Per tonight, I'm in. I'm calling Andy tomorrow.
Pleasure to meet you Cam and some serious quality stories.
PS: Nolen's shot of Jim with *ahem* is epic!!
Three Dudes, One Truck - Rubicon or Bust
- Thread starter FJ60Cam
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Per tonight, I'm in. I'm calling Andy tomorrow.
Pleasure to meet you Cam and some serious quality stories.
PS: Nolen's shot of Jim with *ahem* is epic!!
PS: Nolen's shot of Jim with *ahem* is epic!!
I'm not sure how said suspect has never been caught or convicted.
- Thread starter
- #123
Ninjas can't get caught. It's physically impossible.
- Thread starter
- #124
About the time the Rock Chef is wrapping up, the Marauders Bar is getting fired up, along with a bonfire that would make BillRiiley nervous.
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- Thread starter
- #125
Day Eight - Sat 6/22
After putting the hurt on the pancake breakfast, we decide to check out the day's activities.
We check out the RC competition for a while before heading over to the shade to hear Steve Morris give a history talk about Rubicon Springs. This was actually quite interesting. Mr. Morris has been participating in the Jeepers Jamborees since 1955. He's also one of the owners of the Rubicon Springs. I doubt there's anyone more passionate about or knowledgeable of the Rubicon trail.
The day winds up with a tasty dinner of either tri-tip or chicken, and then the raffle.
We head back to camp and go to bed at a reasonable time because we are going to try and be the first ones to hit Cadillac Hill in the morning, to avoid the inevitable traffic jam.
Originally Andy told us we'd hit the trail by 7:30-8:00, but every time someone asks him about it, the time gets pushed forward by thirty minutes. Now the scheduled start time is 6:00
After putting the hurt on the pancake breakfast, we decide to check out the day's activities.
We check out the RC competition for a while before heading over to the shade to hear Steve Morris give a history talk about Rubicon Springs. This was actually quite interesting. Mr. Morris has been participating in the Jeepers Jamborees since 1955. He's also one of the owners of the Rubicon Springs. I doubt there's anyone more passionate about or knowledgeable of the Rubicon trail.
The day winds up with a tasty dinner of either tri-tip or chicken, and then the raffle.
We head back to camp and go to bed at a reasonable time because we are going to try and be the first ones to hit Cadillac Hill in the morning, to avoid the inevitable traffic jam.
Originally Andy told us we'd hit the trail by 7:30-8:00, but every time someone asks him about it, the time gets pushed forward by thirty minutes. Now the scheduled start time is 6:00
- Thread starter
- #126
Day Nine - Sun 6/23
Alarms clocks are going off early this morning. We scramble to get the trucks packed and on the trail as early as possible. By 6:15, (most of) the wagon crew is ready to roll out.
Earlier, I mentioned our water calculations. We hit that nail right on the head because we only have three little bottles of water to get us to Lake Tahoe!
Once again, after several days of downtime, we are back on the trail. All of us rookie Rubicon-ers were a little apprehensive about Cadillac Hill. The whole time in camp, we listened to folks talking about Cadillac Hill - the carnage, the mangled body panels, breakdowns which hold up the line for hours, and on and on.
We get there and it lives up to the hype. It's a medium-steep climb with big rocks and trees and tight turns, and for the first time, some mud - just enough to make you slip off your line and slide into the giant truck-sized rocks you are trying to avoid! With the trees and actual dirt, it kinda reminds me of Tellico.
We make it to the top, but not without a few battle scars.
We didn't take a single picture because we are focused on getting to the top.
(Pics stolen from sethzilla)
[URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2409_zps1802dc80.jpg"][URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2409_zps1802dc80.jpg"]
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[URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2445_zpsc92609cc.jpg"][URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2445_zpsc92609cc.jpg"]
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[URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2461_zps5d63a793.jpg"][URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2461_zps5d63a793.jpg"]
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Alarms clocks are going off early this morning. We scramble to get the trucks packed and on the trail as early as possible. By 6:15, (most of) the wagon crew is ready to roll out.
Earlier, I mentioned our water calculations. We hit that nail right on the head because we only have three little bottles of water to get us to Lake Tahoe!
Once again, after several days of downtime, we are back on the trail. All of us rookie Rubicon-ers were a little apprehensive about Cadillac Hill. The whole time in camp, we listened to folks talking about Cadillac Hill - the carnage, the mangled body panels, breakdowns which hold up the line for hours, and on and on.
