Rubicon, Bye Bye "Gate Keeper"

[oldtrucks]

For those of you that have or have not been folowing the Rubicon Issue...the reconstruction has begun. The work started last week with the "Gate Keeer", it was blasted off the trail. Many stories and rumors out there as to why, anyway, it's gone. Next, is to clean out the "Little Sluice" and open it back up to most rigs. Here's a few pictures and comments from Pirate 4x4; http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=416894

[BearCat]

Wow Trucks...Whats the story behind all that anyway?? Seems like theres alot left and alot right on what has happened?

BC

[oldtrucks]

Depends who you listen to, but mostly a use battle between El Dorado County and the El Dorado National Forest. The problem stems from abuse by a few, and no way to monitor or enforce rules. The trail was originally used as a crossing from Tahoe to Georgetown and Sac, then long ago abandoned. As the 4x4 community discovered, it was a beautiful and challenging route....for most. In comes the extreme bunch and the trail wasn't tough enough, so they started winching rocks around and altering the original trail. The average rig could no longer make it through so they were forced to create bypasses around certain obstacles. Well, one thing leads to another and pretty soon it's a free for all. Now the County and EDNF are stepping in and putting it back the way it was. I've heard that they may actually man a kiosk and limit vehicle travel on any given day. The Gate Keeper was just the first step. I believe that the EDNF would be happy just to close it to vehicles (along with the rest of the forest), but the county owns the road.

The "Gate Keeper" was an area that would back up badly and create traffic jams. The extreme guys would just create another route around it, along with erosion problems. Here's a real link about the trail, http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/Rubicon/index.html

[Ken]

The area around it, has been a real struggle to fix. They've been trying for years. The area had gotten wider...and wider...as more people "tried" to bypass it.

I'd have to see it myself to see....but I can tell you....they are definitely trying to take the "Extreme" out of the trail....that's my gut feeling.

I have a 1947 Willys...32" tires...stock suspension...lockers. I had gone through the whole trail....Little Sluice and all...up until 92 or 93. Then the rocks in the Little Sluice kept getting pulled in or blown in...who knows. Anyway...like I said....I haven't gone through the Little Sluice in 13 years...

The Little Sluice is next. They're trying to take the Circus out of it. The trail used to be the destination and the goal was to go through the trail. Now, with all the Extreme rigs...they go in from Loon...go to the Little Sluice and come out. Most are green sticker and can't do the whole trail because of where they left the trailer.

And that situation, is how you ended up with 600Lbs of Poo getting hauled out last spring or fall...I forget.

So....I'm not surprised. The options are close it....or fix it. So they're trying to fix it. Only time will tell.