Year: <span>2026</span>

Rubicon Trail Foundation Condemns Irresponsible Activities and Urges Responsible Use to Protect Trail Access

PRESS RELEASE
Rubicon Trail Foundation Condemns Irresponsible Activities and Urges Responsible Use to Protect Trail Access

Placerville, CA – July 16, 2026 –The Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) is dedicated to enhancing the future health and use of the Rubicon Trail while ensuring responsible, motorized, year-round trail access. This core principle of responsibility is central to our mission and guides everything we do as stewards of this iconic trail.

Recent reports of irresponsible activity (i.e. “drag racing” on Little Sluice) on the Rubicon Trail that the El Dorado Sheriff’s Office is investigating, including unauthorized off-trail travel, resource damage, and other irresponsible behaviors, directly contradict the responsible recreation that has allowed the trail to remain open and sustainable for all users. Such actions harm the environment, create safety hazards, undermine years of volunteer work by Friends Of The Rubicon (FOTR), and threaten continued public access for the entire off-road community.

“These irresponsible activities are not only disappointing but also dangerous to the future of the Rubicon,” said Alan Johnson, President of the Rubicon Trail Foundation. “Our mission emphasizes responsible use because it is the only way to protect this trail for future generations. We strongly urge all users to stay on designated routes, pack out what they pack in, and respect the land.”

Since 2004, the Rubicon Trail Foundation has fought to maintain access against the California Water Board, U.S.F.S., Lahontan Water Quality Control Board, Center for BioDiversity, El Dorado County and individuals intent on closing the iconic trail. Activities such as this, attempt to undermine over 22 years of effort to keep the Rubicon Trail open for responsible, motorized, year-round access.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation will work with El Dorado County Parks, Adopt-A-Trail and FOTR for any actions that maybe required. In addition, the Foundation calls on all trail users to be part of the solution. Responsible recreation is not optional, it is essential to preserving the Rubicon experience we all cherish today, to be enjoyed the same for generations to come.

About the Rubicon Trail Foundation
The Rubicon Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, protection, and sustainable management of the Rubicon Trail and its surrounding lands. Through volunteer work days, partnerships, education, and advocacy, RTF works to ensure that this iconic off-road trail remains accessible and enjoyable for all users while protecting its natural environment.

Rubicon Trail Foundation Welcomes Will Battenberg as New Board Director

PRESS RELEASE
Placerville, CA – July 16, 2026 – The Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) today announced the appointment of Will Battenberg as a new Director to its Board of Directors.

Will Battenberg, a resident of Camino, California, is a longtime advocate for responsible motorized recreation and public land access. An active member of the Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s 4-Wheel Drive Club, he has spent many years exploring the Rubicon Trail and is committed to its preservation.

Will has supported the RTF through consistent volunteer service, notably serving several years as the Lake Tahoe Hi-Lo’s Point of Contact for parking coordination at Cantina for the Con. In this role, he worked closely with Foundation leadership, volunteers, and event participants to help make the event a success.

Prior to his civilian career, Will served nearly 21 years in the United States Air Force as an aircraft mechanic, maintenance manager, and senior enlisted leader. His service culminated as Maintenance Flight Chief for the U-2 reconnaissance fleet at Beale Air Force Base.

Professionally, Will serves as a Production Planning Manager for a utility infrastructure manufacturer in the Sacramento region. He is also completing a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and plans to pursue an MBA.

“Will brings valuable volunteer leadership, military experience, and operational expertise to our Board,” said Alan Johnson, President of the Rubicon Trail Foundation. “His Hi-Lo’s involvement, dedicated support for Cantina for the Con, and proven ability to manage complex operations make him an excellent addition. We are thrilled to welcome him.”

About the Rubicon Trail Foundation
The Rubicon Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, protection, and sustainable management of the Rubicon Trail and its surrounding lands. Through volunteer work days, partnerships, education, and advocacy, RTF works to ensure that this iconic off-road trail remains accessible and enjoyable for all users while protecting its natural environment.

Rubicon Trail Foundation Welcomes Ron Humphrey as New Board Director

PRESS RELEASE
Placerville, CA – July 16, 2026 – The Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) today announced the appointment of Ron Humphrey as a new Director to its Board of Directors.

Ron Humphrey brings deep passion, hands-on experience, and a strong commitment to trail stewardship to the RTF Board. Many in the RTF community already know Ron from his years of volunteering on the trail, at Cantina for the Con, and through his active involvement in the broader RTF community.

A longtime advocate for the Rubicon Trail, Ron has been wheeling the Rubicon regularly since 2003. His passion for the trail began more than 20 years ago after his first trip to Gatekeeper. Since then, he has run the Rubicon multiple times each year. Along the way, he has built several capable trail rigs, participated in countless trail rides, and developed strong relationships across the off-road community.

