawlers who i wheeled with after the work was over and on sunday and to Del and his Jeep song ( still haven't been able to get a hold of your mother to get the Del's greatest hits CD. :) :)

Del: hope to see you July 11th in Sac.
Jerry Sparkman

[rockwrangler]

Mark & Del
This is just an opinion but on our next work day maybe we should get some before photos and after shots. I saw a ( hug a tree site) that did some before and after photos on some of the outlaw stuff done at Moab! And it did make us look bad!! But mabe we could use this before and after shot, to show the there are alot of us that DO CARE :) :)
Jerry

[Belly Dragger]

:eek:

Damn you guys..... I hope the by-pass blocks stay. I was up there and saw a bunch of people going in. My activity didn't get done till much later than I expected otherwise I would have been getting dirty with you all.

:beer: :beer: :beer: Looks like excellent work.

[Monkeyboy]

Any way we can work on revegatation in some of these areas.
Any one have any pointers on how to kickstart the reguvination of the soil and foilage in some of the areas that might need it.

For instance maybe someplace where some old tire tracks might head on out someplace they shouldn't be.

Maybe later on in the season we can take two weekends in a row to really work some of the areas.

[Belly Dragger]

Originally posted by Monkeyboy
Any way we can work on revegatation in some of these areas.Careful.... ;) Definatley work with the FS on this. Not only would they possibly have a supply of seedlings (freebies) but will also be able to say what you can and can't plant. Bringing in an undesireable plant can be as bad as clear cutting. When we did reveg at mine sites it was always with the blessing of the FS or BLM and they specified what is to be planted. And again, you might be able to get a supply of seedlings for nothing.

[Rubicrawler]

Originally posted by Monkeyboy
Any way we can work on revegatation in some of these areas.
Any one have any pointers on how to kickstart the reguvination of the soil and foilage in some of the areas that might need it.

For instance maybe someplace where some old tire tracks might head on out someplace they shouldn't be.

Maybe later on in the season we can take two weekends in a row to really work some of the areas.

Todd- BD is right. We must work very closely with the FS on this. I called and left a voice mail for Rich Platt (USFS Pacific Ranger District Supervisor) yesterday to discuss this issue.

I'm also interested in reopening the road that bypasses the swamp area just beyond the bowl. You know, the area we stopped at on the way out Sunday.

There's no doubt that the work we did this weekend is a very good beginning, but there's a lot more we can do!

[Monkeyboy]

I wasn't thinking of going to Orchard Supply a to pick ip Junipers and roses with a life time warranty :flipoff2:

And believe me I don't want to plant 70,000 of the same tree like in the burned out section on icehouse road.

Yes working with the Forestry is what I had in mind.
I was also wondering if any of us had any prior expierience doing this sort of thing. Maybe one of you was in the CCC at one time or another.

[Rubicrawler]

Originally posted by Monkeyboy

I was also wondering if any of us had any prior expierience doing this sort of thing. Maybe one of you was in the CCC at one time or another.

I worked the FOTR Revegitation project on McKinney Road last year. The county or Water District provided the seads and a special starter fertilizer. They instructed us on how to dispurse the mix to get a good spread.

I'm with you on this one:) You want to run with it?

[Monkeyboy]

Yep lets run.

I was thinking alot of those area where people made bypasses around the mud holes will just get reused because no plants are growing in the areas.

With plants in these areas the ground will be more stable and less likely to erode into a bigger hole.
Also if the yahoos see plants they might be less willing to drive through.

Logs and rocks just look like obsatcles for some people.

[Binderfan2002]

I'm up for it. :D

[ScottyY2K]

I aslo had a blast and wanted to thank Mark for putting this effort together. It does clearly make a difference. Did I mention that I had a BLAST :) .

It was great to meet a bunch of JEEP people. One thing that one of the guys at Motherlode Rockcrawlers (Mike Mark or Tim - I can't remember who) thought that the rock-fill of these dried mud pits would be much more lasting if we laid a base of Geo-Tectile Fabric to help keep the soil stabilized and stop the rock from sinking when the trail gets wet again. Just something to ADD to the list for the next time.

I'd also like to thank the Motherlode Rockcrawlers for making me part of their crew and the warm welcome I received.

[rockwrangler]

I'm in when ever you guys want to do this type of project we will need to transport water to help start the new growth.
maybe in some 5 gal. buckets with lids would work.
There is also a type of watering system that uses a water gel that is placed near the plant base that will automaticly water the plant and can last up to 90 days . I work for a water district and we are doing some revegitation projects for riparian habitat and bank stabilization along our creeks that use this type of watering stake where water trucks or irrigation is not feisable.
If this sounds like it would work I can get some more information on the cost and use of this item and mabe FS or someone would spring for them. I would hate to install a bunch of vegitation just to have it die from lack of water.

[Weezer]

I had a great time helping out and it was good to finaly meet some of you guys in person. Let me know when the next work date is and I will be there.

[Jeepndel]

I think I'll start us a reveg ideas thread.

We WILL have to work with the feds on this one -- as well as the county. As soon as we have some data from them, we'll set up a work party. COOL. Thanks guys.
Del