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My wife and I tried to hike in from the tahoma staging lot, but only made it a mile and a half or so. Enough snow in the shaded areas and big holes to fall into and turn your day into a winch fest. Took a few pictures of anyone wants to host. Send me a pm
 

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We went in last Saturday from Loon to Buck. Decided to night wheel down big sluice and turned around not far from the bridge. Trail was clear - no issues whatsoever. Saw one other group camping at Buck. Little bit of snow was left on the section of trail that wraps around 1,000 dollar hill.
 

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Discussion Starter · #24 ·
Came in Tahoe this past weekend and went to Buck. Didn't see a single person all weekend. Some snow before observation but made it through no issues.
Was at Buck Sunday afternoon and then went over to the RTF property. Very quiet on the trail this weekend. Good to hear the report on the Tahoe side...thanks!
 

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Went from Loon to Tahoma June 18-24 as part of the TLCA Rubithon. Obviously all is open. Trail is in a bit worse condition than last year in mid July when we did it. But I went through the full length in a 2015 4runner without issue. Did have to pull a winch once and use the high lift once on the section between Buck and the Springs. And had a great group of folks with some seasoned spotters that make it go a lot smoother. The rock garden at the bottom of the big sluice was a lot easier this year than last for me. It's near the limit of my 4runner - so should be smooth sailing in a built crawler. Cadillac looked worse than last year and felt rougher overall - but actually went easier this year. Sometimes the changing trail ends up being better for a certain wheel base even though overall it's in worse shape. The road out from the observation point to the parking lot was a lot worse than last year.
 

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Discussion Starter · #26 ·
Mother Nature gives and Mother Nature takes away.

Some interesting stuff of note:

The County did erosion work on the rock garden area you're talking about (known as Property Line) that may have affected that spot.

RTF put 40,000+ pounds if rock in a stockpile at the top of Cadillac for use by an upcoming FOTR work party. The scope is to do a gabion in the dirt section below Little V to stabilize the trail. This won't make the trail easier per se, but will stabilize that piece of the trail. Important because if the dirt portions of the trail on hillsides slough, we don't have any recourse, no way to reconstruct.

On the Miller to Tahoma section, El Dorado and Placer Counties are working on a cooperative agreement in this area that will make maintenance efforts easier and better overall. Again, this work is erosion control and anti-sedimentation work.

Interesting that you took note of areas that are on the radar.
 

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When you're in a vehicle that's near it's limit - the differences are probably more obvious than if I were in my rock crawler.

FWIW - I felt like the overall trail difficulty level was just about right. Of course that evaluation differs for everyone. If I had brought my crawler on 40's there's plenty to keep me entertained too. If I were in a stock wrangler I'd be complaining it was too hard. As it is - in a moderately built 4runner on 34's small mistakes would have resulted in body damage - although I didn't have any. But it also wasn't so hard that I couldn't get through with careful driving on 34" tires and lockers. From my view - the FOTR and others are doing a great job of keeping the trail in sort of the goldilocks condition overall. Hard enough to have fun, but not hard enough that only unimogs and tube buggies can make it. I know it doesn't stay that way on its own. Thanks for doing what you do!
 

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I don't think there was any fill put in the rock garden at bottom of big sluice, it just changes as the rocks get shoved around, sometimes its a walk and others it spits you out a few times, that spot has been good for lots of breaks but lots of fun too.
 

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From US Forest service Website:

Fire restrictions go into effect on the Eldorado National Forest beginning Saturday, July 14, announced Forest Supervisor Laurence Crabtree. Wood and charcoal fires will be restricted to designated recreation sites and other fire related activities will be prohibited until the end of fire season. Gas or propane fires are allowed with a free 2018 California campfire permit.

"While I am always cautious about imposing restrictions on visitors, conditions in the forest and in California have reached a point that restricting campfires to campgrounds is appropriate" said Crabtree. "Visitors can help protect their forest by educating others about fire danger and reporting abandoned or illegal fires to 911 or to the nearest Ranger Station."

