By Chris Cowan

RTF Board Meeting via Zoom

Important information- Change of time & Virtually Only

Tomorrow’s RTF Board Meeting, December 16, 2020 will only be via Zoom at 6:00pm PST

(CURRENTLY ALL MEETINGS ARE VIRTUAL ON ZOOM DUE TO CORONAVIRUS)

This meeting is usually a quicker meeting with board elections and passing of any electronic votes.

Zoom is free. Download the Zoom client for your PC/Mac or the mobile version for Android/iPhone.
Rubicon Trail Foundation is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: RTF Monthly Board Meeting

Dec 16, 2020 06:00 PM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZcldOqorDwuGtRREDqJmA9RXm9N7x6-xFRB/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGrpjgpGtaStBmHRpwqGojCb_TzpmZbjbdvrjrBEgpeQ1rEDu8bHOVnRpXI

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 838 3302 7400
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  • USB Headset is really helpful, as you can hear and be heard better. Logitech makes a very good, but inexpensive USB headset if don’t know what to get. You can buy it here on Amazon.

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 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.

Press Releases
By Chris Cowan

Snow Repository

Over the last several years, there has been an increasing problem with Placer County, contractors, and local homeowners using the Tahoe entrance to the trail as a snow repository.  Those of us who live in snow country know how hard it can be to find a place to store snow when plowing and clearing roads, but taking the snow from one public road and placing it in another is not a solution, it only migrates and exacerbates the problem.

Doug Barr (of The Other Rubicon) and Ron Briggs (Tahoe FOTR lead) have been working on this problem for several years and have asked RTF (and just about anybody they can think of) for help.  RTF has gotten involved at the level of attending meetings, making phone calls, and offering help with education.  Our stance is that we are not asking anybody to DO anything, but we are insisting that they DO NOT move snow onto the Rubicon McKinney Road, an open public road.  As Mr. Barr points out, this is an illegal act.

Recently RTF directors attended a public Zoom Meeting (it was cancelled in person) with Placer County representatives and neighbors.  At that meeting we stated our position and offered to create and place signage to remind folks not to dump snow in the roadway.  Here is our follow-up letter:

PlacerCountySnowRemoval-11-20

 

Education Political Trail News
By Chris Cowan

Happy Thanksgiving

The Rubicon Trail Foundation wants to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving! Please be safe and take all precautions when out and about.

We have finally hit the cooler weather and with that days can be warmer than the brisk cold nights. Make sure that when you pack you bring plenty of clothing layers, tarps, sunscreen, shovels, enough food and then some extra in case of delays, always tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return and be SAFE!

Since the temperatures can change dramatically be aware of fire restrictions.  Start by getting a campfire permit from any CAL FIRE, U.S. Forest Service, or BLM station or office. Permits are required to have campfire or portable gas stoves on public lands.

During periods of high fire danger, campfires may be restricted. Also, keep a shovel and bucket of water nearby at all times.

  • Choose a safe location
  • Clear a minimum 10 feet around fire
  • Extinguish your fire with the “drown, stir and feel” method and/or water

Check to ensure there aren’t any local fire restrictions in the area.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=fsbdev7_019067

Education
By Chris Cowan

Rubicon Ham Repeater Replaced

The Rubicon repeater started as a surplus handheld radio mated to a mobile in Rubicon Springs in 1992.  Merlin Scott (KC6BFV) became the first caretaker of the Springs in 1991, and in 1992 his friend Frank Yost (KA6GWY) decided to make his life safer by putting in a barebones repeater. Originally the antenna was mounted on a shovel handle stuck in the ground, and eventually the antenna was hoisted into a tree each spring and removed at the end of the season.

In 2004 Merlin moved to Spider Lake and the repeater moved with him.  It had much better coverage now but was still old handhelds in a pelican case powered by a used car battery and solar cells lying on the rocks.  The antenna was mounted to a tripod held down with sandbags.

In 2008, with driving force from Dennis Mayer, RTF made an agreement with the Spider Lake property owners to put in a permanent vault, making the repeater year around.  It has gotten better over the years with improved receivers, new engineered antennas, more solar power, a remote weather station, and added digital capability.

In the last two weeks the repeater hit another milestone.  Last year RTF voted to appropriate $5000 for the purchase of a brand-new commercial quality repeater.  The repeater was ordered from Daniels Communications, and tuned and mated to the RLC-1 controller that was added in 2013.  Last week John Arenz (N6YBH) took the repeater in and with help from Ryan O’Neal and Steve Nelson it was installed.  The last of the glitches were repaired by John at the Spider Lake vault and Frank by remote control this weekend.

With support from our donors, RTF has funded, and Frank Yost and the Rubicon Nerd Patrol have put in place the premier ham radio repeater on an OHV trail anywhere.  It has been used to save many lives and ordered a lot of parts over the years.  Now it will be in place for years to come!

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 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.

Education
By Chris Cowan

Great Collaboration and Work to keep Rubicon OPEN for ALL

Part of education that often is not noticed is working on the trail and collaborating with others.  The Tahoe National Forest Service reached out to us, Friends of the Rubicon, Jeepers Jamboree, and the CA OHV Division to get some much-needed work on Cadillac Hill & Observation Point not to make it easier but to keep the trail preserved and open for all.