What truly sets Ron apart is his dedication to giving back. He has shared that RTF trail work days and volunteering for Cantina for the Con are among the highlights of his summers.

“Ron does not just enjoy using the trail, he enjoys giving back to it,” said Alan Johnson, President of the Rubicon Trail Foundation. “That passion for stewardship and willingness to contribute are exactly the qualities we look for in board members. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Board and look forward to his contributions in preserving and protecting the Rubicon for future generations.”

Ron Humphrey currently serves as an Automation AI Manager.

About the Rubicon Trail Foundation
The Rubicon Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, protection, and sustainable management of the Rubicon Trail and its surrounding lands. Through volunteer work days, partnerships, education, and advocacy, RTF works to ensure that this iconic off-road trail remains accessible and enjoyable for all users while protecting its natural environment.

Rubicon Trail Foundation Welcomes Christopher Stoner to Board of Directors

PRESS RELEASE
Rubicon Trail Foundation Strengthens Leadership with Addition of Veteran Off-Road Industry Professional and Lifelong Trail Advocate

Placerville, CA – June 2, 2026 – At the May 20, 2026 meeting, The Rubicon Trail Foundation voted Christopher “Chris” Stoner to its Board of Directors.
Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Chris Stoner brings a lifetime of off-road experience, mechanical expertise, and community service to the organization. His deep-rooted connection to motorized recreation and trail stewardship makes him a natural addition to the Foundation’s leadership team.

Stoner comes from a family with a strong legacy in the outdoors and public service. His grandfather, who established Saturn Sports in Reno in the 1960s, served in the Civil Air Patrol and used his Jeep Wagoneers for search-and-rescue missions. These early influences shaped Chris’s lifelong passion for combining off-road capability with community support.

With more than 35 years in the automotive and off-road industry, Stoner has held key roles including sales and store manager positions at 4 Wheel Parts / Off Road Warehouse in Reno. He has also served as team manager and mechanic for prominent racing programs, including Yamaha Factory Racing’s snowmobile hill climb team, Winston Racing’s drag racing team, and Rod Hall Racing. His experience spans major events such as the Winter X-Games, VORA 300, KOH Stampede, and King of the Hammers.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Stoner dedicated 18 years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT, serving communities in Sierra Valley, California, and the Greater Swan Valley Fire District near Yellowstone National Park. He is also an amateur radio operator who proudly uses his grandfather’s original call sign, WA7CRL.

A dedicated Rubicon Trail user for more than two decades, Stoner remains actively involved in the off-road community. He and his family own five Jeeps, including a heavily modified Gladiator equipped with long-arm suspension, 42-inch tires, and a custom factory-bobbed bed.
“I’m honored to join the Rubicon Trail Foundation Board,” said Stoner. “The Rubicon is a special place that has been part of my life for over twenty years. I look forward to contributing my experience, mechanical knowledge, and passion for responsible recreation to help ensure the trail is preserved and accessible for future generations.”

The Rubicon Trail Foundation welcomed Stoner’s appointment, noting that his unique blend of industry expertise, hands-on trail knowledge, and commitment to service will be invaluable to the organization’s mission.

About the Rubicon Trail Foundation
The Rubicon Trail Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the long-term stewardship, preservation, and sustainable management of the historic Rubicon Trail. Through volunteer efforts, infrastructure improvements, and education, the Foundation works to protect this world-renowned off-road destination for all users.

Rubicon Trail Foundation Welcomes Aaron Mundine to Board of Directors

Placerville, CA — The Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) is proud to announce the addition of Aaron Mundine to its Board of Directors, strengthening the Foundation’s leadership with decades of off-road industry experience and a lifelong commitment to outdoor recreation and trail stewardship.

Aaron Mundine brings more than 25 years of professional experience in the off-road industry, having worked his way through a wide range of roles at 4 Wheel Parts since joining the company in 2001. From mechanic to regional manager, Aaron’s long tenure reflects both his deep technical knowledge and his passion for responsible off-road recreation. His career and lifestyle have been closely intertwined with the trails, deserts, and mountains that define the off-road community.

“I want to give back and help preserve the Rubicon Trail for future generations,” Mundine said. “The Rubicon is a special place, and I believe strongly in the mission of the Rubicon Trail Foundation. I’m excited to devote my time and energy to supporting the trail and the work RTF does.”

RTF welcomes Aaron Mundine to the Board and looks forward to the experience, perspective, and dedication he brings as the Foundation continues its mission to preserve, protect, and promote responsible recreation on the Rubicon Trail.