Rubicon: Wentworth Springs - Gatekeeper - FJ

[alvarorb]

Guys,

This past Sunday we decided to go check out the part of the Rubicon Trail. We did not plan for very much, it was mostly a spur of the moment deal. The weather looked perfect. No reason to stay in the flatlands.
On the Wentworth Spring side there was a lot of water everywhere. The pond where Derek went in a couple of years ago, was really deep.
We went up the trail with no difficulties and down the Look Lake side. Gatekeeper is gone. So are most of the hard obstacles next to the Alligator Pit.
The trail is very well marked with orange stripes. By 2:30 pm we were done and heading back. That's when we saw the FJ and had to pull over.
The FJ belonged to Bill and Sherie. A very friendly couple from El Dorado Hills. After a few minutes, Andy invites them to do Gerle Creek.
So back in 4 Low we were. It was fun crossing the stream and spotting the FJ across. For being a stock vehicle it did awesome. We saw a Colorado pickup (Same as H3) struggle to get across.

On the way back, as we were airing up at the gas station in Pollock Pines, David notices I had a flat tire. A small rock got between the bead and the rim. Even after changing the tire, we were home before it was dark.
What a great day.

Check out the trip blog and pictures at the Norcal Wagons site: http://www.tlcwagons.org

Regards

Alvaro

 

[yep]

Thanks again for letting me ride along. Next time, I'll bring the sunscreen

 

[450 DUDE]

Ditto on the sunscreen and the big time thanx .
thanx to Ernie for letting me occupy his perfectly clean pax seat



ken

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Nice pics Alvaro. That was a good time. I really like the pic of my FJ40 with the FJC. You should post a few of these pics in the FJC section.

 

[jb welda]

so does this mean the trail is easy now? ive always been a-feared of that trail in my slightly modified fj60...but if a stock fj can make it does that mean i should have no fear?

one love
jah bill

 

[alvarorb]

Jah Bill,

Which trail are you referring to?
If you are referring to the Rubicon: Just because the Gatekeeper is no more, don't think for a minute that the trail has gotten easier. The Gatekeeper was just that. A place to keep people away from the trail if their rigs were not up to the challenge. If you are going to break something in your vehicle that could disable it, it's always better for that to happen at the trailhead than 5 miles in. Or even 1 mile in.

The trail we took the FJ on was the Gerle Creek trail. It goes from the Wentworth Springs Road down to Airport Flats. You could easily ride your 60 through there.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[Brentbba]

I'm jealous....and I haven't even looked at the pictures yet!

 

[jb welda]

many thanks for that alvaro, maybe i will see you there some time. as soon as the adventure im involved in:

http://www.snwmf.com

is done im going to be looking to exercise my new arb rear locker!

so this wentworth springs road is the road that runs from georgetown to quintette (home of famous university falls)? is the trail head marked on that road?

many thanks again for the reply and please excuse the dumb questions...

one love
jah bill

 

[alvarorb]

Jah Bill.

As I understand it, the Wentworth Springs Rd. turns into the Rubicon trail. In fact the original route for the Rubicon trail is through Wentworth Springs.

If you are coming from Georgetown, you'll hit a T on the road. To the right is Ice House road an Loon Lake, to the left the Wentworth Spring road continues.

Last Sunday I did not see any signs. I believe there used to be some. Finding it easy, but I'd suggest you stop at a Forest Service ranger station and get one of their 2006 El Dorado National Forest road maps. They are very nice and detailed.

Sounds like you'll have a weekend filled with music. I enjoy Baaba Maal's music quite a bit.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[surfpig]

Good pictures, there! Are there any other easy-to-moderate trails around there that you can recommend? We'll be family camping at Union Valley on Rubithon weekend. I used to enjoy Bassi Falls in my Jeepster before all the idiots got it closed. (thought it's now a much nicer hike...)

Jah Bill: we've been going to ROTR for nearly 20 years....

 

[alvarorb]

Neil,

There are tons of trails on the El Dorado National forest. The Gerle Creek one is fun for slightly modified rigs or stock FJs. The whole forest is crossed with logging roads. Get a map and try them out.

Also, try Roger Mitchell's book. High Sierra SUV trails: The Western Slope.
I got mine at Tower Books in Broadway Ave.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[jb welda]

alvaro: im the recording engineer for snwmf and a lot of other things around there as well so if we get a release from baaba maal i will contact you and send a copy of the show for you to enjoy...

surfpig, ROTR this year is problematic for me...i will probably be in jamaica for the week before because a friend of mine has revived the old sunsplash show there and the next week burning spear is putting on a private show in st anns bay. i used to go to rotr every year for the first 10 or so but my attendance since has been spotty im afraid. gets too dang hot up there sometimes for one thing...but hope you have a great time in their new venue. it probably wont be as crowded this year as the past because theres a lot more room from what i hear and their lineup is pretty great this year.

wish i could take my fj60 over to ja but thats a little excessive!

thanks again for the instructions, im thinking first week in july after the fourth's weekend...gets kinda crowded up there then but hopefully if i go during the week...

one love
jah bill

 

[alvarorb]

alvaro: im the recording engineer for snwmf and a lot of other things around there as well so if we get a release from baaba maal i will contact you and send a copy of the show for you to enjoy...

jah bill

Thanks!!

Alvaro

 

[chicago]

Hey Alvaro,
Great write up and pictures. I really liked the slideshow format. Looks like a BLAST out there. Someone above mentioned being "afraid" of the Rubicon...Imin the same boat as he. Ive heard horror stories of the "con", but it is one trail Id like to do at least once in my life.

Thanks for posting

Chicago

 

[alvarorb]

Chicago,

I'm glad you liked it. With the new web publishing app it's really a breeze to make a website.

Regards

Alvaro