Please distribute to your contacts:
RUBICON TRAIL FOUNDATION
Contact: Scott Johnston FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Telephone: 530-409-8482
E-mail: Scott.Johnston@RubiconTrailFoundation.org
Placerville, CA 11/06/09
PRESS RELEASE:
COUNTY WORKING WITH FOREST TO DEFINE RUBICON TRAIL
Public involvement crucial as County plans for better definition of trail alignments
Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) and Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) have been following talks between El Dorado County (EDC) and United States Forest Service (USFS) and have stayed closely involved in the public process for the Rubicon Trail to ensure that the public interests are being communicated and met.
Compiling record of public opinion on the various routes, spurs and popular camp areas near the trail since before the USFS Travel Management Planning process began in the early 2000's, RTF and FOTR defined the most prominent routes that are variants and in mid 2008, RTF submitted a package to the County explaining some of the traditional bypasses that occur along the trail. Some of these variants have been in question for some time, since EDC proclaimed the Rubicon and its variants a public road in 1887 and reaffirmed this proclamation in 1989. In early 2008 the Eldorado National Forest issued its final environmental impact statement that defined forest routes and specifically avoided reference to Rubicon-related routes, pending talks to define the public route which was originally claimed in 1887 by EDC.
In April 2009, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) filed a cleanup and abatement order against EDC and the USFS. Part of that order requires both agencies to agree on the actual location and width of the Rubicon Trail. This order from CVRWQCB has helped these agencies to get together and to begin talks.
We have learned that the Rubicon Oversight Committee (ROC) will be the venue where the the map of bypasses/alternates will be released to the public. For more information see Rubicon Trail
The original Rubicon trail begins at Georgetown and runs through Wentworth Springs to Lake Tahoe with an alternate trail head at Loon Lake. The Rubicon is a rugged Off-Highway vehicle trail known worldwide for its beauty and challenge and has been rated a 10 out of 10 for difficulty.
RTF and FOTR applaud the efforts by the County and USFS to comply with this CVRWQCB requirement as it will assist Law Enforcement and the public so that people using the trail will be able to see marks and signs so that once and for all, we will know where the trail is.
*
The Rubicon Trail Foundation was formed in 2004. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation dedicated to the future health of the Rubicon Trail and our mission is to enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon Trail, while ensuring responsible motorized year-round trail access. RTF and FOTR works with individuals, 4x4 clubs, organizations, and agencies to help maintain and manage the trail. Our Officers and Directors represent a wide variety of Rubicon Trail OHV users, land owners, county representatives, manufacturers, and event organizers.
*
If you would like to help with our efforts, you may*send your tax deductible donations to:*
Rubicon Trail Foundation PO Box 2188 Placerville,*CA 95667
Paypal donations or major credit cards by calling 888-6rubicon or by signing up for a Friends of the Rubicon work party at: Rubicon Trail Home Page and Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR)
*
More information is available at Welcome to Rubicon Trail Foundation
*
# # # *
If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with a representative of the Rubicon Trail Foundation, please e-mail president@RubiconTrailFoundation.org
__________________
Location: Garden Valley
Posts: 3,968 A number of us have been working to finalize this list online, in email, and in person, with a huge amount of discussion to date between agencies, organizations, and individuals. The following list is the fruit of that lengthy labor...the exact points will not be accurate until a survey is done and these are only very rough Lat/Lon points.
The following details work from the West end of the trail in the East direction, towards Rubicon Springs.
+ Current and traditional routes in the vicinity of Postpile
The lower route on the East is the narrow historic trail. The upper route on the left is the newer route. These routes separate at 39°00'49.80"N and 120°18'55.62"W, then there is a connection between them at 39°00'51.46"N and 120°18'54.99"W, and then they rejoin at 39°00'54.41"N and 120°18'55.93"W. Retaining these alternate routes is important to keep access to the historic trail and allow bypass of the tougher obstacles on it.
+ Current and traditional routes between the top of Postpile and the Loon/Ellis Inter-tie
After passing the top of the Postpile, the shelf road empties onto granite slab through fading trees at a clear intersection at 39°00'55.46"N and 120°18'51.51"W. The lower route to the right and the Southeast is the historic trail that goes through Lost Sluice at 39°00'59.57"N and 120°18'36.94"W. The upper route on the left and the Northwest is the newer route, that crosses flatter slabs and allows safer winter access. Both routes join back together at 39°01'5.91"N and 120°18'34.94"W before entering the trees. Retaining these alternate routes is important to allow safe winter travel and retain access to the historic trail. With a culvert and some basic road-related structures, there is clear evidence of maintenance above Lost Sluice.
