One unique thing about the Rubicon Trail is there are pumpable toilets. However, whenever you camp you should always be prepared and carry the basic neccessities to make your trip enjoyable. It is always suggested to carry WAG bags and a Spill Kit in your vehicle/backpack as you never know when you will need them. You would not leave home without clothes, would you?
If you are heading up to the Rubicon Trail you can always contact us to get these items. We can be reached at 888-678-2426.
Dump A Load On RTF
What is a WAG bag kit? Each kit contains an outer zip-close disposal bag, a waste collection bag preloaded with waste treatment powder, toilet paper and a hand sanitizer towellete. The WAG (Waste Alleviation and Gelling) Bag contains enough gelling powder for 3-4 uses. The double bag system is made from a puncture resistant material.
To dispose seal it up, pack it out and when home dispose in trash.
What is a Spill Kit?
What is a Spill Kit? This is a kit designed to absorb any spills from fluids of a vehicle. Each kit contains zip-close disposal bag, Bio Response, absorbent pad, and RTF rag.
Directions: Absorb as much oil as possible with the absorbent pads included in the spill kit. Apply Bio Response liquid on remaining spill, just walk away, bacteria will biodegrade what is left.
* Please do not apply to asphalt.
First step is to control or stop the leak. Next contain what was spilled by using the absorbant pad and Bio Response. Place all materials back in the zip-close disposal bag including any soil that was saturated.
To dispose on the Rubicon the storage shed on the west end is next to the Kiosk at Loon Lake. On the east end, the shed is located next to the restrooms in the parking lot.
Mission: To enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon trail, while ensuring responsible, motorized, year-round trail access.
Our vision is to be the trusted stewards of the Rubicon Trail, ensuring sustainability for the experience of the users.
In the past few years we have taken families on a hike from Rubicon Springs to the Stone Cabin during Camp Rubicon. We always share the History of the Rubicon Trail while exploring the great outdoors. This year quite a few kids found Arrowheads. It was such a fun hike and we had more participants than ever. Another fun part of the hike is getting to chat with the families and find out why they came on the trip and learning from them.
Rusty Folena lead the hike.
The stone cabin is less than a 1/2 mile from the Rubicon Springs campining area. There are many things to look for on the way to the cabin. The cleared meadows were once hay fields and also had trout ponds. The harvested fish from the ponds were wrapped in the meadow grass to keep fresh for the Hunsucker family to sale.
There are tall fir trees, willow trees and also gooseberries. When there has been a ton of snow the beavers often gnaw on the trees. You will also see trees and a stump in particular that were made by the Pileated WoodPeaker.
Rusty showed us where there are a few spots where blast marks from black powder and dynamite was used at some point in time to make room for wagons. There look like a spider on the Granite. There is also a spot right before the green gate that was blasted out for the wagons.
It is always a highlight for me when I get to work with kids and get their interpretation of why the Rubicon is important to them. On August 1-4, the Rubicon Trail Foundation had the pleassure to organize the Jeep Jamboree Camp Rubicon. Colton Folena was one of the lucky participants that got to attend the Jeep Jamboree Camp Rubicon. Since his dad, Rusty Folena, Past President of the Rubicon Trail Foundation, was on cook crew we were in Rubicon Springs early. Jason Warden, was leaving to go rock roll for the participants that were attending the event. He just happened to ask Colton if he would like to go rock roll with him. Colton was very excited to be asked and go hang out with the guys. Off he went. On his return, I asked him if he would mind writing me a small paragraph of why he wanted to go rock roll.
Colton stated, “The reason I agreed to be a rock roller was first for the experience and second, I was there for the weekend to do anything the Jeep Jamboree Crew needed me to do. As long as I knew that I was doing my part to keep the Rubicon open. Also, to enlighten kids like myself that we will one day have the responsibility to take care of the Rubicon and to educate the next generation to keep it alive. I wanted to do anything that was needed, that is why I wanted to go rock roll.”
This was a quick response and he needed no assistance coming up with this statement.
This is why we do what we do for the Rubicon Trail Foundation.
On August 3, 2019, the Rubicon Trail Foundation sponsored and organized the Jeep Jamboree Camp Rubicon. This is a special segment of Jeep Jamboree that is held in Rubicon Springs that is just for kids 6 to 17 years of age. Jeep Jamboree Camp Rubicon’s mission is to motivate and encourage the next generation of off road and outdoor enthusiasts where children learn outdoor ethics and stewardship practices. Jeep Jamboree Camp Rubicon aims for children of all backgrounds to enjoy the natural surroundings and learn how to preserve the area for years to come.
This year we had 96 participants, with at least 15% of the children never having been on the Rubicon before. Our ultimate goal was to spark a new pursuit of knowledge of the outdoors. There are a few basic fundamentals in development and each were reached with the activities that we planned. Entrepreneurship- providing a vision, change and creation of the outdoor world; Cooperation; Failure as a necessity; Creativity (thinking in unconventional ways) to take initiative and risks.
