Ellis Creek shortcut >? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

DaveWFO · 07-02-2003, 11:54 AM

Hey guys

Does anyone know the turnoff for Ellis Creek shortcut off Ice House ? I wanted to take the shortcut if possible to miss some of the traffic this weekend going around gatekeeper . I understand if you don't turn to go to loon, you keep going up but how far is the turn off and what are the condtions like on the trail. ( i.e ) is there any sketchy sections at all. Not saying Gatekeeper is sketchy, just don't want to be sitting in traffic if all possible.

Thx
Dave

RCKRATZ · 07-02-2003, 12:19 PM

Are you talking about Wentworth or mccinstry (Sp?)

DaveWFO · 07-02-2003, 01:07 PM

I don't know exactly what entrance it is. Its right before the new section if you are coming from the Box by Ellis Creek and you go throu some place you can camp on your right or something and its a trail that is pretty mellow, but dusty from what I understand ? and pops out on ice house after. I want to say its not Wentworth springs entrance and say maybe mccinstry trail ???? Sound familer ?

thx
Dave

RCKRATZ · 07-02-2003, 01:28 PM

McKinstry comes out at Ellis.

Found these from Del a while back

"to get there from icehouse, go up almost to Loon, and stay left (straight) where the road forks to the right to go the last 5 miles or so to Loon. I think the sign says Gerle Creek and something else.

You go past the Gerle Creek and Airport Flat campgrounds and the pavement peters out. You'll see USFS signs that lead you to a lookout (Bunker Hill) and McKinstry lake.

get a USFS map on your way up.
Also try mytopo.com or MapQuest.

This is the back way into the Rubicon. It comes out at Ellis Creek (which is the top of the bowl or slabs you might say). Right before Walker Hill. "

DaveWFO · 07-02-2003, 09:41 PM

Would anyone be going in this was on friday about 12 pm ish give or take a few hours ? I would want to say it will cut off atleast 2 hours of the traffic jam at Gatekeeper with all the rookies. I heard there is a couple of turn offs on the fire road that you have to take and I don't want to get lost

Dave

ledjer · 07-09-2003, 01:21 PM

There are 4 different routes that I'm aware of getting to the slabs.

Gate Keeper - The one you want to avoid

The lower trail - This one you just follow the trail

McKinstry Lake Trail - Very smooth until you get to the slabs

Wentworth Springs Trail - Loads of fun

Jeepndel · 07-12-2003, 06:48 AM

ledjer,
the Gatekeeper entrance (rookie filter as some call it) IS the trail. the actual County road, Rubicon Trail.

The lower trail you refer to, is not a legal trail, but rather a user created, temporary trail that will soon be closed off. It's on private property.

McKinstry is a nice way in if you can find it, but misses all the fun of the slabs (bowl).

Wentworth is historically also part of the trail.
Del
see the Rubicon Home Page for more.
www.delalbright.com/

DaveWFO · 07-12-2003, 10:13 AM

Thanks for the info, Actually took gatekeeper and there wasn't anyone in the way

which was nice, must of just gotten lucky when we came through.

Dave

Rockcrusher · 07-12-2003, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeepndel
. . . the Gatekeeper entrance (rookie filter as some call it) IS the trail. the actual County road, Rubicon Trail . . . Del

I beg to differ with you. The Loon Lake entrance, including the Gatekeeper, is a bypass. It may, in fact, now be designated as the "actual County road" but it is not the original Rubicon Trail.

I would suggest you research the history of the Rubicon instead of rewriting it.

For your edification, I have attached a general depiction of that portion of the original trail from Wentworth to Spider including the Loon Lake bypass.

cruzila · 07-12-2003, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rockcrusher

I beg to differ with you. The Loon Lake entrance, including the Gatekeeper, is a bypass. It may, in fact, now be designated as the "actual County road" but it is not the original Rubicon Trail.

I would suggest you research the history of the Rubicon instead of rewriting it.

You are both correct here. The original trail (Del knows) is the Wentworth Road. The "Common" access point is/was the Loon bypass. It is either now or will be soon the other "official" entrance to the trail.

