New Stuff

Rubicon Trail Foundation’s PRELIMINARY OHV GRANTS 2010/2011 PUBLIC REVIEW/COMMENTS

Rubicon Trail Foundation in partnership with El Dorado County, has proposed our 2010/2011 grants for Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Department. There are significant similarities between the 2009/2010 grant year in progress and the proposed 2010/2011 grants, but that only makes sense considering that 2010/2011 continues many elements of the previous education program and continues support for the County’s Department of Transportation (DOT) erosion control and maintenance efforts on the Rubicon Trail.

RTF would like to invite you to review and comment on the 2010 applications submitted to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, OHMVR Division. The public review and comment period will be open from Tuesday, March 2, 2010 through Monday, April 5, 2010. You can view and comment on the applications online at OHMVR's website at http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/. , click the “GRANTS Tab” then click on “OLGA” when the screen appears, then click on the “Public Review Instructions” follow instructions at Step 2 and proceed to the applications.

There are two main grant divisions in RTF’s 2010/2011 grant proposal: Ground Operations: three heavy-duty trailers and associated costs to move materials along the trail to support DOT’s erosion control and maintenance efforts on the Rubicon Trail. Education: informational kiosk staff, counting staff, and Mid-Trail Staff, will help inform users of current issues and support County educational campaigns such as WAG-bag distribution, oil spill cleanup, on-the-trail discipline, etc.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation was formed in 2004. We are a federally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to the future health of the Rubicon Trail and our mission is to enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon Trail, while ensuring responsible motorized year-round trail access. The Foundation works with individuals, clubs, organizations, and agencies to maintain and manage the trail. Our Officers and Directors represent a wide variety of Rubicon Trail OHV users, land owners, county representatives, manufacturers, and event organizers.

If you would like to help with our efforts, you may send your tax deductible donations to:

Rubicon Trail Foundation, PO Box 2188 Placerville, CA 95667

Paypal donations or major credit cards by calling 888-6rubicon or by signing up for a Friends of the Rubicon work party at: www.friendsoftherubicon.com

# # #

If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with a representative of the Rubicon Trail Foundation, please e-mail president@RubiconTrailFoundation.org If you have questions on any of the projects, please feel free to contact: grant.administrator@rubicontrailfoundation.org

Win this Cherokee for only $10!

Raffle Cherokee

RTF has been given the old El Dorado County Sheriff's Cherokee. This is the XJ that was built up by donors to get the SO on the Rubicon Trail.

Here are the specs on the Cherokee:

1996 Cherokee Sport
4.0 liter engine
Automatic
Atlas Transfer case
Rubicon Express long arm lift kit
Dana 44 rear axle w/ Superior axles
Dana 30 front axle
Warn bumpers front & rear
Master Craft bucket seats
35" BFG Mud Terrain tires
Fresh paint
New fender flares
Brand new Warn 8000 pound winch

This thing still has the "cage" to protect you from your back seat drivers!

Tickets are $10 each and we are only going to sell 2000 tickets. The drawing will be held at Cantina for the 'Con, Labor Day weekend in September.

Dave.Gross@RubiconTrailFoundation.org

Black Tie & Boots 2010

The Black Tie & Boots Dinner and Auction was a blast. Again, it was a sell out crowd. The food was great and the auction items were awesome. Next year you'll have to get your reservations in early.

We had quite a few sponsors this year, including:

Mountain Transit Authority

El Dorado Disposal, a division of Waste Connections

John & Barbra Arenz

Jeepers Jamboree

American Legion Jamboree Cook Crew

El Dorado Community Foundation

Tow - Rite tow bars

Eagle Radiator

Cheryl Mayer

Doug Barr

Del Albright was honored this year for among other things, starting Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) and then later the Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF). He was presented "The Rock" from Kevin Arnold's "Arnold's for Awards" shop in Placerville.

Kevin Arnold and Del Albright

Did we mention it was Black Tie ........................and....................Boots?