We get there and it lives up to the hype. It's a medium-steep climb with big rocks and trees and tight turns, and for the first time, some mud - just enough to make you slip off your line and slide into the giant truck-sized rocks you are trying to avoid! With the trees and actual dirt, it kinda reminds me of Tellico.
We make it to the top, but not without a few battle scars.
We didn't take a single picture because we are focused on getting to the top.
(Pics stolen from sethzilla)
[URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2409_zps1802dc80.jpg"][URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2409_zps1802dc80.jpg"]
[/URL][/URL][URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2445_zpsc92609cc.jpg"][URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2445_zpsc92609cc.jpg"]
[/URL][/URL][URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2461_zps5d63a793.jpg"][URL="http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c123/sethzilla/IMG_2461_zps5d63a793.jpg"]
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- Thread starter
- #127
We make our way to Observation Point and wait for the group to trickle in. Slowly everyone makes it to the top and gets out to stretch our legs and enjoy the view and accomplishment.
After a few minutes, Andy calls us all together; Tom has something to share with us.
Tom tells us that his son, Evan, was originally going to join him for the trip and they were going to drive Andy's 40 on the trail. A few weeks before the event, he passed away from a drug overdose after several years of being clean. He brought Evan's ashes to scatter at Observation Point.
It didn't really hit me until later that he and his son were enjoying one last trip together.
I asked Tom if he minded if I include this in the story about our trip, and if he would give me the details that he told us on the top of the mountain.
From Tom:
"Indeed I was bringing my son Evan along on one last off-roading trip with me at this year's 25th annual Rubithon. Evan had died from an apparent accidental drug overdose 2 weeks before, and it was only two weeks before that he had graduated from army basic training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was 21.
We've heard from many friends since his death, and it's clear that Evan touched a lot of people in his short life. He had a huge heart and he opened it up to many souls. He had the biggest laugh you could imagine, and a wicked sense of humor that sometimes took your full intellect to completely appreciate. He was a voracious reader on every topic imaginable there must be 300 books in his room on subjects ranging from history to science fiction to humor to religion. And Ill never forget his love of music both listening and when playing his various guitars. Music was one of the biggest passions of his life, and it was such a delight for his mother and me to listen to him play and sing.
But nothing ever came easy for Evan, and he had to scratch and claw for every inch of success he achieved, especially during the past 2 1/2 years while he battled his way back from heroin addiction. His most recent personal goal was to join the Army National Guard, primarily so that he could help other people. He didn't necessarily want to fight in a war, but he felt that if he could succeed in the army infantry and the demanding physical endurance it required, then he would be prepared for anything in life.
Evan had come home from Ft. Benning full of energy, ideas for the future, and money in his bank account. He had registered for EMT courses at our local community college, and was excited to be going on another Rubicon trail trip with me in a friend's borrowed FJ40. He was going on 5 mile runs with his dog several days a week, and was determined to make a perfect 300 score on his physical fitness exam at monthly Nat Guard training in another couple of weeks. So it seemed like this was a high point in his life, with little hint that anything was bothering him. All of which means that his mom and I are at a complete loss to know what happened to cause his sudden relapse after being clean from doing drugs for 2 1/2 years. Whatever demon Evan was carrying, he just couldn't shake it completely off and it finally got the best of him.
We had a memorial for Evan in the outdoor garden of the San Francisco Zen Center near our home earlier in the week of Rubithon, and we had spread much of his ashes on the side of a mountain overlooking the Pacific ocean the day before. Evan loved the outdoors and loved to do 4x4 trips with me. We have been on some fantastic trips together in California, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah, and the many memories from these trips brings me much joy. The picture here is on the bridge crossing the Rubicon River in 2008. So it was only fitting to bring Evan along on one last trip with me, and to cast his ashes into the wind at Observation Point overlooking a beautiful mountain range and a valley full of life."
After a few minutes, Andy calls us all together; Tom has something to share with us.
Tom tells us that his son, Evan, was originally going to join him for the trip and they were going to drive Andy's 40 on the trail. A few weeks before the event, he passed away from a drug overdose after several years of being clean. He brought Evan's ashes to scatter at Observation Point.
It didn't really hit me until later that he and his son were enjoying one last trip together.
