Gatekeeper Bypass

[nasvik]

Just read on Gen4x4 that Gatekeeper has been bypassed again. Anyone able to take care of it? I won't be on trail for a few weeks or I'd do it myself...

Sooner the better. Who can run it?

Paul

[jdjanda]

I don't think bypassed is the word for it. How about freeway.

[Aggro]

Gatekeeper got highly paved during jamboree weekend, ie I watched two stock chevy's go thru with minimal problems. There is an actual by pass originating, I believe at the rocks stacked before the gatekeeper on the left side. Nearly all the shrubery is gone and it tees back into the trail immediately following gatekeeper. There used to be trees across the area (it has been closed in the past, maybe multiple times) the trees have been moved. We need to import BIG trees or roll some rocks to the area.

[Rubicrawler]

I think Kevin (UGet It) is in charge of the POR clean up this year. Maybe he could add the Gatekeeper to the list of areas that need attention.

[Toyaholic]

personally i think this should be addressed prior to the end of the 'season.'

[Rubicrawler]

Originally posted by Toyaholic
personally i think this should be addressed prior to the end of the 'season.'

I don't disagree but it's going to take several workers with heavy tools to do the job right.

[Toyaholic]

I agree that we will need several peeps and equipment to do this, but with the support of this board and FOTR, I think we can definately do it before the end of AUGUST! This should be taken care of before labor day, think of all the yahoo's in their stock grocery getters, that's JUST what we need. We could easily do this in half a day if we have enough helpers. Also, if this was in fact 'paved' by JJ, then maybe Mark Smith & Company could help unpaving it.

I personally would also like to see a 'clean up' following labor day weekend. I'm not discounting POR's cleanup at all, and no disrespect is meant, but the con WILL be heavily used & abused on labor day and we don't want the enviro's to think we are just 'leaving' it there. Also, ever try picking up crap and/or trash in the rain or snow? Just some food for thought.
Scott

[jdjanda]

To repair the GK bypass successfully is going to require revegetaion. Anything less and people will rip it out. Would be nice to plant some fair sized trees along the edge. Don't know just seems people are less likely to tear up vegetation verse trees and boulders.

Joe

[nasvik]

I put a call out on the board last June with 5 days notice and got 25 people there to help. Spent an hour moving large rocks and trees. That blockade held at least until I was up there last. This can't be that complicated....

If people have a trip planned, please take an hour or so out of your day to do what you can to block this bypass. Post when you're going and I'm sure others will be there.

Sadly, I think you'll have to post it in Gen4x4 as the traffic here doesn't seem to generate the help you'll need.

Paul

[Aggro]

Originally posted by jdjanda
To repair the GK bypass successfully is going to require revegetaion. Anything less and people will rip it out. Would be nice to plant some fair sized trees along the edge. Don't know just seems people are less likely to tear up vegetation verse trees and boulders.

Joe

Joe, Actually I disagree and think just the opposite. The area used for a bypass was "only" vegitation. I think this area being accessable to so many people needs to be IMPASSABLE for a blockade to work for any amount of time. All kinds of 4 wheelers can get to and try to bypass the gatekeeper since it is at a beginning of the trail. I'm sure in their minds, if they can just get past this "rough" section they can get on the "rubicon". I think if there is any passable area in that vicinity that "only" has brush on it, it will be a likely bypass. If we can't make it impassable we need to inundate the bypassable ares with stumps and branches and misc to make it harder to just go around.

[Rubicrawler]

I'm sure many of you remember that there used to be several tree's where the bypass is now. First, dirt bikes cut the corner through the trees. Then a couple of years ago, some a$$hole cut the trees out and the bypass was born. There are a couple of very large bolders on the trail just before the Gatekeeper that, if winched into place, would stop all but the most extreme rigs.

[randii]

The area used for a bypass was "only" vegitation. I think this area being accessable to so many people needs to be IMPASSABLE for a blockade to work for any amount of time.
Agreed.

The 'Gatekeeper' is a trail filter. If we can't keep people on the trail there, they won't stay on the trail later. If vehicles can't make the obstacle, they need to turn back.

...we just need to give a little help to keep them on the path THROUGH the obstacle.

We need a good block, enough to stop most rigs on 33s. The better-built folks aren't going to bypass, anyway -- driving through the notch is simple. I've seen some of the been-wheeling-forever flatfender folks putt through it on 30-inch tires, open/open.

Randii

[randii]

... and I'll go a step further. I think we need to find ways to *harden* the blockades. We spend time every year (some places, multiple times each year) blocking the same spots -- I'd rather work twice as hard one year to make a permanent barricade than keep fighting a losing battle.
Some ideas:
*re-bar driven through felled tree-trunks and drilled/driven into the underlying ground.
* cable wound tightly around felled trees to keep them together clamps, too, obviously -- mebbe ECV would donate? :p
* cement around the base of large boulders to keep them in place.
We've had little long-term success just stacking up stuff -- I suggest we weld, chain, cable, strap, or otherwise tie it together.