Joe Chavez, the Tahoe National Forest OHV Resource Tech put together this great PowerPoint presentation.

https://www.rubicontrailfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/HO-127_Siller-Rubicon-pt1-R.pdf

The picture above was to stabilize the bottom of Morris Rock, reducing siltation and damage from oil spills. Using RTF trailers, large rocks were loaded and brought to the site by volunteers, and then placed by the excavator. This creates a rocky challenge for trail users and prevents future damage…win win!

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 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.

Education Trail News
By Ken Hower

Rubicon Toilets Upgrade

Last Fall, Edio Delfino and All Coast Builders (www.allcoastbuilders.com ) and James Hardie Building Products (www.jameshardie.com), offered to El Dorado County via Rubicon Trail Foundation to donate materials and services to rehab all the Rubicon toilets with new more durable siding.

Last week, with coordination from RTF and All Coast Builders, seven of the ten Rubicon Rest Stops (trail bathrooms) were stripped and rehabilitated with new concrete siding and trim provided by James Hardie Building Products. This was a coordinated effort to move material, strip, and re-side the public bathrooms with a superior product that will last for decades and be non-combustible, resistant to sun, wind, animals, and insects.

The result is a transformation!

Rubicon Trail Foundation would like to thank El Dorado County Parks, All Coast Builders, and James Hardie Building Products for their collaboration to make this project possible. Look for the rest of the toilets to be updated and all to be painted to their former colors before season end.

Each toilet was rehabbed removing rotten wood, and woodpecker holed wood.

They were properly wrapped for the elements.

Arnold’s rock toilet was in the worst condition, given it is one of the oldest toilets on the trail. It now has decades of new life.

Trail News
By Chris Cowan

Bio Response/ Spill Kits

There you are enjoying your trip and then snap, pop, creak! What is that dripping now?

El Dorado County has been providing spill kits for several years now, implemented by the El Dorado County Environmental Management Dept. and funded by a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board. However, the Rubicon Trail Foundation knows that you may head to different areas to explore or like to have spares in your rig or just need the Bio Response. We have the Bio Response and spill kits on our website just for YOU. If you are local (Placerville area) we can possibly meet up with you or if you need them shipped order below.

https://www.rubicontrailfoundation.org/shop/

In the Kit your will find an absorbent pad that is used to soak up oil off the ground or even water, an RTF oil rag, and there is also Bio Response in there that is friendly to the environment. Just follow the directions on the bottle on how to use. You will find Disposable bins at the trail heads for safe disposal of your used Oil Spill Kits.

One of the best ways to prevent spills is to do a simple pre- trip inspection of your rig and address any issues before you get to the Rubicon. Tighten bolts replace gaskets and such.

If everyone does their part the Rubicon will be Oil free.

Education Store Trail News
By Chris Cowan

Why is having a HAM Radio license important?

What happens if you break down on the trail?

My husband(family) left and has not returned home yet?

The Rubicon Trail Foundation fields many questions about the Rubicon Trail each day especially during the summer & winter months.  This year we have noticed many more coming in with people from all over heading to the Rubicon as a lot of vacation venues are closed or cancelled due to the pandemic.

There is little to NO Cell Service on the Rubicon Trail.  HAM Radios are great because you can communicate with people all over the world if licensed and get help if needed in an emergency situation.  It is very important to pack appropriately (food and clothes/blankets) and always tell people where you are going and when you will return.

Recently RTF bought a new Daniels UHF transmitter and receiver for the ham repeater.  This $5000 commercial quality repeater will make the ham repeater very reliable for years into the future.  Frequent users of the system are aware that the radio team (Frank Yost, Ray Pledger, and John Arenz) work on the system consistently through the season.  This new repeater will be super sensitive with great audio, and will not need the constant tweaking and repair the current system does.  Best of all, it will continue to be reliable when no one is around to fix it!

How to get a HAM Radio License:

You will need a License to Operate A Ham Radio, you can contact any local amateur radio club for more info, or take Advantage of the classes that RTF sponsors. This Class is designed to take you from zero to HAM radio operator in no time at all. Its typically held in the Sacramento Valley area, in El Dorado Hills.  Due to COVID, we aren’t anticipating a class until 2021. [email protected]    or http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-class

If you already have a Ham Radio License here the frequencies used on the Rubicon-

146.805 -.600 PL123.0
The KA6GWY repeater, covers the west slope of El Dorado County and the Sacramento area.

145.350 (repeater transmitter), odd split to 146.205 (repeater receiver), PL123.0 
The Tahoe Basin KA6GWY repeater, linked 24/7 to the 805 ELD repeater, coverage in the Tahoe Basin.

146.805 simplex, no PL
This is the repeater output frequency of the KA6GWY repeater. Nice to have so that you can talk to
your friends right in front of you, still listen to the repeater, but not tie it up when simplex will work just fine.

444.9875 +5.00 PL156.7 
The Rubicon repeater located near Spider Lake, coverage on all of the Rubicon Trail except east of Barker
Meadows OHV trail.

444.9875 +5.00 PL 107.2
Same as RUBI except that when using this PL it links to 805ELD and 805 TAH.

444.9875 simplex, PL107.2 
This is the repeater output frequency of the Spider repeater. Nice to have so that you can talk to your
friends right in front of you, still listen to the repeater, but not tie it up when simplex will work just fine.
Note, PL is used because some users decode PL on their handheld radios.

Education Trail News