The Rubicon Trail Foundation focused on providing the following skills through the following activities:
• Provided basic skills of outdoors
• Critical Thinking
• Troubleshooting skills
• Being a moral and good person
• Provided each participant with an activity booklet that contained the History of the Rubicon Trail, how to get a Ham Radio license, activities, information on Wag bags & Fire Extinguishers
• Backpack filled with snacks, notebook/pen, magnets, stickers, beach towel, and light saber
• Sanitation demonstration with kid volunteers – Providing options
for proper human waste disposal and the importance of it.
• How to use and maintain a Fire Extinguisher
• Hike to Stone Cabin with verbal awareness of snakes, bears etc.
Education on how the Indians used trail to travel, first vehicles on the trail, important dates on trail, kids found Arrowheads
• Provided each child with a Ham Radio programed to allow them to
hear communication of crew and communicate on their own channel with others. Explained
the importance of this commination and understanding of appropriate things to
say. Encouraged families to get licensed for safety on the trail.
• Crawdad Catching competition. Competing by making a plan with a limited amount of time to accomplish winning of smallest crawdad, largest crawdad, and most caught. Some kids had never caught crawdads and the kids worked together to show each other how to do.
• Kids were able to be on their own and work in groups doing all the activities.
The Rubicon Trail Foundation is federally recognized, non-profit organization dedicated to the future health of the Rubicon Trail. The Rubicon Trail Foundation acts as the support for Rubicon work projects, Friends of the Rubicon, and as a liaison with local government organizations. This support can range from getting approval for projects from the appropriate agencies, to feeding the volunteers, to buying the supplies needed to maintain the trail. We also fight the efforts of others to close or restrict use of the Rubicon Trail System. All funds raised help to enhance the future health of the Rubicon Trail, while ensuring responsible motorized year-round access. Our vision is to be the trusted stewards of the Rubicon Trail, ensuring sustainability for the experience of the users.
Our Officers and Directors represent a wide variety of Rubicon Trail users and supporters. These include trail users, land owners, county representatives, manufacturers, and Rubicon event organizers. For more information on getting involved or supporting the Rubicon Trail Foundation please call us at 888-678-2426 or visit our website at www.rubicontrail.org.
Every true 4WD enthusiast should know the basics of being responsible out on the trail. The number 1 rule is you should ALWAYS BUCKLE UP.
This past weekend the Rubicon Trail Foundation sponsored Camp Rubicon, which is a special segment of Jamboree in Rubicon Springs just for kids 6 to 17 years of age! Jeep Jamboree Camp Rubicon’s mission is to motivate and encourage the next generation of off road and outdoor enthusiasts. Hands on activities, nature hikes, survival skills, and informative discussions relating to responsible recreation rounds out their experience.
It is important that everyone learn outdoor safety ethics and stewardship practices. Our hope is that they will pass this great information on to all users including the next generation of users.
This young Rubicon Trail Ambassador helped with Camp Rubicon and spread the word of Buckling Up on the trail.
Mission: To enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon trail, while ensuring responsible, motorized, year-round trail access.
Our vision is to be the trusted stewards of the Rubicon Trail, ensuring sustainability for the experience of the users.
Our mission is “To enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon Trail, while ensuring responsible, motorized, year- round access.”
As a board one of the main goals in achieving this mission is education. Education can be done just about anywhere and everywhere. This weekend we had many board members on the 67th Jeepers Jamboree and we all did alot of education on the trail answering questions and telling participants about the Rubicon Trail Foundation.
This coming weekend we are coordinating the Camp Rubicon at the 41st Jeep Jamboree. “Jeep Jamboree Camp Rubicon” is a special segment of Jamboree in Rubicon Springs just for kids 6 to 17 years of age! Jeep Jamboree Camp Rubicon’s mission is to motivate and encourage the next generation of off road and outdoor enthusiasts with programs such as “Tread Lightly!” where children learn outdoor ethics and stewardship practices. Hands on activities, nature hikes, survival skills, and informative discussions relating to responsible recreation rounds out the experience.
Jeep Jamboree Camp Rubicon aims for children of all backgrounds to enjoy our natural surroundings and learn how to preserve them for years to come. We are so excited that we get to engage with our next generation of users.
This year we will be focusing on education in these areas:
Sanitation & Fire Extinguisher Talk
Hike to Stone Cabin with Rubicon Trail History
Intro to Ham Radios
RC Course by Chipper Ross of Jeepers Jamboree
Crawdad Contest
If you have questions please always ask. We hold monthly board meetings (see link below), you can always email us at [email protected], and/or visit us on our FaceBook Account https://www.facebook.com/RubiconTrailFoundation/.
https://www.rubicontrailfoundation.org/meetings/
“You have to participate rentlessly in the manifestation of your own blessings.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
Meet your Mid-Trail Staff that you will see on the Rubicon Trail. They are a great resource. Stop and say HI to or get information on trail conditions, things to know, or ask questions . They both look forward to seeing you on the trail.
