Trail Conditions 2011

[nickx]

Im headin' up to the trail with about 8 rigs last weeknd in june. i spent 2 days up near my cabin in the eastern Sierras and spent a fair amount of time around 6500'. The snow is still present and lingers in areas that you can tell are shady more than others. I figure by the last weekend in June the trail should be drive able and free of most large snowy sections. I spent a little less than 48 hrs in the mountains last weekend in 60-70 degree weather and in those 48hrs the snow melted a noticeable amount. I guess we will just all need to be prepared for a wet trail. Hopefully the water at buck and the springs isnt to ice cold. Im trying to get my trail swim on. Ill be bringing a nice pair of water proof boots when i go and a large tarp to. That ought help out when someone brakes something

[STEPHY5]

Dont know how many people check the calender event but i thought i would post on this thread as well...

for june 22-26, my wedding weekend. we have the main site of the springs reserved and I have somewhere from 150-160 people coming, so probably like 40-50 rigs coming. not sure what side of the trail everyone is coming in from but saturday morning i am doing a shuttle of rigs from tahoe staging area to bring in some guest. i predict 15-20 rigs going out to pick up people so if anyone is coming in from tahoe its just a heads up. other than that if anyone is staying at the springs that weekend, your more than welcome to come celebrate and party

[foxeod]

when i past by last week it looked very clear and a lot of the camp grounds have been opened

[pilothillcrawler]

are you going to be able to go out/in from the tahoe side? I plan to be camping at buck mid week with a group. We will be playing back and forth from there on Wednesday, stop by and say hello. going to be leading a nascar crew from Joe Gibbs Racing while the semi's drive from michigan to sear's point. current plan is that we will be heading back out to loon on thursday morning. Sounds like we will be going against some of your traffic possibly. Sounds like you guys will be having a fun weekend!!!

[pilothillcrawler]

oops my bad, I finally read your sig, If anyone can go out/back that side right now you guys will be able to. Tell him to get us lots of pics this weekend!

[tgariano]

this weekend 17th -19th the hilanders is having there poker run aswell. so figure on another 100 plus vehicles in and out on saturday unless they changed the route.

[Daddy4zack]

waiting.......

[bagman]

Excited for the next two weekends!


Pilothill flag me down Wednesday if you see me. Going in on that day also.

[STEPHY5]

Originally Posted by pilothillcrawler

oops my bad, I finally read your sig, If anyone can go out/back that side right now you guys will be able to. Tell him to get us lots of pics this weekend!

No worries ...I will be going with them so im sure ill be doing all the picture taking and i will also do some video

[Hurtinslim]

Things are sounding better every report!! MELT snow, MELT! Ready for a trail run on the 26-28th.

[jacobflyin]

Damn Wish I was going, Have fun

[kiyul4130]

Originally Posted by nickx

Hopefully the water at buck and the springs isnt to ice cold. Im trying to get my trail swim on.

pass that spliff this way.

[sarrrge]

Originally Posted by bagman

Agreed. We'll be fine. Don't worry we're old Rubicon pros

need rescue I'll be home this weekend

[TCARP1]

Originally Posted by sarrrge

need rescue I'll be home this weekend

LOL Baggy need rescue.....thats a good one!

[1uglyranger]

Originally Posted by TCARP1

LOL Baggy need rescue.....thats a good one!

I'll be around too. Need to borrow a map

You going in through Loon, or Tahoe this weekend?

[bagman]

Loon. Bringing the buggy up?

[1uglyranger]

Originally Posted by bagman

Loon. Bringing the buggy up?

Not this weekend, but I will be there for the wedding.... right now I have no oil pressure in the motor

[zookiracer]

So some buddies and I from Oregon went in from loon last weekend- we're pretty set up for snow wheeling as well as the con but came across several jeeps heading back out- we camped above the granite bowl and blew into ellis creek in 15-20 min the had to break trail from there to soup bowl and it was hard going with me leading an dropping my buggy into 4-8ft deep drifts that had broke through to the creek running down the trail! There were some substantial trees down that we went over due to the snow but hard to get around with more melt off. I think i can say my rig was the first past ellis this year judging by no sign of tracks old or new and I was working and winching for every inch!

