TRANSFORMATION of the RUBICON : Before & After Photos 5 Years in the Making
- Thread starter wayoflife
- Start date
as has been pointed out, the main route on the trail is a lot easier now but even before, you could have taken a stock jeep through. sure, it would have taken a lot of work but, i have seen it done. having said that, you shouldn't have any problems getting through the rubicon with your current setup. the only thing that might make it hard for you is if the winter before was harsh, long and if you go too early in the season. in that case, you would encounter big snow drifts and deep water crossings.
That is ALOT of changes for one trail. What did they do go in with random sticks of dynamite to different parts of the trail? Wow! I still want to go at least once in my life because it is the Rubicon but that is alot of changes at once. Although I should be happy that my open diff X on 33s will probably go through this trail, I didn't want that opportunity at the expense of tearing down the trail this much.
trust me, there was nothing random about it. they were very specific in what they targeted. it's still a great trail and with 33's, it'll still be tough. if you want tougher, there are lines that you still take... for now anyway. it's just the main route that's been changed.
honestly, i can't even imagine how much money has gone into this. we've seen work crews on the rubicon all summer for the last 3 or 4 years slowly doing their thing and with heavy equipment and helicopters. still, i suppose it could be worse - they could have just closed the trail and i know that if the tree huggers had their way, that's what would have been done just like they did this year with the other 42 trails in the area. :naw:
how was the weather when you were up there? should be getting kinda frosty about now i would imagine.
Looking through some old pics, I came across these and thought it would be appropriate to add them to the mix. The first set of pics are of a really big and old Juniper tree that stood sentinel at the entrance of the Little Sluice for centuries. It was an impressive arbor and one that offered shade to spectators on a hot summers day. Some time during the winter of 2011/12, there was a storm that proved to be a bit too much for this old friend and it finally came crashing down. This is what it had looked like when it was still standing...
And, this is all that's left of it today...
I can honestly say that I never gave it much thought until it was gone but, there used to be another old Juniper tree that stood at the top of Cadillac Hill and we'd often spend some time cooling off under it's shade on one of our many banzai runs to the top. Sometime during the summer of 2012, someone decided that it needed to be chopped down. Unfortunately, I don't think I've ever taking a straight shot of this tree but, it's the tall one providing shade on the right side edge of the photo...
This is all that remains today...
And, this is all that's left of it today...
I can honestly say that I never gave it much thought until it was gone but, there used to be another old Juniper tree that stood at the top of Cadillac Hill and we'd often spend some time cooling off under it's shade on one of our many banzai runs to the top. Sometime during the summer of 2012, someone decided that it needed to be chopped down. Unfortunately, I don't think I've ever taking a straight shot of this tree but, it's the tall one providing shade on the right side edge of the photo...
This is all that remains today...
Bullwinckle
Hooked
Its sad to see something so beautiful not be there, lets hope that it was a sincere reason that it was cut down. :naw:
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2000TJDude
New member
Glad I got a chance to run it before all the changes were made. I went through in a TJ on 33's with selectable lockers front and rear with no problems and never even touched the winch. (we did bypass Little Sluice obviously)
Thanks for the great pics and comparisons WOL.
Thanks for the great pics and comparisons WOL.
TrailRidden
New member
Holy crap. they rele have made it easier. im surprised they broke so much up and filled so much in.
Tackerdown
Banned
should a just bought a liberty.
So if making it easier will bring the masses and they will bring the garbage, wear and tear, crime, etc do you California guy's see the trail eventually being closed?
Growing up in the northeast, you dream of wheeling in the amazing places you read about in "mags" and now websites that exist in the western half of the country but I fear it will eventually be like in the east where it's pretty much all closed. We only wheel private land here in NY, there is no public land accessable to us that I know of. Admittedly well meaning but unfortunately poorly informed eco groups and liberals have pretty much complete control of this area and we are locked out of anything we don't privately own, even on private land you can face issues if it becomes public knowledge that you use it for wheelin. Keep fighting for your trails guys, the rest of us still dream of getting out there someday.
Growing up in the northeast, you dream of wheeling in the amazing places you read about in "mags" and now websites that exist in the western half of the country but I fear it will eventually be like in the east where it's pretty much all closed. We only wheel private land here in NY, there is no public land accessable to us that I know of. Admittedly well meaning but unfortunately poorly informed eco groups and liberals have pretty much complete control of this area and we are locked out of anything we don't privately own, even on private land you can face issues if it becomes public knowledge that you use it for wheelin. Keep fighting for your trails guys, the rest of us still dream of getting out there someday.
My plan is to run Rubicon this year as said earlier it's on my bucket list.
OverlanderJK
Resident Smartass
Well its not paved and its not easy. It's easier yes but its still not easy. To say your not going to do it now because its paved is a little bit of an exaggeration.
The Rubicon Trail has been and always will be one of the most beautiful trails that we've ever run. It is the reason why we love it as much as we do. The fact that you get to wheel it has always just been icing on the cake. While I don't like or agree with what's being done, the people responsible for it do believe they are doing what is necessary to keep it open for everyone to enjoy. I should note that even though the main route has been made easier, the trail as a whole is still a challenge for most Jeeps and there are still a few tought optional obstacles that you can still take on... for now anyway. Of course, mother nature has a way of rearranging things too.
JAGS
Hooked
Transformation of the Rubicon : Before & After Photos 5 Years in the Making
I have to agree with Eddie on this. Most of the trails I've run I do for purpose of exploring new areas. The Rubicon trail is on my bucket list. I hear it is a great experience regardless of difficulty.
I'll be planning my run just as soon as I upgrade from stock.
I have to agree with Eddie on this. Most of the trails I've run I do for purpose of exploring new areas. The Rubicon trail is on my bucket list. I hear it is a great experience regardless of difficulty.
I'll be planning my run just as soon as I upgrade from stock.