This is Mike Hafelfinger’s third season working as Mid Trail Staff, working with both Shannon Chard and Merlin Scott in the past. He works the trail every week Monday through Thursday, spending most of his time between the Loon Kiosk and Little Sluice.
Mike ran the trail for the first time in 2011, in his Toyota pickup on 33’s. He began wheeling as a means to get to high lakes to go fishing, ended up meeting Sean Russell, a past president of RTF, and ran the trail for the first time with him. On his second trip he ran Soup Bowl, which he says, “really charged him up”, and he was hooked. Since then, he figured out that the pickup wasn’t big enough for a family of three (Mike, his wife Gail, and his dog, Shadow), so he sold the truck and bought a Landcruiser, which is what he wheels today.
He retired from being a butcher, but has worked as a ski instructor near Sand Point, ID (where he met his wife Gail), a diving instructor taking dive trips to Florida, and a certified ship’s Captain on the west coast. He also has his own 39 foot boat and has extensive blue water experience, having sailed the west coast from Canada to Mexico and to Australia and back.
He enjoys talking to trail users and finding out their stories, and likes to help folks from out of town and have an enjoyable experience on the Rubicon.
Glenn White is our newest Mid Trail Staff, filling the position vacated my Merlin Scott after his many years in the Rubicon. He’s been doing the job for three weeks and feels like he is “settling in”. He works the trail every week Thursday through Monday, spending most of his time between Little Sluice and Buck Island Lake.
Glenn ran the trail for the first time in 1982, in the Toyota Land Cruiser he still runs on the trail today. Prior to his commitment to Mid Trail Staff he typically made six or seven trips a year to the Rubicon, usually for five days at a time. His son Clint has been his “Life Long Wheeling Buddy”, in the passenger seat as a kid, and driving his own Jeep for many years.
Glenn is known to many on the trail, mostly for stopping to help folks out with mechanical problems or breakage. He says Rubicon is his, “favorite place in the world”, and considers it a privilege to be able to work there and considers Mid Trail Staff a way to give back.
He especially enjoys sharing the trail with “one timers”, those who are on the trail for their first, and perhaps only time.
Listen to yor surroundings. The rattle is a warning.
Snake heads can bite up to an hour after they are dead.
Watch your pets, they will find the snakes for you.
How to Treat Rattlesnake bites:
The first and most important thing to do is get away from the snake, as they can strike again if they feel threatened. Don’t waste time trying to catch the snake, but try to remember its size and color. This may help your medical team identify which species it was that bit you and locate the correct antivenin.
Seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Call for an ambulance if you’re able to. You should reach medical help within 30 minutes of being bitten. If the bite is left untreated, your bodily functions will break down over a period of two or three days and the bite may result in severe organ damage or death.
There are some common misconceptions about the treatment of rattlesnake bites. While waiting for the ambulance, here’s how to minimize your risk:
Don’t raise the area above the level of the heart. If you do this, your blood containing rattlesnake venom will reach your heart more quickly.
Stay as still as possible, as movement will increase your blood flow and the venom will circulate faster.
Remove any tight clothing or jewelry before you start to swell.
Let the wound bleed, as this may allow some of the venom to be released.
Don’t wash the wound, as your medical team may be able to use some of the venom from your skin to more quickly identify the correct antivenin.
Place a clean bandage on the wound.
Try to remain calm, as anxiety and panic can increase your heart rate, which will cause the venom to spread.
If you begin to experience signs of shock, try to lie down on your back, raise your feet slightly, and keep warm.
Don’t cut the wound, as this doesn’t help and you could cause an infection.
Don’t try to suck the venom from the wound, as you then introduce the venom to your mouth as well as introduce the bacteria from your mouth to the wound.
Don’t use a tourniquet or apply ice or water.
It’s imperative that you get to the hospital as soon as possible. Don’t waste time on procedures that have been shown to be ineffective.
Today is the first official day of summer! We have had some different weather this year and have finally started to get some warm and often HOT weather. While it may be tempting to cool off in our local rivers and streams, The Rubicon Trail Foundation would like to remind everyone that water levels are high and often deceiving. The water is cold and swift.
Be SAFE near water.
Spot- Spot the dangers- consider what is hidden under the water, check tides and currents, be careful around banks.
Advice- Always read the signs and wear life jackets. Do not depend on floaties
Friends – Never swim alone
Emergency- Learn what to do in an emergency
Be prepared for changing water levels when camping and in the water.
Protect Yourself in the Sun:
Cover Up- wear tight woven clothing that blocks out light.
Use Sunscreen
Wear a hat
Wear UV protective sunglasses
Limit Exposure – Reminder UV rays are the most intense between 10am-4pm
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