The Loss of a Friend

[Black01taco]

Originally Posted by atvobsession

Notice the large branch that broke decades ago, that likely was a counter-balance to the lean.


Rubicon - Little Sluice Tree - 92 year transition - YouTube

That a cool vid. thanks for posting..

[atvobsession]

Originally Posted by Black01taco

That a cool vid. thanks for posting..

You're welcome. Would putting it to Kansas, Dust in the wind been over the top?

[4x49er]

See Peg Presba's Book "Jeepers Jamboree Book II, pages 34,35,37 for some real old time shots of the Juniper when the little sluice was fun to run... Maybe someone can post

I bet that JJ still have the signs in storage somewhere. the Juniper could be replaced by a Steel pole with the signs restored and the AAA Tow Phone from the big sluice added... the Sierra club couldn't find anything wrong with that...Right?

[surpip]

Any thoughts to re-planting it?

[snowmog]

Sorry, I can't understand why the tree needs to be cut up at all. I've only been by the area twice, mainly come in to the Springs from Tahoe, but looking at the various pictures posted it's a fat tree now lying on granite slab.

RTF owns two Unimogs which are by definition "tractors". Combined they could skid the tree off the trail, up the slab and preserve it as a whole instead of wood chips. May have to swing it trunk first, but the tree would remain whole for all to enjoy.

I have skidded sizeable trees with my Unimog and this doesn't look too big for a pair of Mogs to move. Maybe I'm mad, but it has to be worth the effort for such a beloved tree?

[atvobsession]

Originally Posted by surpip

Any thoughts to re-planting it?

I don't know know exactly if you're thinking the same thing, but we did talk to an arborist, and he said that species doesn't do well re-growing from cuttings. But they were going to grow from seeds from cones...but alas...there are no cones on it.

[Curly]

Originally Posted by 4x49er

See Peg Presba's Book "Jeepers Jamboree Book II, pages 34,35,37 for some real old time shots of the Juniper when the little sluice was fun to run... Maybe someone can post

I bet that JJ still have the signs in storage somewhere. the Juniper could be replaced by a Steel pole with the signs restored and the AAA Tow Phone from the big sluice added... the Sierra club couldn't find anything wrong with that...Right?

These are from Book one Thanks to Stainless Steal Dave.

[Atv'er]

Those are great pictures. Thanks for posting them up.

[resqme]

Originally Posted by snowmog

I have skidded sizeable trees with my Unimog and this doesn't look too big for a pair of Mogs to move. Maybe I'm mad, but it has to be worth the effort for such a beloved tree?

I think it's too big to move. It's more than 6 feet around at the base. I don't know how to estimate its weight, but it's huge.

[WLDWUN]

Originally Posted by resqme

I think it's too big to move. It's more than 6 feet around at the base. I don't know how to estimate its weight, but it's huge.

I would agree you wont move it by dragging it, and if you do, and you will be moving a bunch of rocks along the way.

figure 50+ pounds per cubic foot for it being green. if it is over 5 foot at the base....a 1 foot slice would weigh over 1000 pounds

[atvobsession]

It's massive on the ground....

Scott and I went to visit the old man on Sunday....You can skip to 5:26 in the video if you wanna just see the tree.

Rubicon on Tracks - YouTube

[atvobsession]

Scott and I broke trail...On snow tracks, it took us 4 hours to get to the tree...3 hours to go back. Long day.

It's massive on the ground.


The force of impact, broke a main branch. Question though? Did it make a sound, since no one was there?


It's amazing when you see it, how did it grow there. And the roots were tiny.


Just to give you scale.

[snowmog]

Originally Posted by resqme

I think it's too big to move. It's more than 6 feet around at the base. I don't know how to estimate its weight, but it's huge.

Granted it's a big tree, but I feel it would be worth the effort. You're going to be there with saws anyway. A properly equipt Mog can tow a 200 ton 747 Jumbo. My 406 weighs 8000lbs and with the pull being on clean granite slab, the traction would be optimal. I doubt Jeeps would have the down force to get enough traction but with Mogs it's at least possible.

[randii]

Originally Posted by snowmog

Granted it's a big tree, but I feel it would be worth the effort. You're going to be there with saws anyway. A properly equipt Mog can tow a 200 ton 747 Jumbo. My 406 weighs 8000lbs and with the pull being on clean granite slab, the traction would be optimal. I doubt Jeeps would have the down force to get enough traction but with Mogs it's at least possible.

Your 406 is the little brother to RTF's 416 poo truck, but you've probably got better gearing.

Strange family, where siblings this damn big can be the 'little guy!'

Randii

[WLDWUN]

Originally Posted by snowmog

A properly equipt Mog can tow a 200 ton 747 Jumbo. My 406 weighs 8000lbs and with the pull being on clean granite slab, the traction would be optimal.

Dont know if you looked but this thing doesnt have wheels on it and isnt on a flat runway

Even if it could be moved, all that would do it put it in a place where people still will cut it up for campfire wood, so I dont see the point.

[crashnzuk]

As stated before, you couldn't skid it without seriously damaging the trail.
Travis..

[tallgaier]

Moving it IMHO is an accident waiting to happen.

[Bebe]

What if the County and RTF used some fundage to hire an Air Crane?

[Disco]

Originally Posted by Bebe

What if the County and RTF used some fundage to hire an Air Crane?

They will be using an Air Crane to move rocks to different sections of the trail in the next couple of months, possibly May.

[fermentor]

Originally Posted by Disco

They will be using an Air Crane to move rocks to different sections of the trail in the next couple of months, possibly May.

Gots to think someone will be getting it out of the way, or at least it will get humped, if left there until the county starts maintenance.

[atvobsession]

Originally Posted by Disco

They will be using an Air Crane to move rocks to different sections of the trail in the next couple of months, possibly May.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Somehow get our..what? $459,000 worth?

[randii]

Originally Posted by Bebe

What if the County and RTF used some fundage to hire an Air Crane?

An Erickson Air-Crane S-64 (I'll always think of 'em as Sikorsky Sky Cranes or Super Stallions) originally did 10 tons worth of lift, and IIRC, subsequent models have bumped that up by 20-25%... but all of those stats are measured at sea level. Higher elevations lead to thinner air, which down-rates lifting capability... dunno how much load an Air-Crane could sling, but it would definitely require cutting up the tree.

Costs are stratospheric for heavy-lift helos... upwards of $25K/day to keep 'em on standby, and a quarter of that per hour of flight time. Rotorcraft is anything but cheap, so I hope that Rubicon Trail Foundation doesn't spring for that!

Randii

[Kurtuleas]

We could always just leave it there.

Take it high to the left.... could be a fun obstacle.


Just sayin...

[Bebe]

Originally Posted by Disco

They will be using an Air Crane to move rocks to different sections of the trail in the next couple of months, possibly May.

Like

Originally Posted by atvobsession

That's exactly what I was thinking. Somehow get our..what? $459,000 worth?

Like

[R290]

Low in the Tahoe is 45 tonight. I'm thinking a week or so we can get a better idea as the snow will melt. I would like to see made into something that can generate money for the RTF. I don't think anybody is going to burn it. It is still green.