Scott

randii · 07-12-2003, 04:26 PM

Rockcrusher, you have a point... Del oversimplified, a bit, and from discussing it with him in the past, I know that he knows that the 'unmaintained county road' runs through Wentworth and across Ellis Creek.

You make your point with such animosity, though... What's up?

If you want to play 'My maps's better than your map,' I'll play -- check the press release at: http://www.4x4wire.com/access/news/f...0_02/index.htm
That article was accurate as of 10/2002, and was fact-checked through FOTR, foresty, and the jambo folks.

The bigger issue might be to identify what's eating you and resolve it. You clearly have a good understanding of the history of the trail, and I think that experience would make a great addition to the Friends of the Rubion team... but you're lobbing in grenades from the outside. What can we do to get you to work with us?

Randii

twn44s · 07-13-2003, 06:55 AM

Rockcrusher- To use a line from your website"To counter this threat we must unite"
Like Randy says what is eating at you? We all are civillized here for the most part. I encourge you to join FOTR or at least show up to a work party and see what it is all about we are allways looking for more help.
Rusty

07-02-2003, 11:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
DaveWFO Rock God Join Date: Feb 2001 Member # 3229 Location: El Dorado, Ca Posts: 1,013	Ellis Creek shortcut >? Hey guys Does anyone know the turnoff for Ellis Creek shortcut off Ice House ? I wanted to take the shortcut if possible to miss some of the traffic this weekend going around gatekeeper . I understand if you don't turn to go to loon, you keep going up but how far is the turn off and what are the condtions like on the trail. ( i.e ) is there any sketchy sections at all. Not saying Gatekeeper is sketchy, just don't want to be sitting in traffic if all possible. Thx Dave __________________ 85 Runner, CanBack, Trail Ready Beadlocks, Marlin 4.7, Inchworm doubler, 37 MTR's Warn 8000i, Deroit , E Locker, 44044's front, Chevys in the rear. 30 spline Longs.

07-02-2003, 12:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
RCKRATZ Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Member # 2485 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Posts: 2,964	Are you talking about Wentworth or mccinstry (Sp?) __________________ Keith Ratzburg aka "El Rolo" Friends of Fordyce-Director

07-02-2003, 01:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
DaveWFO Rock God Join Date: Feb 2001 Member # 3229 Location: El Dorado, Ca Posts: 1,013	I don't know exactly what entrance it is. Its right before the new section if you are coming from the Box by Ellis Creek and you go throu some place you can camp on your right or something and its a trail that is pretty mellow, but dusty from what I understand ? and pops out on ice house after. I want to say its not Wentworth springs entrance and say maybe mccinstry trail ???? Sound familer ? thx Dave __________________ 85 Runner, CanBack, Trail Ready Beadlocks, Marlin 4.7, Inchworm doubler, 37 MTR's Warn 8000i, Deroit , E Locker, 44044's front, Chevys in the rear. 30 spline Longs.

07-02-2003, 01:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
RCKRATZ Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Member # 2485 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Posts: 2,964	McKinstry comes out at Ellis. Found these from Del a while back "to get there from icehouse, go up almost to Loon, and stay left (straight) where the road forks to the right to go the last 5 miles or so to Loon. I think the sign says Gerle Creek and something else. You go past the Gerle Creek and Airport Flat campgrounds and the pavement peters out. You'll see USFS signs that lead you to a lookout (Bunker Hill) and McKinstry lake. get a USFS map on your way up. Also try mytopo.com or MapQuest. This is the back way into the Rubicon. It comes out at Ellis Creek (which is the top of the bowl or slabs you might say). Right before Walker Hill. " __________________ Keith Ratzburg aka "El Rolo" Friends of Fordyce-Director

07-02-2003, 09:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
DaveWFO Rock God Join Date: Feb 2001 Member # 3229 Location: El Dorado, Ca Posts: 1,013	Would anyone be going in this was on friday about 12 pm ish give or take a few hours ? I would want to say it will cut off atleast 2 hours of the traffic jam at Gatekeeper with all the rookies. I heard there is a couple of turn offs on the fire road that you have to take and I don't want to get lost Dave __________________ 85 Runner, CanBack, Trail Ready Beadlocks, Marlin 4.7, Inchworm doubler, 37 MTR's Warn 8000i, Deroit , E Locker, 44044's front, Chevys in the rear. 30 spline Longs.