+ Ellis Creek Campground Stub
West of Ellis Creek at 39°01'20.53"N and 120°18'25.39"W, there is an intersection where a historic route splits off uphill and to the North, and the original trail proceeds straight to the East. This road connects to Placer County territory near 39°01'24.11"N and 120°18'36.38"W and provides valuable dispersed camping and road-side parking. Access to the North is a complicated issue for Placer County and Eldorado National Forest, but camping and parking access along this spur in El Dorado County has occurred since the 1950s, and the route is well-mapped back into the 1930s.
+ Trail and Split Past Ellis
After Ellis Creek at 39°01'22.23"N and 120°18'14.68"W, there is an intersection where an easier bypass splits off uphill and to the North, and the original trail proceeds straight to the East. The alternate runs parallel with the trail and joins back in near 39°01'22.41"N and 120°18'09.25"W. The main trail has become the de facto drainage for this section of the trail, so maintaining the alternate is necessary for wet weather, unless significant drainage work is done downhill and South of the trail.
+ Trail and Alternate Near Soup Bowl
At Soup Bowl, there is an intersection at 39°01'17.50"N and 120°16'47.95"W where a challenging bypass splits off uphill and to the North, and the original trail proceeds straight to the East through an off-camber granite notch. The alternate runs parallel with the trail and joins back in near 39°01'17.15"N and 120°16'47.48"W. The alternate route to the north is a very short bypass that lies well within any conservative assessment of the County's right-of-way.
+ Trail and Bypass West of Winter Camp
After descending the stair steps, there is an intersection near 39°01'17.33"N and 120°16'42.83"W where a bypass splits off directly downhill and to the West, while the original trail proceeds due East and downhill into a drainage. The alternate parallels the trail and joins back in near 39°01'17.05"N and 120°16'39.23"W. The alternate route to the north is a challenging climb that has been cut through the undergrowth -- the main trail lies to the south and follows a more gradual change in slope.
+ Little Sluice Trail and Bypasses
The original trail follows a deep seam in the granite that runs almost straight to the Southeast with granite (in some case cliffs) on the North and smooth granite slope on the South. At 39°01'14.79"N and 120°16'31.95"W, two alternate routes head due East and uphill from the trail, before Little Sluice proper.
# The lower, shorter route of these two was maintained in 2003 with County, Forest, and FOTR cooperation, and lies close to any conservative assessment of the County's right-of-way. It parallels the main trail and rejoins it just past the Little Sluice at 39°01'10.53"N and 120°16'24.41"W. This is the shortest summer bypass, but is a real Danger in winter and late spring from ice and snow on steep slopes.
# The upper, longer route dates back to the early 1900s and provides access to good camping and the best helicopter landing area near Little Sluice. It follows more gently sloping terrain and is the safest winter route, at 39°01'09.75"N and 120°16'20.20"W.
A less-used bypass skirts Little Sluice to the south, staying on smooth granite from near 39°01'13.12"N and 120°16'29.27"W to 39°01'12.08"N and 120°16'26.66"W. This route across granite has minimal impact and is well within any conservative assessment of the County's right-of-way.
+ Trail near Mud Lake and Thousand Dollar Hill Bypass
The original trail descends tall ledges that have become virtually impassible. As a result, most traffic takes the Thousand Dollar Hill bypass from 39°01'10.31"N and 120°16'19.81"W northwest to 39°01'11.07"N and 120°16'20.30"W. Thousand Dollar Hill itself is a loose, rocky climb with several dangerous off-camber spots, and the private property owners are considering maintenance to the original trail to restore its function.
+ Middle Sluice Trail and Indian Trail Bypass
The Indian Trail bypass splits off from the main Trail just past Arnold's Rock near 39°00'49.56"N and 120°15'59.93"W and descends downhill due East, following an easy slope of the trail. The main trail goes through the tight cliffs and boulders of Middle Sluice to the Southeast. The Indian Trail alternate rejoins the main trail at 39°00'25.27"N and 120°15'41.75"W. Both routes have historical significance -- Middle Sluice is the trail as used for more than a hundred years, and the Indian Trail was laid out in the early 1900s. FYI, Middle Sluice is also known as Old Sluice, True Sluice, and Flatfender Alley. Indian Trail is the well-defined alternate route across the slabs northeast of Old Sluice first laid out in the early 1900's by Vic Wikander, who leased one of the Buck Island reservoir islands from USFS.
+ Buck Island Trail and Bypass
The original trail goes down through the edge of the lake, where the lake level was raised by SMUD. At 39°00'16.24"N and 120°15'06.71"W, a bypass splits off to the east and follows the contour of the hillside around, where the main trail goes down to lake level. This more-or-less level alternate rejoins the main trail as it climbs back up from lake level near 39°00'15.66"N and 120°15'00.56"W. Both routes are necessary at this time, since the bypass routes across a loose, rocky, side hill that is occasionally unsafe. The main trail has its own problems here, since travel through the lake is problematic, at best.