[randii]

Originally Posted by zookiracer

I think i can say my rig was the first past ellis this year judging by no sign of tracks old or new and I was working and winching for every inch!

nope.
snow melt hides the tracks of those before...
details further up in this post: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showp...23&postcount=5
Rubicon receives year-round motorized recreational use, and that's a good thing, as long as those users are fully self-sufficient and are gentle on the resource.

Randii

[Squirrel Bus]

Just got home from the trail and it is in pretty good shape. Some snow patches just past the slabs on the way to Ellis. The temps were nice and warm and you could watch the snow melt. Some friends went from Ellis towards Wentworth and hit the post pile and said there was nothing major there either as far as snow goes. Should be a great season, late but great. Oh the misquitos are already out in force. I'd say they are worse than the snow. Can't wait to get back up there. Enjoy!

[pilothillcrawler]

what new posts but no pics!!! thank you for the updates though lol

[one 55 guy]

snow is melting fast !!! we went to Ellis, big snow drift at water crossing , should be melted & gone soon , second pic is paved road to Loon campgrounds

[Squirrel Bus]

55guy, Mike fun trip glad to see you guys made it out ok look forward to wheeln' with you guys at Rubithon......Great pics, what no pics of the cool green Taco

[76cjeep]

Originally Posted by resqme

THE MELT IS ON, FINALLY!!!

I'm getting lots of questions, so I'm starting this thread to post current trail conditions. I'll try to update it fairly often and obviously anyone who has an update or a question is free to do so as well. I will update the original post, so you don't have to go hunting for trail conditions if you're in a hurry.

Currently, updated June 15th, the trail conditions are:

Loon trailhead: 1 to 5 foot hard pack base, fair amount of blacktop showing but still long runs on deep snow on the road, once you're on the trail lots of holes underneath, the sidehill at the second dam has been cut out and is easily driveable with a well set up rig, may need some shoveling to put it in shape as the melt continues. Tree wells are pretty big and punishing on the trail itself. From Ellis Creek on are deep drifts (up to 10') with sidehill travel and lots of melt holes (dive in and winch out). There are wet muddy holes at gatekeeper, on the intertie, and before Ellis, so now is a good time to stay off the trail past the kiosk.

Wentworth Springs trailhead:Clear past the Y. Past that, a packed 0 to 3 foot base, lots of blacktop showing with a few drifts that will push you into the trees if you aren't careful. Lots of water moving past the cattle guard, the melt is on at these lower elevations! Not recommended using the trail past there until the melt is complete, probably a week or less.

Tahoe trailhead:0 to 10 foot base, patches of snow on the road up to the staging area, then gradually increasing snow until the drifts get steep and sloppy interspersed with water by the lakes. At the higher elevations above Miller, thre are sidehills and steep drift conditions. First rigs in this year took all day to get to Miller and back on May 28th...capable experienced folks in well built rigs. Not recommended at this time.

Bears: There have been three bear sightings in the last two weeks, one at Airport, one at Gatekeeper, and one at Tahoe staging. All are obviously hungry and looking for food. With this late winter season, they'll be coming out of hibernation about now and looking to eat. Take precautions!

Always carry a toilet as camping is unpredictable this time of year and there is no other safe way to dispose of human waste. Wag Bag it!

My guess is the trail won't be completely clear until the end of June (especially the Tahoe side).

There are currently no fire restrictions, but you MUST have a Forest Service permit to operate a propane stove or barbecue (charcoal or propane).

Hope this helps.

Thank you for the updates John. My plans are to come up next weekend for the RTF work weekend. I'm going to be watching this thread day by day to confirm access.
Does anyone know it Airport campground is clear for a tow rig? Gerle Creek CG?

Thanks be safe all!!

[Kurtuleas]

I am getting reports of 20' drifts on the tahoe side and a massive log jam at the north end of the springs making the trail from tahoe to the springs inaccessible.