07-09-2003, 01:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
ledjer Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Member # 1614 Location: San Ramon, CA USA Posts: 202	Different Routes There are 4 different routes that I'm aware of getting to the slabs. Gate Keeper - The one you want to avoid The lower trail - This one you just follow the trail McKinstry Lake Trail - Very smooth until you get to the slabs Wentworth Springs Trail - Loads of fun __________________ Jerry -(o\|\|\|\|\|\|\|o)- 1982 Scrambler, 258 I-6, Howell EFI, TFI Ignition, and NP435. Waggy Dana 44 Front, Scout II Dana 44 Rear, Detroits F&R, 4.10 gears, SOA with JC Whitney 7 Leafs and Warn 8274 winch. Scramblers get more tail!

07-12-2003, 06:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jeepndel Land Use Zeus Join Date: Apr 2001 Member # 3982 Location: Mokelumne Hill, CA, USA Posts: 2,584	ledjer, the Gatekeeper entrance (rookie filter as some call it) IS the trail. the actual County road, Rubicon Trail. The lower trail you refer to, is not a legal trail, but rather a user created, temporary trail that will soon be closed off. It's on private property. McKinstry is a nice way in if you can find it, but misses all the fun of the slabs (bowl). Wentworth is historically also part of the trail. Del see the Rubicon Home Page for more. www.delalbright.com/ __________________ Del Albright BlueRibbon Coalition Ambassador Co-Founder, Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) Building an Access Army to Fight Back -- SOLDIER UP Follow the Trail Tours TAPT

07-12-2003, 10:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
DaveWFO Rock God Join Date: Feb 2001 Member # 3229 Location: El Dorado, Ca Posts: 1,013	Thanks for the info, Actually took gatekeeper and there wasn't anyone in the way which was nice, must of just gotten lucky when we came through. Dave __________________ 85 Runner, CanBack, Trail Ready Beadlocks, Marlin 4.7, Inchworm doubler, 37 MTR's Warn 8000i, Deroit , E Locker, 44044's front, Chevys in the rear. 30 spline Longs.

07-12-2003, 04:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
randii Pirate4x4 Addict! Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 347 Location: Fair Oaks, CA Posts: 10,082	Rockcrusher, you have a point... Del oversimplified, a bit, and from discussing it with him in the past, I know that he knows that the 'unmaintained county road' runs through Wentworth and across Ellis Creek. You make your point with such animosity, though... What's up? If you want to play 'My maps's better than your map,' I'll play -- check the press release at: http://www.4x4wire.com/access/news/f...0_02/index.htm That article was accurate as of 10/2002, and was fact-checked through FOTR, foresty, and the jambo folks. The bigger issue might be to identify what's eating you and resolve it. You clearly have a good understanding of the history of the trail, and I think that experience would make a great addition to the Friends of the Rubion team... but you're lobbing in grenades from the outside. What can we do to get you to work with us? Randii __________________ *Pack it ALL* out... you pick up after your dog, so clean up after YOU, too. - VIRTUAL RALLY for the HAMMER TRAILS in JOHNSON VALLEY Post 1349 - VIRTUAL RALLY for TELLICO Post 716 and Post 924 - KOH Pledge Drive:** for 4405 KOH Pledge #4

07-13-2003, 06:55 AM	#12 (permalink)
twn44s Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Member # 3417 Location: Plymouth, CA USA Posts: 1,044	Rockcrusher- To use a line from your website"To counter this threat we must unite" Like Randy says what is eating at you? We all are civillized here for the most part. I encourge you to join FOTR or at least show up to a work party and see what it is all about we are allways looking for more help. Rusty __________________ Rubicon Trail Foundation Friends Of the Rubicon "I believe that forgiving them is Gods function.Our job is simply to arrange the meeting" General Norman Schwartzkof

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