Marlin Crawler Round-up report:

The 8th Annual Marlin Crawler Round-Up of 2009 was the biggest and most successful Round-Up in the history of the event. This event raised $7,352 in donations for The Rubicon Trail Foundation, making this the largest donation Marlin Crawler has ever raised for a non-profit organization!! Thank you to everyone who participated and for making this the most successful Round-Up ever! We hope to see you again at MCR9!

http://www.marlincrawler.com/news/2009/oct/marlin-crawler-8th-annual-round

Once again, Cantina for the 'Con 2009 was a huge success. TDO (This Dysfunctional Organization) lead the charge of multiple clubs to put together this years event. Here's Mark's report:

http://www.thisdysfunctional.org/forumdisplay.php?f=27

5th Annual Cantina for the 'Con Report

The 5th Annual Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) Cantina for the ‘Con was held at the Loon Lake entrance to the Rubicon Trail over Labor Day weekend. This years Cantina was dedicated to the memory of our good friend Dennis Mayer. We lost Dennis last November but those of us lucky enough to know him are better for the time we shared. Dennis was our inspiration, mentor, motivator and, most of all he was a great friend. May Dennis live long in our hearts, memories and prayers.

The Cantina was a great success on many levels. We had over $15,000.00 in prizes for our drawing and raised a Cantina record of over $33,000.00 for the RTF! This puts the total amount raised by the Cantina for the ‘Con to $100,000.00!!! We can’t thank our Vendors and Trail Users enough for their generous support.

This year’s event featured a first for the Rubicon Trail…. a 4x4 Ice Cream truck built by the Rubicon Rockheads. The Cantina is a success year after year because of the cooperation of several Clubs working together to support a common cause, the Rubicon Trail. Here’s a list of Clubs and the duties they shared:

*Auburn Jeep Club- Served a Pancake breakfast Saturday morning & donated 100% of the proceeds.
*California Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs- donated the event trailer, tents, tables, chairs and towable BBQ.
*California Creepers: Parking & Traffic Control
*Vacaville Cliffhangers: Tire filling station
*Mountain Transit Authority (MTA): Ice Boxes, Raffle donation, Food Prep & Serving
*Pirates of the Rubicon: Saturday & Sunday Cook Crew, Food Prep & Serving
*Rock-N-Roll: Vendor solicitation and Ticket Sale Promotion
*Rubicon Rock Heads: Audio/Communication system, 4x4 Ice Cream truck.
*TDO: Event Planning and Organization, Food Prep, Cook Crew and Serving
*Many individual trail users that stopped in and offered their time to help.

In addition to cooking, food preparation and serving, the RTF Officers & Directors continued to make contact and educate trail users, providing maps, answering questions and encouraging proper trail etiquette. Throughout the Labor Day weekend we handed out Oil Spill Kits to trail users. A Grant provided by El Dorado County made the spill kits available and the recipients were very grateful to have them. If you are interested in receiving a spill kit, please stop by the Kiosk at Loon Lake.

The Vendors Showcase also grew this year. These Vendors not only donated product to the Drawing but also spent the time and money to set up booths and show off some of the latest and greatest Off-Road products available. When you’re trying to determine who to spend your hard earned cash with, please give these Companies and Organizations extra consideration:

*4 Wheel Parts- Sacramento
*Friends of the Rubicon
*Metal Cloak Fabrication
*Ruff Stuff
*Marlin Crawler
*Jeepers Jamboree- Also donated (4) Porta-Potties & (2) Wash Stations
*Trail Gear
*Rubicon Rock Heads
*Inchworm
*Pirate4x4.com

On behalf of the Rubicon Trail Foundation, NorCal Clubs and Vendors, THANK YOU for your generous support! It’s because of you, the trail users and supporters, that the 5th Annual RTF Cantina for the ‘Con was a success!

The last Taco hadn’t been sold and we were already making plans for the 6th Annual Cantina for the Con to be held over Labor Day weekend 2010. Next year’s event will feature a Jeep Cherokee that will be raffled off to a very lucky winner. Ticket information will be available in the coming months. If you have any suggestions on how we can make it better or if you and your club want to get involved, please contact me at mwlangford@comcast.net. We would really appreciate hearing from you.

__________________
Mark Langford

Cantina for the 'Con 2009

"You may have heard about this event! It's the Rubicon Trail Foundation's 5th annual Cantina for the Con fund raiser held at the Loon Lake spillway on Labor Day weekend (September 5th and 6th).

We will again be making some awesome tacos and nachos that can be had for donations that will go directly to the Rubicon Trail Foundation.

We will also have tons of prizes from sponsors such as BFG, Davez Off Road Performance, Marlin Crawler, Trail Gear and MUCH MORE! Last year over $18,000 in prizes were donated and overall we raised over $21,000 in funds that were 100% donated to the Rubicon Trail Foundation.

