nottalotta

[rubijohn]

was planning a mid Nov. ride on the trail. I've never been and was wondering what the conditions are like this time of year. thanks

[jtraver]

go now...go tomorrow...I hat wheeling by myself

[Backncardr]

Originally Posted by rubijohn

was planning a mid Nov. ride on the trail. I've never been and was wondering what the conditions are like this time of year. thanks

This pic is from Nov. 9, 2002 and one I frequently use on PBB to send home that this time of year is a crap shoot on the Rubicon Trail AND do not wheel by yerself. I won't go into all the details-but both groups got caught with our pants down. We got out only due to the dependable Warn winch 8974 that winched out both Landcruisers in tandem up the slabs.

[randii]

And just to add some weight to Backncardr's EXCELLENT picture -- I was out late season on a USFS work project. We started spreading hay early in the morning, and stopped for lunch... as we finished lunch, it started snowing, so we started rushing to finish. Good thing, because it dumped heavily in the next hour, and it was a crap-shoot getting the whole work crew off the slab, with about 4-6" of snow.

Randii

[jtraver]

we just got back from a day run and the weather was great maybe 50 degrees. only about a dozen rigs on the trail made for a quickie out to the box for lunch and back out. hope the weather holds up I wannna go again before it snows

[resqme]

Looking out my window, the Crystal Range has snow sticking on it for the first time this year. I would gauge the snow level to be about 8000', so it wouldn't affect the trail.

Pay attention to these wise people...mountain weather can change dramatically at any time of the year, and in November that means snow. Because the trail is on the west side of the Sierra range, that also means high water content in the precipitation, so that means when it rains, it pours (and when it snows, it is either slimy and difficult to drive in, or it comes down in quantity).

[RDUB29]

Originally Posted by Backncardr

This pic is from Nov. 9, 2002 and one I frequently use on PBB to send home that this time of year is a crap shoot on the Rubicon Trail AND do not wheel by yerself. I won't go into all the details-but both groups got caught with our pants down. We got out only due to the dependable Warn winch 8974 that winched out both Landcruisers in tandem up the slabs.

HOLY COW!! I'd been half estatic. half terrified. To the OP Listen to these ppl, this may not be the best time for a virgin trip. But if you do go prepared.

PS I stole the pic for my desktop, besides the knuckleheads I work w/ wont be able to tell my CJ from the FJ anyway.

[Backncardr]

I am going to enclose three more pics from that same expedition. It started out as a clear day and we got as far as Little Sluice and the snow began coming down light at first. So we had a pow-wow. The more experienced feller wanted to push on to the Tahoe side-nope nothing doing. We turned around and headed back to Loon and a struggle it was since the night came upon us during that time as shown in the first pic. You can barely make out a vestige of dusk through the trees in the background.

We got as far as the base of the slabs at night and no way we were going up during the storm=it was coming down like crazy. So we camped with tents at the bottom. Our tent collapsed during the night from snow load plus the wind was howling and snow going sideways. Other two fellers had a dome tent and got through the night ok. The second pic is viewing up the slabs the next morning. The snow was still falling but had let up in large measure. We knew we were in a tough situation. Between us we had 2 winches and cable but the pale colored FJ had a non working winch (not wired in)-so we hand spooled out all he had. We also had a bunch of straps between us so started up the slabs. Took all morning. Then basically at the top had to quit and relocate the actual trail on foot in snow 2 feet deep and more in the drifts. We had tree savers as well. Last pic is me reeling out cable to a large boulder on top of the slabs just before the spillway at Loon. After we got home we learned the first storm of the season had came through and it was a whopper. One of those 6000-7000 elevation storms. Got a crash course on the elevation of Loon for example

[Disco]

Originally Posted by Backncardr

I am going to enclose three more pics from that same expedition. It started out as a clear day and we got as far as Little Sluice and the snow began coming down light at first. So we had a pow-wow. The more experienced feller wanted to push on to the Tahoe side-nope nothing doing. We turned around and headed back to Loon and a struggle it was since the night came upon us during that time as shown in the first pic. You can barely make out a vestige of dusk through the trees in the background.

We got as far as the base of the slabs at night and no way we were going up during the storm=it was coming down like crazy. So we camped with tents at the bottom. Our tent collapsed during the night from snow load plus the wind was howling and snow going sideways. Other two fellers had a dome tent and got through the night ok. The second pic is viewing up the slabs the next morning. The snow was still falling but had let up in large measure. We knew we were in a tough situation. Between us we had 2 winches and cable but the pale colored FJ had a non working winch (not wired in)-so we hand spooled out all he had. We also had a bunch of straps between us so started up the slabs. Took all morning. Then basically at the top had to quit and relocate the actual trail on foot in snow 2 feet deep and more in the drifts. We had tree savers as well. Last pic is me reeling out cable to a large boulder on top of the slabs just before the spillway at Loon. After we got home we learned the first storm of the season had came through and it was a whopper. One of those 6000-7000 elevation storms. Got a crash course on the elevation of Loon for example

That looks like fun. Next time go out Wentworth and you won't have to deal with going up the slabs. I love winter wheelin!!!!! I can't wait for the snow!!!!

[Aggro]

Here's the problem. In this picture you should have not spooled out the cable, rather backed up another 100 feet and mashed the skinny pedal. You would've then been able to carry heat up over the top of the slabs.

[Danger Ranger]

Originally Posted by Aggro

Here's the problem. In this picture you should have not spooled out the cable, rather backed up another 100 feet and mashed the skinny pedal. You would've then been able to carry heat up over the top of the slabs.

you forgot to say and grab 3rd gear high range

[microtus]

Originally Posted by Aggro

Here's the problem. In this picture you should have not spooled out the cable, rather backed up another 100 feet and mashed the skinny pedal. You would've then been able to carry heat up over the top of the slabs.

LMAO not everyone has the motor to do 7 second runs through the box.

[rubijohn]

Originally Posted by rubijohn

was planning a mid Nov. ride on the trail. I've never been and was wondering what the conditions are like this time of year. thanks

Thanks for the input and great pics. Maybe give it a go next year. Here's to good wheelin.