Little sluce

[chicago]

THe little sluice as we have known it will be blown up this thurs. or fri.

Donno the overall effect of this, but sounds as if there are more changes to make certain areas "more passable" are also in the x hairs. One in particular that is closer to us is the post pile and the upper boulders.

 

[locrwln1]

I have mixed feeling about it.

On one hand, I am glad that they are removing/fixing a part of the trail that has been manipulated to make it harder, therefore much more "entertaining" for the masses and as a result, it has become the "party" spot for everyone. I think the thought is to eliminate the "bypass" and keep the trail on it's original course.

Years ago when we were running it often, there were people that had never wheeled past the sluice. They would wheel in, stop at the sluice, party all weekend, and wheel back out. They had no idea about the rest of the trail.

On the other hand, it is kind of sad to see it go. But I don't think too many people miss "gatekeeper" just after the beginning of the trail. It too was blown up several years ago. It was good because it worked as a "filter" of sorts, but it also caused alot of carnage and a bottleneck right at the beginning of the trail.

I'm sure there are people lamenting the loss of the sluice and how it won't be long before anyone can drive anything over the Rubicon and blah, blah. I kind of think it's about time. The first time I ran the trail in 1995, we drug four wranglers through. Mine was the "biggest" with 32" tires and 2.5" lift, with a rear lock-right. Two other three jeeps were lifted 2.5" with 31's, both with limited slip rears and one had a lock-right in the front. The fourth one was only lifted 1" with 31's and open. They were all stock 5spd manuals with stock t-cases and the factory gearing in the pumpkins (three had 3.55's and one had 3.08's). Try that now... It was challenging, but still doable. Now 35's are barely enough and you will most likely end up with body damage.

Much like Fordyce is becoming, the buggies kind of ruined it for the average built rig. Now you have to have so much more to get it through.

Jack

 

[chicago]

I have mixed feeling about it.

On one hand, I am glad that they are removing/fixing a part of the trail that has been manipulated to make it harder, therefore much more "entertaining" for the masses and as a result, it has become the "party" spot for everyone. I think the thought is to eliminate the "bypass" and keep the trail on it's original course.

Years ago when we were running it often, there were people that had never wheeled past the sluice. They would wheel in, stop at the sluice, party all weekend, and wheel back out. They had no idea about the rest of the trail.

On the other hand, it is kind of sad to see it go. But I don't think too many people miss "gatekeeper" just after the beginning of the trail. It too was blown up several years ago. It was good because it worked as a "filter" of sorts, but it also caused alot of carnage and a bottleneck right at the beginning of the trail.

I'm sure there are people lamenting the loss of the sluice and how it won't be long before anyone can drive anything over the Rubicon and blah, blah. I kind of think it's about time. The first time I ran the trail in 1995, we drug four wranglers through. Mine was the "biggest" with 32" tires and 2.5" lift, with a rear lock-right. Two other three jeeps were lifted 2.5" with 31's, both with limited slip rears and one had a lock-right in the front. The fourth one was only lifted 1" with 31's and open. They were all stock 5spd manuals with stock t-cases and the factory gearing in the pumpkins (three had 3.55's and one had 3.08's). Try that now... It was challenging, but still doable. Now 35's are barely enough and you will most likely end up with body damage.

Much like Fordyce is becoming, the buggies kind of ruined it for the average built rig. Now you have to have so much more to get it through.

Jack

I can see your point on that. I do have to agree that the scale of the rigs being built, even in my short time wheeling, has become so far beyond average.
My concern then becomes what's next.
The post pile section is hard, but not too bad, what will the standards for the trail become beyond this.

Good point jack.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Last year I had a conversation with Harald Pietschmann who runs guided trips through the Rubicon. He mentioned that the goal is to re-create the trail as it was in the 1900's. They are starting from Wentworth Springs and working north.

If you take a little hike off trail at Ellis creek to the "secret" access point you will find a construction staging area with some tract equipped earth moving equipment and such.

I'm not sure why they would screw with the post pile since the bypass is so well built.

 

[chicago]

Why would they screw w/ lil sluice w a perfectly good bypass?
Word is they're going to be blasting 13 boulders in the box and flying in tons of smaller rock to fill it in.
Lots of folks are blaming this Sweeney guy who apparently is on the board and also has a stake in the jeepers jamboree. Word (donno if this is true or not!) is that he was on record saying that his goal was to eliminate little sluice and use the bypasses around it??
He's apparently the one responsible for the bridge and reconstruction of the road into WS.
Pirate is LIT UP on this and emotions are super high!!

 

[DirtyHarry]

Jack you always do such a great job of articulating my same feelings for these touchy issues where emotions are running so high.

 

[locrwln1]

Jack you always do such a great job of articulating my same feelings for these touchy issues where emotions are running so high.

Thank you.

It might have something to do with the accusation my wife makes that I don't have any emotions...

Jack

 

[chicago]

Just saw a pic of upper sluice that they just re did about another ago... Holy FAAAWK!!!
The trail will be a half day run if it all keeps going like that!!
OMG!!

 

[DirtyHarry]

The trail will be a half day run if it all keeps going like that!!
OMG!!

I've done the trail in six hours from Loon to Tahoe... it already was a day run.

Like Jack said it bums me out that they are altering the trail but I do understand the reasoning behind it. I never took my truck through Little Sluice but I did still appreciate it.

The biggest concern I have out of this whole situation is the realization of how fragmented the off-road community is with so many competing interests.

 

[chicago]

I've done the trail in six hours from Loon to Tahoe... it already was a day run.

Like Jack said it bums me out that they are altering the trail but I do understand the reasoning behind it. I never took my truck through Little Sluice but I did still appreciate it.

The biggest concern I have out of this whole situation is the realization of how fragmented the off-road community is with so many competing interests.

Regardless... The way it's going, it'll be harder wheeling the fire roads than it will be to run the rubicon.