This needs to stay low-key, but based on the discussions above, it looks like the second weekend in September will be the center of activities... plan for 9/9 and 9/10 on the trails, and a day on either side for cushion. Specifics will probably flow at the end of next week when I get past my monthly misery at the day-job.

Randii

I absolutely agree with you, but some things must be done even for a low-profile event, see my comments below:



we still need to notify the local officials, just in case, that there might be some problems on their land. We must be honest and they must know in advance that some excessive drinking, forest cutting for the new trails, pollution, major forest fire, and sort of gun fighting (for a trail-lead title) going to happen. We just need to inform them becouse they need to arrange some actions, that's it. I hope you know whom we have to contact with this important information.



surely we do not need stickers. All we need is to re-paint our cars according to the event purpose.



I hope some pants are allowed...



that's right, we will call them simply "trail pharaons"...



... and a week after to recover from drinking, and a month to fix the cars...



take a lead and let us know.

only for the guys <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ok, I'll see if I can pull off a miracle, work was slow last month, but I'm thinkin of landing 7th and taking off the 12th?

All I need now is a nice comfortable floor for any interim days (a tent would be nice too, but I'm ok with sleepin in the truck (enough beer and I can sleep anywhere)

Sound like a good enough plan? As long as I get some work done this month, I should be good to go. I'll be committed after I buy my plane ticket (which is tough right now)

You and Turbo can duke it out for one of his cushions in our bedroom, the front room, or his kennel. Bring dog treats to bribe. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, Peter, you're welcome to crash here. Tent situation is still TBD.

Randii

09/09 and 09/10 for trails works great for me. Where we going to meet at? I'd like to plan my driving time requirements, as soon as possible.

For those of us who are towing our rigs, will we be coming out the same way we go in?

Thanks

Where should I meet you guys? I'd like to pick a place to meet saturday morning. I don't want to drive south and then backtrack recently driven ground, in order to reach the rubicon trail.

We need to simplify -- this is focusing into a Rubicon primary trip, with possible support for others after. Here's the plan (maps and directions to follow)...

Thursday night, the Rubicon folks will meet up at Loon Lake, near the FOTR Kiosk. Friday, we will run into Ellis Creek, which is a short trip, and will meet with the folks who don't want to run Rubicon. This first piece of the trail is pretty mild, and with careful spotting, we can get anyone with 32" or so tires through, even if not locked (PM me if you have questions about your rig). We're not going far this day, and I'm willing to do the spotting/strapping/rock-stacking to get everyone through. From Ellis Creek, it is a short, rocky stretch to get to 14N05, which is 2WD enough that I have had my wife's Subaru on it multiple times.

EVERYONE who wants to can meet together Friday evening at Ellis Creek, on the Rubicon. This is a *very* short hike from a 2WD-accessible forest service dirt road, so even 2WD commuter cars can be used to get close enough for a walk. We can camp, knock back a few beers, and BS, but the next morning one group is taking off Eastbound on the trail, and the other group will be doing a local (or two) set of less-abusive trails. Less vehicle-abusive folks itinerary is still up in the air, please let me know if anyone wants to lead this and I will work directly with you to identify appropriate trails. Frankly, the Eldorado National Forest has so many cool places, it will be hard limiting the number of my suggestions as to scenic but not hard-core destinations and routes.

More vehicle-abusive folks will run the Rubicon Trail Saturday and Sunday; and how far we go will be determined by breakage and pace of vehicles -- we'll definitely get to Buck Island by Saturday night, but may choose to push on to Rubicon Springs. We can be back to civilization Sunday night late if necessary, but I am tempted to take a more relaxed approach, and drive out Monday morning from Rubicon Springs, which puts us in Tahoe or Reno early in the afternoon. Much of this depends on the other participants -- I can take some of that next week off and continue on to Barret of Fordyce (IMHO this is a harder trail than Rubicon), but my dayjob requires me to be in the office on Thursday 09/07, so I can't stretch it longer on the front side. It is possible that we could hook up the abusive and non-abusive groups again for Sunday night, but that has dependencies, and definitely complicates things.

What say? Please let me know who's in, what percent surety, and what vehicles are involved -- and whether you want a hard stop late Sunday night in civilization, can stretch it lazy until Monday, or want to continue on into Tuesday or Wednesday.

Randii

If you are coming in Saturday AM, I can send you precise directions to Ellis Creek via 2WD roads. When you get to the log landing, *HONK* and I'll come show you the route down to camp.

Randii

Well you can probably count me out. Just too close a timetable when mixed in with all the competitions I've got starting the following week.

Dallas