__________________
RUBICON TRAIL FOUNDATION
Contact: Scott Johnston FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Telephone: 530-409-8482
E-mail: Scott.Johnston@RubiconTrailFoundation.org
Placerville, CA 11/06/09
PRESS RELEASE:
COUNTY WORKING WITH FOREST TO DEFINE RUBICON TRAIL
Public involvement crucial as County plans for better definition of trail alignments
Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) and Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) have been following talks between El Dorado County (EDC) and United States Forest Service (USFS) and have stayed closely involved in the public process for the Rubicon Trail to ensure that the public interests are being communicated and met.
Compiling record of public opinion on the various routes, spurs and popular camp areas near the trail since before the USFS Travel Management Planning process began in the early 2000's, RTF and FOTR defined the most prominent routes that are variants and in mid 2008, RTF submitted a package to the County explaining some of the traditional bypasses that occur along the trail. Some of these variants have been in question for some time, since EDC proclaimed the Rubicon and its variants a public road in 1887 and reaffirmed this proclamation in 1989. In early 2008 the Eldorado National Forest issued its final environmental impact statement that defined forest routes and specifically avoided reference to Rubicon-related routes, pending talks to define the public route which was originally claimed in 1887 by EDC.
In April 2009, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) filed a cleanup and abatement order against EDC and the USFS. Part of that order requires both agencies to agree on the actual location and width of the Rubicon Trail. This order from CVRWQCB has helped these agencies to get together and to begin talks.
We have learned that the Rubicon Oversight Committee (ROC) will be the venue where the the map of bypasses/alternates will be released to the public. For more information see Rubicon Trail
The original Rubicon trail begins at Georgetown and runs through Wentworth Springs to Lake Tahoe with an alternate trail head at Loon Lake. The Rubicon is a rugged Off-Highway vehicle trail known worldwide for its beauty and challenge and has been rated a 10 out of 10 for difficulty.
RTF and FOTR applaud the efforts by the County and USFS to comply with this CVRWQCB requirement as it will assist Law Enforcement and the public so that people using the trail will be able to see marks and signs so that once and for all, we will know where the trail is.
*
The Rubicon Trail Foundation was formed in 2004. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation dedicated to the future health of the Rubicon Trail and our mission is to enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon Trail, while ensuring responsible motorized year-round trail access. RTF and FOTR works with individuals, 4x4 clubs, organizations, and agencies to help maintain and manage the trail. Our Officers and Directors represent a wide variety of Rubicon Trail OHV users, land owners, county representatives, manufacturers, and event organizers.
*
If you would like to help with our efforts, you may*send your tax deductible donations to:*
Rubicon Trail Foundation PO Box 2188 Placerville,*CA 95667
Paypal donations or major credit cards by calling 888-6rubicon or by signing up for a Friends of the Rubicon work party at: Rubicon Trail Home Page and Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR)
*
More information is available at Welcome to Rubicon Trail Foundation
*
# # # *
If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with a representative of the Rubicon Trail Foundation, please e-mail president@RubiconTrailFoundation.org
__________________
Location: Garden Valley
Posts: 3,968 A number of us have been working to finalize this list online, in email, and in person, with a huge amount of discussion to date between agencies, organizations, and individuals. The following list is the fruit of that lengthy labor...the exact points will not be accurate until a survey is done and these are only very rough Lat/Lon points.
The following details work from the West end of the trail in the East direction, towards Rubicon Springs.
+ Current and traditional routes in the vicinity of Postpile
The lower route on the East is the narrow historic trail. The upper route on the left is the newer route. These routes separate at 39°00'49.80"N and 120°18'55.62"W, then there is a connection between them at 39°00'51.46"N and 120°18'54.99"W, and then they rejoin at 39°00'54.41"N and 120°18'55.93"W. Retaining these alternate routes is important to keep access to the historic trail and allow bypass of the tougher obstacles on it.
+ Current and traditional routes between the top of Postpile and the Loon/Ellis Inter-tie
After passing the top of the Postpile, the shelf road empties onto granite slab through fading trees at a clear intersection at 39°00'55.46"N and 120°18'51.51"W. The lower route to the right and the Southeast is the historic trail that goes through Lost Sluice at 39°00'59.57"N and 120°18'36.94"W. The upper route on the left and the Northwest is the newer route, that crosses flatter slabs and allows safer winter access. Both routes join back together at 39°01'5.91"N and 120°18'34.94"W before entering the trees. Retaining these alternate routes is important to allow safe winter travel and retain access to the historic trail. With a culvert and some basic road-related structures, there is clear evidence of maintenance above Lost Sluice.
