We have a small group(10) of K5's going to the Rubicon the weekend of Sept 20-22. And I have a few question for you Rubicon Gods.

I heard of a place in the Wentworth springs area that we would be able to pay a fee to park our tow rigs. Is it a secure location to leave the vehicles for 2 nights? And does it have a large enough parking capacity for a Semi with flatbed?

There will be 2 groups coming in on this. The first group will arrrive Friday afternoon and plan on starting in Wentworth and stopping at the Loon Lake intersection where we will meet the second group that will arrive on Saturday morning. Is there a camping spot at that intersection or is it just basically camp where you fit? And what would be a good place to set up camp on Saturday night?

Now once we get through the entire trail and end up at Lake Tahoe, what is the quickest and easiest way to get back to the tow rigs in Wentworth?

Are campfires still not allowed? If they are were do we get the permits for them? And where do we get the permits for the propane stoves?

And lastly, does anyone have any good pointers or recommendations to make our first trip to the Rubicon a success?

Thanks for all your help.

Originally posted by Esteban86K5
There will be 2 groups coming in on this. The first group will arrrive Friday afternoon and plan on starting in Wentworth and stopping at the Loon Lake intersection where we will meet the second group that will arrive on Saturday morning. Is there a camping spot at that intersection or is it just basically camp where you fit? And what would be a good place to set up camp on Saturday night?

It'll be a tight fit, we had 6 rigs at Ellis and we all fit.

Originally posted by Esteban86K5
Now once we get through the entire trail and end up at Lake Tahoe, what is the quickest and easiest way to get back to the tow rigs in Wentworth?

There's not, if you are planning on leaving your tow rigs leave them somewhere before you head up Ice-house. Hard to explain but there is some considerable distance between start and finish.

Originally posted by Esteban86K5
Are campfires still not allowed? If they are were do we get the permits for them? And where do we get the permits for the propane stoves?

Absolutly no campfires, with the recent heat wave any fires may not be allowed, so find a ranger and ask.

So I'm Assuming that "Ellis" is the area where the Loon Lake and Wentworth trails meet up? I don't think there will be 10 trucks camping there, but further up the trail there will be. Any Ideas on that?

You mentioned parking the tow rigs before heading up Ice-house. Would that be in Georgetown? Any particular place?

And is there a Ranger station to get permits for the propane stoves near there?

Esteban,
1st, you have tow rigs for your K5's? Impressive. I hope they're hard core as the trail will mulch stock GM P.U./Blazer sheet metal. If you are running stock sheet metal, at least remove the doors and mirrors before the trail.
I've always parked my towrig/trailer below the dam at loon lake. There is enough room for maybe 10-12 towrigs. If you are worried about security, get a hack proof cable lock and tie your trailer wheels together (this is what I've resorted to) and place all the towrigs tightly together (kind of a modern day circling of the wagons) so nothing will move without the keys.About a quarter mile in on the trail is a fine camp site to the left of the main trail, just before the "Gatekeeper".
In the past, I've also left the towrig/trailer at the junction of '50' and IceHouse Rd. There is a parking area on the NW side of the intersection. I really don't know how secure it is, but I've used it before. It's still a 45 min. drive from there to the trailhead, but you have that much less on the return trip from the Tahoe side.
It's about a 1-1/2 hour trip (or more) back from the end of the trail at Homewood back to Loon. I take the 'shortcut' taking the Wrights Lake Rd. (route 4, turns into route 32) north off of '50'. This saves a lot of dropping down and doubling back on the return trip.
regards, as always, jefe

Originally posted by Esteban86K5
So I'm Assuming that "Ellis" is the area where the Loon Lake and Wentworth trails meet up? I don't think there will be 10 trucks camping there, but further up the trail there will be. Any Ideas on that?


The camping area at the junction can certainly accommodate 10 rigs. It depends though how many people may already be camping there.

If you are going further up the trail, you may as well camp at Spider. Plenty of room for everybody!

On a side note... I'd have to say if you have never been to the Con and you really want to experience the "Trail", I'd run from the entrance at Loon. You get to hit the gate keeper, alligator pit, granite bowl... This is some of the most enjoyable trail IMO and you'd be missing it.

Josh,

I thought that by entering at Wentworth, I was going to do the entire trail. I thought that Loon lake was the entrance further down the trail. Am I wrong here? I have read a lot about thr con and I may just have things mixed up.


Jefe,

Well a couple of the guys that we go with put their rigs on a Semi for the longer road trips like this. It saves them wear and tear on the trucks. But most of the rest of us just drive it there. The Semi is the one they are really worried about. Do the 2 areas to park the tow rigs that you mentioned have a lot of traffic? or are they both secluded? I know I saw someone post on this board about a parking lot that you can pay $5 a day to park and was semi-secure. Does anyone know where that may be?

Originally posted by Esteban86K5
know I saw someone post on this board about a parking lot that you can pay $5 a day to park and was semi-secure. Does anyone know where that may be?

Sounds like Ice House Resort. It's about 11 miles up the road from Hwy 50. (530) 293-3321

Paul

This may not be much help but a group of us from Idaho just returned from a week down there. Ran Fordyce last Sunday, Rubicon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and My wife and I stayed and ran most of Barrett Lake on Friday. All I can say is the place lived up to it's reputation. What a great week. As far as parking goes we stayed at Airport Flats campground when we ran the con. I'ts on Icehouse about 2 miles past the Loon Lake turnoff. We had LARGE motorhomes and trailers and got in fine. If you're semi doesn't fit there's a lot across the highway and across a bridge that I know is big enough. No security anywhere I saw.
One thing I'd do different next time (and there will be a next time) is go in from Georgetown to Icehouse road. I don't know where you're coming from but from Tahoe to Icehouse and going up Icehouse is a SERIOUS pull with a big rig. Just my 2 cents worth.

They had their tow rig at Blazer Fest in Holister. It's a lowboy not a flatbed and with only 15,000 load on it, it'll pull the hills like it was empty. That rig normaly moves heavy equipment at it's "day job". :rolleyes: