Earlier this month, we joined up with Jeep Jamboree USA for their most difficult guided trip, the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California. This trail is rated a 10 in difficulty, and is famous as one of the most challenging off-road experiences in the United States, and it definitely lived up to that reputation.
I have written here before about my new found passion for wheeling, but this trip took it to a whole new level.
The Roadtrip
We embarked from Phoenix way early Wednesday morning, grumpy with each other and feeling rushed. But after a little apologizing, a bit of a late start, and a lot of Starbucks we were off! We had a 13 hour road trip over 2 days, which included a lovely stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Fresno, CA ( Let me digress for a minute, but I'm not kidding, as far as right off the highway road trip hotels go, the good folks at Holiday Inn Express have it figured out. No, I am not getting paid to say that, I just really appreciate super clean sheets and a free breakfast. Highly recommend.)
After a good night's sleep, the Thursday leg of the roadtrip started out with some more of this...
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| Have I expressed my love for a coconut iced soy latte? Try it. You won't be sorry. |
Followed by a stop here....
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| Cue some more arguing. Someone (me) was glad we had bought a tent heater despite spousal protest, and someone else (Mr. Ladd) was wishing he would have bought water shoes as I suggested, so I guess we know who was right on both counts. |
We finally made it to the hospitable mountain town of Georgetown, CA where we promptly lined up to register for the next morning and get our vehicle inspected.
After that, we checked in to the friendly little Rock Creek Inn down the road and went with the innkeeper's recommendation for dinner at Camp Virner, where homemade Italian and German food was served up with a charming German accent behind cozy gingham curtains.
We headed back to our inn for the night and turned in early, because 5:00 a.m. would come awfully early. Let me tell you what, this waking up early thing is still a part of Jeeping that I need to get used to.
The Trail - Friday:
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| This is what it looks like at 6:00 a.m. when 70+ Jeeps are lined up to head off for a grueling adventure. |
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| Ready to go! |
It was a chilly, gorgeous morning and we had some breakfast, lined up according to our color group, and hit the road. It's about a 40 minute drive to the beginning of the trail, and early rising paid off big time in the form of a Loon Lake sunrise.
We aired down our tires (which you do to get better traction and conform to uneven surfaces) at the beginning of the trail, aptly named Gatekeeper. This trail is no joke from start to finish, and the Gatekeeper section seems to smirk while asking, "Are you sure you want to do this?" I use the term trail loosely, because while it is an official 4x4 trail, it does not look like a place you are supposed to drive. There is really no evident path, and without trail guides it would be easy to get lost. Multiple boulders, fallen logs and river crossings are generally things you go around with your vehicle not over or through. Ah, but that is the beauty of the Jeep, especially with some tough tires, and heavy duty rock rails, bumpers and skid plates you would be amazed at what these things can do!
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| Tire before the trail |
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| Tire about 3 or 4 hours into the trail. A little worse for the wear, but still climbing rocks like a champ! |
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| Lunch break |
Then there was the hardest section of the trail Big Sluice. Again, less of a trail and more of a downhill boulder field with huge trees sprinkled in for good measure. Lot's of landing on rock rails, and sliding down on skid plates. Eventually you get used to the bone jarring sound of granite on steel.
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| Notice the mirror tucked in so as to get through. |
We made it through the toughest parts and got into camp at Rubicon Springs Friday night with plenty of time to settle in to our cozy spot and explore a bit. We were all tired and dirty in the best of both ways as we pointed out battle scars on our Jeeps, and traded stories from the trail like old war veterans around the campfire.
Join me tomorrow for Part 2 of the Rubicon Trail where I almost get eaten by a bear, we conquer Cadillac Hill, and finally get a shower.