I asked Tom if he minded if I include this in the story about our trip, and if he would give me the details that he told us on the top of the mountain.
From Tom:
"Indeed I was bringing my son Evan along on one last off-roading trip with me at this year's 25th annual Rubithon. Evan had died from an apparent accidental drug overdose 2 weeks before, and it was only two weeks before that he had graduated from army basic training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was 21.
We've heard from many friends since his death, and it's clear that Evan touched a lot of people in his short life. He had a huge heart and he opened it up to many souls. He had the biggest laugh you could imagine, and a wicked sense of humor that sometimes took your full intellect to completely appreciate. He was a voracious reader on every topic imaginable there must be 300 books in his room on subjects ranging from history to science fiction to humor to religion. And Ill never forget his love of music both listening and when playing his various guitars. Music was one of the biggest passions of his life, and it was such a delight for his mother and me to listen to him play and sing.
But nothing ever came easy for Evan, and he had to scratch and claw for every inch of success he achieved, especially during the past 2 1/2 years while he battled his way back from heroin addiction. His most recent personal goal was to join the Army National Guard, primarily so that he could help other people. He didn't necessarily want to fight in a war, but he felt that if he could succeed in the army infantry and the demanding physical endurance it required, then he would be prepared for anything in life.
Evan had come home from Ft. Benning full of energy, ideas for the future, and money in his bank account. He had registered for EMT courses at our local community college, and was excited to be going on another Rubicon trail trip with me in a friend's borrowed FJ40. He was going on 5 mile runs with his dog several days a week, and was determined to make a perfect 300 score on his physical fitness exam at monthly Nat Guard training in another couple of weeks. So it seemed like this was a high point in his life, with little hint that anything was bothering him. All of which means that his mom and I are at a complete loss to know what happened to cause his sudden relapse after being clean from doing drugs for 2 1/2 years. Whatever demon Evan was carrying, he just couldn't shake it completely off and it finally got the best of him.
We had a memorial for Evan in the outdoor garden of the San Francisco Zen Center near our home earlier in the week of Rubithon, and we had spread much of his ashes on the side of a mountain overlooking the Pacific ocean the day before. Evan loved the outdoors and loved to do 4x4 trips with me. We have been on some fantastic trips together in California, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and Utah, and the many memories from these trips brings me much joy. The picture here is on the bridge crossing the Rubicon River in 2008. So it was only fitting to bring Evan along on one last trip with me, and to cast his ashes into the wind at Observation Point overlooking a beautiful mountain range and a valley full of life."
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- Thread starter
- #128
There is not a dry eye among us. We take turns giving Tom a hug, the dads among us hanging on just a little bit longer.
Most of the trucks in our group are there as a father-son(s) team, so the impact is huge. I am there as a father and as a son, and our once-in-a-lifetime trip has suddenly become even more special.
I know I speak for everyone else up there with us:
, Tom for making us all a part of your family!
Most of the trucks in our group are there as a father-son(s) team, so the impact is huge. I am there as a father and as a son, and our once-in-a-lifetime trip has suddenly become even more special.
I know I speak for everyone else up there with us:
, Tom for making us all a part of your family!
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Bomar
SILVER Star
Wow...great read.
Bossman, a thread with your story is requested too.
Keep it coming Cam
Keep it coming Cam
Bodean
Hot Damn
Awesome! I'm not sure I could have made it thru that story in person. Very touching
Nicely done Cam.
Tom is a hell of a guy and a good friend.
Evan will be missed.
Tom is a hell of a guy and a good friend.
Evan will be missed.
- Thread starter
- #134
The Wagon Crew at Observation Point (not the full Wagon Run that started on Wednesday)
Rick & his sons, Paul (PabloVTA) & his co-pilot Dave (yep)(behind the camera), Brian & his co-pilot Broc (also behind the camera), Myself, Andrew, my Dad, Alex (concretejungle) & his dad Richard, Andy (Cruiserdrew), Tom (TrickyT), Robbie (powderpig), his wife Robin, & son Ty (not in the picture).
Rick & his sons, Paul (PabloVTA) & his co-pilot Dave (yep)(behind the camera), Brian & his co-pilot Broc (also behind the camera), Myself, Andrew, my Dad, Alex (concretejungle) & his dad Richard, Andy (Cruiserdrew), Tom (TrickyT), Robbie (powderpig), his wife Robin, & son Ty (not in the picture).