If you cannot make it to the event and want to know more about these fantastic prizes, you can email me at cantinadonations@gmail.com or go to http://www.thisdysfunctional.org/showthread.php?t=12887

Thanks for your support. "

RTF’s Position on Little Sluice

Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) supports a full public process led by DOT to address unsustainable concentrated use near Little Sluice. RTF believes that there is no single easy answer to the multiple challenges of Little Sluice and the immediate area around it and welcomes the opportunity to work within a public process to develop a multi-pronged plan that coordinates agencies, organizations, and volunteers.

RUBICON TRAIL FOUNDATION
Contact: Randy Burleson
Telephone: 916-223-1608
E-mail: Randy.Burleson@RubiconTrailFoundation.org

PRESS RELEASE: RUBICON TRAIL FOUNDATION STATES POSITION
Position Statement by Rubicon Trail Foundation in regards to:
the Little Sluice, on Rubicon Trail in El Dorado County

Placerville, CA July 30, 2009

Little Sluice is a short section of the world-famous Rubicon Trail in El Dorado County, California that experiences heavy recreational use and uneven agency management. Recent complaints in the Rubicon Oversight Committee (ROC) have drawn specific attention to these issues, and beg a closer look at the history of this well-loved area.

In 1992, the first large boulder was rolled in to the Little Sluice. No agency action was taken in response to it or to subsequent events in Little Sluice until the County, in cooperation with the Forest Service and private property owners, closed Spider Lake in 2004. Since then, few significant agency actions have taken place, and none have adequately managed the issues related to concentrated use of the Little Sluice area. The only agency to take positive action on the Rubicon Trail has been El Dorado County Department of Transportation (DOT). The Forest Service (USFS) has failed to implement its 2008 Route Designation and has signed the area adjacent to the Sluice more than 150 feet away from the trail. This failure to address parking and related camping has allowed continued unsustainable concentrated use near Little Sluice, in spite of strong efforts such as distributing WAG bags and spill kits; installation of new vault toilets at Loon Lake; outreach from the kiosks, roving trail patrol, and mid-trail staff; and internet-based education.

Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) supports a full public process led by DOT to address unsustainable concentrated use near Little Sluice. Change is needed because of vegetative loss over the years (bushes), potential damage to the cypress tree, re-occurring vandalism, water shed impacts downstream, and risk of oil contamination in the Little Sluice. RTF believes that there is no single easy answer to the multiple challenges of Little Sluice and the immediate area around it and that at minimum, the following solutions must be considered:
   * USFS to support NEPA processes for bathroom installations
   * USFS to encourage sanitation via multiple solutions (not just personal sanitation solutions)
   * EDSO and USFS to cooperate for law enforcement, with emphasis on enforcement against drinking and driving as well as prevention of off-trail travel
   * Agencies to correctly place and enforce trail centerline and trail boundary signage to discourage off-trail travel
   * Agencies to consider possible reroutes to mitigate environmentally untenable sections of the trail
   * Agencies to plan implementation/education/enforcement to ensure that changes in one area don’t just divert impacts to other areas
   * Any mitigation plan to include measures to protect the big cypress tree above Little Sluice
RTF is willing to consider any solution, up to and including reduction of rocks in Little Sluice, but believes this should not be the first or only option considered. If agencies, organizations, and volunteers can come together, RTF believes solutions can be found that require less destructive management techniques.

Overall, RTF believes that successful intervention at/near Little Sluice will require a multi-pronged effort that coordinates agencies, organizations, and volunteers. RTF welcomes the opportunity to actively work within the public process along-side other members of the public – this is a public right-of-way, and we need to work together to identify specific goals and measurable outcomes.

RTF appreciates the efforts of FOTR volunteers over the last 8 years. We know that with continued cooperative support from RTF and FOTR trail stewards, the Rubicon Trail will be an environmentally sound, viable, year-round trail accessible to the public for years to come.

The public is invited to comment to Tom Celio tcelio@co.el-dorado.ca.us - RTF will work to consider all options and opinions brought forward by all individuals and groups, whether new or old, and is committed to supporting a County decision that is the best for the trail.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation was formed in 2004. We are a federally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon Trail, while ensuring responsible motorized year-round trail access. The Foundation works with individuals, clubs, organizations, and agencies to maintain and manage the trail. Our Officers and Directors represent a wide variety of Rubicon Trail OHV users, land owners, county representatives, manufacturers, and event organizers.