+ Ellis Creek Campground Stub
West of Ellis Creek at 39°01'20.53"N and 120°18'25.39"W, there is an intersection where a historic route splits off uphill and to the North, and the original trail proceeds straight to the East. This road connects to Placer County territory near 39°01'24.11"N and 120°18'36.38"W and provides valuable dispersed camping and road-side parking. Access to the North is a complicated issue for Placer County and Eldorado National Forest, but camping and parking access along this spur in El Dorado County has occurred since the 1950s, and the route is well-mapped back into the 1930s.
+ Trail and Split Past Ellis
After Ellis Creek at 39°01'22.23"N and 120°18'14.68"W, there is an intersection where an easier bypass splits off uphill and to the North, and the original trail proceeds straight to the East. The alternate runs parallel with the trail and joins back in near 39°01'22.41"N and 120°18'09.25"W. The main trail has become the de facto drainage for this section of the trail, so maintaining the alternate is necessary for wet weather, unless significant drainage work is done downhill and South of the trail.
+ Trail and Alternate Near Soup Bowl
At Soup Bowl, there is an intersection at 39°01'17.50"N and 120°16'47.95"W where a challenging bypass splits off uphill and to the North, and the original trail proceeds straight to the East through an off-camber granite notch. The alternate runs parallel with the trail and joins back in near 39°01'17.15"N and 120°16'47.48"W. The alternate route to the north is a very short bypass that lies well within any conservative assessment of the County's right-of-way.
+ Trail and Bypass West of Winter Camp
After descending the stair steps, there is an intersection near 39°01'17.33"N and 120°16'42.83"W where a bypass splits off directly downhill and to the West, while the original trail proceeds due East and downhill into a drainage. The alternate parallels the trail and joins back in near 39°01'17.05"N and 120°16'39.23"W. The alternate route to the north is a challenging climb that has been cut through the undergrowth -- the main trail lies to the south and follows a more gradual change in slope.
+ Little Sluice Trail and Bypasses
The original trail follows a deep seam in the granite that runs almost straight to the Southeast with granite (in some case cliffs) on the North and smooth granite slope on the South. At 39°01'14.79"N and 120°16'31.95"W, two alternate routes head due East and uphill from the trail, before Little Sluice proper.
# The lower, shorter route of these two was maintained in 2003 with County, Forest, and FOTR cooperation, and lies close to any conservative assessment of the County's right-of-way. It parallels the main trail and rejoins it just past the Little Sluice at 39°01'10.53"N and 120°16'24.41"W. This is the shortest summer bypass, but is a real Danger in winter and late spring from ice and snow on steep slopes.
# The upper, longer route dates back to the early 1900s and provides access to good camping and the best helicopter landing area near Little Sluice. It follows more gently sloping terrain and is the safest winter route, at 39°01'09.75"N and 120°16'20.20"W.
A less-used bypass skirts Little Sluice to the south, staying on smooth granite from near 39°01'13.12"N and 120°16'29.27"W to 39°01'12.08"N and 120°16'26.66"W. This route across granite has minimal impact and is well within any conservative assessment of the County's right-of-way.
+ Trail near Mud Lake and Thousand Dollar Hill Bypass
The original trail descends tall ledges that have become virtually impassible. As a result, most traffic takes the Thousand Dollar Hill bypass from 39°01'10.31"N and 120°16'19.81"W northwest to 39°01'11.07"N and 120°16'20.30"W. Thousand Dollar Hill itself is a loose, rocky climb with several dangerous off-camber spots, and the private property owners are considering maintenance to the original trail to restore its function.
+ Middle Sluice Trail and Indian Trail Bypass
The Indian Trail bypass splits off from the main Trail just past Arnold's Rock near 39°00'49.56"N and 120°15'59.93"W and descends downhill due East, following an easy slope of the trail. The main trail goes through the tight cliffs and boulders of Middle Sluice to the Southeast. The Indian Trail alternate rejoins the main trail at 39°00'25.27"N and 120°15'41.75"W. Both routes have historical significance -- Middle Sluice is the trail as used for more than a hundred years, and the Indian Trail was laid out in the early 1900s. FYI, Middle Sluice is also known as Old Sluice, True Sluice, and Flatfender Alley. Indian Trail is the well-defined alternate route across the slabs northeast of Old Sluice first laid out in the early 1900's by Vic Wikander, who leased one of the Buck Island reservoir islands from USFS.
+ Buck Island Trail and Bypass
The original trail goes down through the edge of the lake, where the lake level was raised by SMUD. At 39°00'16.24"N and 120°15'06.71"W, a bypass splits off to the east and follows the contour of the hillside around, where the main trail goes down to lake level. This more-or-less level alternate rejoins the main trail as it climbs back up from lake level near 39°00'15.66"N and 120°15'00.56"W. Both routes are necessary at this time, since the bypass routes across a loose, rocky, side hill that is occasionally unsafe. The main trail has its own problems here, since travel through the lake is problematic, at best.
__________________