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- Thread starter
- #135
From there, Alex, Brian and myself head toward Tahoe. You are basically done with the trail at that point, the only thing separating you from civilization is 8 miles of gravel road. Kinda like Trail 1 at Tellico, except there are just enough large rocks and rock obstacles that you can't pick up any speed, so it's a pretty long ride.
Crawling over one of these obstacles, I stall the truck. When I go to start the truck, nothing happens. I have lost all power. No dash lights, radio, key beeper, nothing. Fearing the worst, I pop the hood and get out for a look. I'm immediately relieved when I find that the positive battery lug has loosened just enough to lose contact. Brian produces the proper wrench, and we are back underway.
Lame, but that was my only trail repair of the trip
Bossman and ChainsawDan passed us while we were at the top and we catch up to them when they had pulled over to check out some wildlife.
The views up here are amazing, too. Lots of trees, some mountaintop lakes, and grassy meadows. Real, real purty.
Crawling over one of these obstacles, I stall the truck. When I go to start the truck, nothing happens. I have lost all power. No dash lights, radio, key beeper, nothing. Fearing the worst, I pop the hood and get out for a look. I'm immediately relieved when I find that the positive battery lug has loosened just enough to lose contact. Brian produces the proper wrench, and we are back underway.
Lame, but that was my only trail repair of the trip
Bossman and ChainsawDan passed us while we were at the top and we catch up to them when they had pulled over to check out some wildlife.
The views up here are amazing, too. Lots of trees, some mountaintop lakes, and grassy meadows. Real, real purty.
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- Thread starter
- #136
We make it to the trailer parking area to air up. I'm thankful for my fancy new ARB Dual Compressor. It was well worth the extra bucks over the regular compressor. Alex airs up his 35s, and then I air up my tires. No sweat.
We bid each other farewell. Alex is headed back to North Carolina by way of Moab (He edged me out for the Iron Butt award
) and Brian & Broc are headed back home (in CA.)
Here we are, Rubicon Trail, DONE!!!
We bid each other farewell. Alex is headed back to North Carolina by way of Moab (He edged me out for the Iron Butt award
) and Brian & Broc are headed back home (in CA.)Here we are, Rubicon Trail, DONE!!!
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- Thread starter
- #137
We are dumped out in some neighborhood, and we follow the (many) signs to the highway. Eventually, we run into Lake Tahoe. Stunning.
We pull over as soon as we get to a non-tourist area to use a proper restroom. I cannot describe the shear pleasure I felt just from washing my hands with soap and hot running water. I washed them twice, but there was still a little trail patina there.
We make some sandwiches, since we haven't had breakfast yet, and call home to check in.
We get back on the road and make our way to 395, which runs down the East Side of the Sierras. Much prettier than the drive on the other side, due to all the rain this side gets.
We pull over as soon as we get to a non-tourist area to use a proper restroom. I cannot describe the shear pleasure I felt just from washing my hands with soap and hot running water. I washed them twice, but there was still a little trail patina there.
We make some sandwiches, since we haven't had breakfast yet, and call home to check in.
We get back on the road and make our way to 395, which runs down the East Side of the Sierras. Much prettier than the drive on the other side, due to all the rain this side gets.
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- Thread starter
- #138
......
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- Thread starter
- #139
Our main goal for the day is to get close to where we'll turn towards Yosemite, wash ourselves & our clothes, and get re-supplied.
We land in Bridgeport, CA and find a motel. It's one of those old school kind where you can back up to the door. It's the perfect place to unwind and clean up.
We knock out laundry and showers and get a few groceries.
I tried to take some pictures of how dirty Andrew was, but the pictures just don't capture it at all. It will be weeks before he looks clean. This is after I scrubbed him, and what happens when you wear wear a hat and don't wash your hair for a week.
We land in Bridgeport, CA and find a motel. It's one of those old school kind where you can back up to the door. It's the perfect place to unwind and clean up.
We knock out laundry and showers and get a few groceries.
I tried to take some pictures of how dirty Andrew was, but the pictures just don't capture it at all. It will be weeks before he looks clean. This is after I scrubbed him, and what happens when you wear wear a hat and don't wash your hair for a week.
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- Thread starter
- #140
There's some chairs outside the room, so we hang out and drink beer and cook dinner on the tailgate. Andrew makes up for lost time in front of the TV
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