If you would like to help with our efforts, you may send your tax deductible donations to: Rubicon Trail Foundation PO Box 2188 Placerville, CA 95667. Paypal donations or major credit cards by calling 888-6rubicon or by signing up for a Friends of the Rubicon work party at: www.friendsoftherubicon.com

More information is available at www.RubiconTrailFoundation.org

# # #

If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with a representative of the Rubicon Trail Foundation, please e-mail president@RubiconTrailFoundation.org

Rubicon Trail Foundation

Ellis Creek Count Signup Page

Rubicon Trail Foundation needs volunteers to do trail use counts at Ellis Creek from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day this year. This request is one of the responses to the Water Quality Board’s Clean-up and Abatement Order. Since trail counts are one of the projected functions of the Loon Lake kiosk, Deb {Pulskamp has graciously offered to coordinate this effort..

Volunteers are needed at Ellis Creek Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon (Monday on holiday weekends), as well as July 3^rd – 12^th. Preference will be given to volunteers who can work an entire weekend. A base camp has been set up at Ellis for this purpose, with a tent, camp stove, chairs, cots, table, an E-Z up, and all the information/handouts you need.

This is so important to Rubicon Trail Foundation that we want to pay you for this work!

A per diem rate of $50 for half days and $100 for full days will be paid, making $200 for the average weekend. We know this isn’t big money, but recognize that it may make the difference between volunteering that extra weekend or not.

The Ellis Creek trail counts have priority over the Loon Lake kiosk for the 2009 season. If you have already signed up to work at the kiosk, I can move you to Ellis. That being said, staffing both areas would ideal.

If you just have a day, or you don’t want to go all the way in Ellis Creek, please remain on or sign up for the Loon Lake kiosk at www.RubiconTrailPatrol.net .

To check if the day you want is available, please look at the calendar below and then email Deb at dpulskamp@volcano.net to sign up for the day you want.

Embedded calendar:

http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/n29k6obt7t8jfa9a3v5erdv9k0%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic

PRESS RELEASE: RUBICON TRAIL FOUNDATION STATES POSITION

Position Statement by Rubicon Trail Foundation in regards to:

Rubicon Trail, El Dorado County

The Rubicon Trail Foundation maintains that discharging waste into waters of this state where it threatens to create a condition of pollution or nuisance is not an acceptable practice and that reasonable steps are being taken to manage discharges.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation sees two separate issues in over the snow travel and wet weather/snow melt conditions.

1. Deep snow conditions that discourage travel, camping and general use are a barrier that significantly reduces trail population. In these conditions, vehicles with a large tire footprint can float over the snow and result in a near zero impact.

2. Super saturated soil conditions present a soil erosion risk that exceeds that of other conditions. Rubicon Trail Foundation strongly recommends voluntary travel restrictions during these super saturated conditions based on site-specific and scientific evaluation.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation does not support the blanket restriction of Rubicon Trail use by season, or by vehicle numbers, type or size.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation supports El Dorado County's current management procedures for addressing vehicle fluid spills on County roads. The Rubicon Trail Foundation believes improperly disposed of human waste on the Rubicon is best corrected by a multilevel approach that includes public education, portable sanitation solutions and permanent toilet installations, where practical.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation supports a County-developed Operations and Maintenance plan for maintaining the Rubicon Trail based on the March 2009 California Geological Survey assessment and its updates.

This O&M plan should include a list of prioritized projects.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation supports efforts to define the boundaries of the Rubicon Trail. A well-defined trail, maps and signage are important steps in that direction.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation encourages the establishment of reasonable and practical operating procedures for training of volunteer groups and others to install and maintain trail drainage structures, stream crossings and new trail segments.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation supports educational programs to inform Rubicon Trail users of trail rules and etiquette.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation supports requiring every Rubicon Trail user to carry portable human waste disposal devices and requiring every motorized user to carry oil spill kits.

Grant Proposal Suggests Equipment and Staff for Rubicon

Rubicon Trail Foundation Submits Preliminary Application for OHMVR 2009 Grant Cycle

Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) submitted two grant proposals to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division for the 2008-09 grants cycle. RTF’s grant proposals are complementary to El Dorado County’s Department of Transportation’s proposals, though neither depends on the other receiving funding.