Also on July 14, the Stanislaus National Forest will begin fire restrictions in the Moore Creek area along the North Fork of the Mokelumne River which is accessed through the Eldorado National Forest.

On National Forest System Lands, fire restrictions mean:

No wood or charcoal fires are allowed outside of exempted recreation sites (see Forest Order) even with a valid campfire permit.
No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or exempted recreation site.
Operating a welding or other torch with an open flame is prohibited.
Operating an internal combustion engine without a properly operating spark arrestor is prohibited.
Lanterns and portable stoves using gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed with a valid 2018 California Campfire Permit available at Prevent Wildfire - California Campfire Permit Online or from Forest Service offices during normal business hours.
Those with a valid 2018 wood cutting permit may cut firewood in compliance with the terms of their permit.
 

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can I ask where you got this information from?

pressurized stoves and fire rings have always been allowed in the past.

welding is also not allowed, so don't break anything:D
I called the number on this website:

Rubicon Trail Foundation

1-888-6RUBICON (678-2426)

... forgot the name of the lady I talked to but she told me that campfire in fire rings are only approved at these designated sites:

http://files.constantcontact.com/1eeadf48401/30b7efef-480f-45c3-9fd9-fbaf6e277395.pdf

... she then went on to say that none of the camping spots on the trail are considered "designated sites" She was clear to me that no fires are permitted on the trail during these restrictions.

Then I went to this website and I talked to Jennifer Chapman: 530 957-9660

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD586742

... I asked her if a gas campfire (fire pit) is permitted. At first she was not sure so she took my number. After an hour she called me back and told me that a gas fire pit is NOT permitted during fire restriction. Cook stove only with a permit.

If anyone has any other information to contradict this, please post up. I'd like to know as I am planning a trip soon.
 

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... I asked her if a gas campfire (fire pit) is permitted. At first she was not sure so she took my number. After an hour she called me back and told me that a gas fire pit is NOT permitted during fire restriction. Cook stove only with a permit.
I have a call into Jennifer to get clarification.

in the past, if the fire could be turned of with a knob, it was allowed. People even brought them by the Forest Service office to make sure they were OK.

I just want to find if they have changed their policy, or if they are just being overly cautious. (which I do understand as well).
 

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"Gas or propane fires are allowed with a free 2018 California campfire permit."
Quoted from above.
Sounds like propane fire is good. At the end of the day it's up to the Deputy or Ranger no matter what the internet says.
 

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I have used my camp fire in a can on the trail during fire restrictions and have had the sheriff check to make sure I had a permit and there were no other issues. I do believe they said the same as above, " It can be turned off, doesn't produce air born embers, enjoy. The fire pits at Loon Lake North Shore campground can be used during restrictions. So you can run the trail and return to Loon for evening festivities.
 

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"Gas or propane fires are allowed with a free 2018 California campfire permit."
Quoted from above.
Sounds like propane fire is good. At the end of the day it's up to the Deputy or Ranger no matter what the internet says.
I do agree with this comment.
they need to have the release wording the same as the Forest Order wording
 

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"Gas or propane fires are allowed with a free 2018 California campfire permit."
Quoted from above.
Sounds like propane fire is good. ...
When I spoke to the forest service yesterday, I pointed out that wording. Jennifer Chapman told me, that she agrees that the wording is misleading. She went on to tell me that the gas campfire is not permitted because it is "open flame"

I do agree with this comment.
they need to have the release wording the same as the Forest Order wording
I was told that the Forest Service is going to meet to discuss the matter and change the wording so that it is more clear. They told me that the wording is confusing because gas campfires are relatively new and they had not really been considered. (paraphrasing her words).

dirtyjed said:
....At the end of the day it's up to the Deputy or Ranger no matter what the internet says.
Yep. If "maybe" is good enough for you, then I'd say go for it. I'm not trying to sway anyone. I'm just telling you what I was told by the Eldorado FS.

To be clear, I'm talking about these things:

 
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