This obstacle is close enough to the road that we can get heavy equipment to it (heck, if we worked through channels, I bet we could make use of the front-end loader that sits at the Loon Lake utility house). Large rocks abound -- the spillway was cut into solid rock, right?

Let's do this -- but there's no sense repreating our efforts every year, and watching the trail get beat up before we can fix it yet again.

Randii

[nasvik]

So Randii..... why don't you put a call into the Forest Service or whoever owns that section of land and see what they say about it?

Paul

[randii]

So Randii..... why don't you put a call into the Forest Service or whoever owns that section of land and see what they say about it?
No time, Paul -- I'm absolutely wrapped up in Sierra Trek for this weekend, and doing posters, petitions, and signs to make damn sure that everyone who'd at the event understands what Boxer is trying to sneak past us all, and how that affects Nevada County...and how **it runs downhill from there, through the Nevada Board of Supervisors, and right to eventual closure of the Fordyce Trail. If anyone has not yet signed the petitions: http://www.petitiononline.com/NOonBOXR/petition.html and http://www.petitiononline.com/boxer/petition.html

I *may* be able to manage this next week, but I'd prefer to support someone else in this capacity. That 'other' website tends to gobble up all my spare waking hours...

Randii

[e cliff]

now who is the one (group or otherwise ) that is responsible for the filling in of gate keeper???? and how do they have the power to do major redoing of the trail??? and i would also agree that a more permanint solution is whats needed. a few years ago the group of guys i was with, blocked the trail with a large boulder, and it was there for a long time. and wasn't there some of the "no OHV" markers there???


cliff

[Rokmycj]

So is anyone going up there this weekend to work on the bypass? I am available to provide a winch and an extra hand on Saturday. There will probably be lots of traffic on that day though due to SOR. Let me know if somethings happening.
Joe

[Jeepndel]

It has been suggested that the GateKeeper area needs a thorough blockade built to stop illegal bypasses around this obstacle. Folks seem to be wandering off/up into the bushes and making trails where we don't want them.

This would be more of a BIG ROCK blockade/barricade or at least some big logs and maybe even a sign or two (carsonite?)

Here's the deal in my opinion:

1. We should get on it NOW (soon).
2. Someone needs to step up, take over as Project Leader (Incident Commander like Mark Langford did for the 6/29 cleanup).
I'll help get it organized and set up and coordinated. But we need a lead hook to be in charge and PICK A DAY.
3. I'll help get volunteers there ONCE the guy in #2 picks a day.
4. We need to coordinate by mouth (phone, no email for him) with Dana Holland who's club has that end of the trail for adopt a trail stuff and Gatekeeper handout duties.
5. We also need to determine if that's Mark Smith's property or Mike Mason or some other private landowner? I'll do that right off the bat.

So there we go.....whos' up?
Del

[SeanP]

Originally posted by Rubicrawler
There are a couple of very large bolders on the trail just before the Gatekeeper that, if winched into place, would stop all but the most extreme rigs.

I would agree with this. Those rocks only need to be moved about 50 yards. Some winchers and some big pry rods will help. I am sorry to say that I am in a wedding on th 17th, otherwise you can count on me for some help. My Bday is the 24th and I am up for a workweekend/party that day if the day changes.

SeanP

[briand]

Here is another option. Find someone up there who has access to a large front end loader or some other type of large machine that can move some of those huge rocks up there. Something that knowone can move.

I don't personally know of anyone but I'm sure someone must have a friend who has one or access to one.

Just a thought.

[MellowYellow]

I might be a little naive, but here goes…

I was at a clean up a few years ago and we were working on the gatekeeper. A couple of dirt bikes went right by the “no OHV” markers. Those little markers and some rocks didn’t work. (not blaming bikers...I are one;))

What about a big sign that says:

Welcome to the Rubicon
This is the GATEKEEPER.
If vehicles can't make the obstacle, they need to turn back.
This is the first of many difficult obstacles on the trail. Any use of illegal bypasses will result in $5000 fine and community service maintaining this and other trails

Anyone seen tampering with this sign will be subject to a $10,000 fine, jail time, community service and severe heckling from the 4 wheeling community. :D

As long as the sign is there, it will at least keep out the honest, out for the weekend in our stick Jeep crowd.

Is this too optimistic?

P.S. My club and I will be up there in early September. I will do what I can to block bypasses on the way.

[Dan-H]

seems someone "over there" has thoughts but is afraid to jump in and express them.

http://jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=301184

[Homer]

http://jeepsunlimited.com/forums/sh...threadid=301184

If you all are going to be taken to task, you should at least know about it.....

Edit... "whoops"

[Homer]

"Rubicon Friend" must have gotten scared and deleted his post, because it has disappeared......

[Dan-H]

the thread didn't last long there...

a troll hiding behind a newly created user on JU took some choice phrases from this thread out of context to start a new flame bait thread with whatever personal agenda he might have had.

I invited him to come here but he said he was banned from the board. Not surprising.