· Our General Application Requirements section defines background and pre-requisite information: http://134.186.25.134/designer/viewPDF.aspx?ShowPDF=Y&ExtUser=Y&TempID=1&Filename=Application_1_0.PDF&cat=GCA&appid=115&fyr=2008

· Our Ground and Operations grant proposal suggests acquisition, operation, maintenance, storage, and etc for vehicles and appropriate utility attachments, as well as staff to operate them, to be used in cooperation with El Dorado County for vault toilet servicing and heavy trail maintenance: http://134.186.25.134/designer/viewPDF.aspx?ShowPDF=Y&ExtUser=Y&TempID=1&Filename=Application_1_G.PDF&cat=GCA&appid=163&fyr=2008

· Our Education Grant Proposal suggests Active Educational Outreach (Kiosk staffing, trail patrol staffing, and Mid-Trail staffing), and Passive Educational Outreach (trailhead signs, mileage signs, intersection signs, trail markers, brochures, etc.). It speaks to staff training, and part-time stipends for 3 coordinators (volunteer, kiosk, and trail patrol), two full-time camping staff at Spider/Buck, and volunteer per diem. We have dual emphasis on education AND census-counting: http://134.186.25.134/designer/viewPDF.aspx?ShowPDF=Y&ExtUser=Y&TempID=1&Filename=Application_1_S.PDF&cat=GCA&appid=116&fyr=2008

If the above links don't work, you can review the grant applications submitted, by working through the process detailed in the second link of the following thread: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9512597#post9512597

... you may also contact me directly for more specific instructions as to how to view and respond with constructive comments.

The 30-day public review and comment period for the 2008/09 Grants and Cooperative Agreement Program begins March 3, 2009, and ends April 6, 2009. This period provides an opportunity for the public to review the preliminary applications submitted to the OHMVR Division for consideration during the current grant cycle.

The public may provide comments, suggestions or letters of support for the Program, to both the applicant and the OHMVR Division by emailing: Randy Burleson, President of the Rubicon Trail Foundation at Randy.Burleson@RubiconTrailFoundation.org with a carbon-copy (cc:) to the OHVMR Division at OHVinfo@parks.ca.gov Written comments may also be mailed to RTF at PO Box 2188, Placerville, CA 95667

All comments, suggestions and letters must be received by April 6, 2009. We’d appreciate your constructive comments and suggestions!

The Rubicon Trail Foundation was formed in 2004. We are a federally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to the future health of the Rubicon Trail and our mission is to enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon Trail, while ensuring responsible motorized year-round trail access. We work with the individuals, clubs, organizations, and agencies to maintain and manage the trail. Our Officers and Directors represent a wide variety of Rubicon Trail OHV users, land owners, county representatives, manufacturers, and event organizers.

More information is available at www.RubiconTrailFoundation.org

Rubicon Trail Foundation

Black Tie and Boots Annual Banquet

A huge success!

The details are not finalized yet but it's looking like we cleared $10,000 in profits!

A huge thanks needs to go out to Lori Warden for putting this all together. She was not alone in her efforts but she was THE driving force that made this event happen.

Sponsor Levels

Sponsorship Premier

$5000.00 Special Recognition Table, Seating 10, corporate name/ logo on table, Verbal recognition at event. Logo /name on complimentary gift for attendees, premium listing in program, Personal Waiter, recognition on web site with (link to website) Signage at entrance to event.

Executive Sponsorship

$1000.00 buys table for eight, verbal recognition at event, corporate name on table, corporate name/logo on program, and mention in website (Link in website?)

Sponsorship

$500 seating for 4, mention in program

Dinner Tickets $150 per couple or single $80

Auction Items, both live and silent:

Winery tour of Noceto with the winemaker
Tasting and Gourmet lunch for 4
Magnum of wine
Rusty

ATV adventure to Spider with Ken Hower
Includes lunch for 2
Randy Burleson

Dinner and a Movie
Gourmet Sunset Dinner Catered by "The First Wives Club"
Hosted by Dan and Kelly De Wolf
At one of the most beautiful estates in El Dorado County
Includes movie in beautiful private movie theatre.

2 Jeepers Jamboree Tickets
Jeepers Jamboree

Bottle of Port from Madrona Winery
With Antique Glasses
Lori Warden

3 one hour massages
Donated by Dr Mark Sheppard

Magnum of wine with Glasses
200 Personalized Dashboard plaques
Arnolds for Awards

Splasherville Gift Cert
John Arenz and Splasherville Manager

Bird Bath Donated by
Susie Davies

If you cannot attend and would like to support the foundation please send donation to:

PO Box 2188, Placerville Ca 95667

For more information Please call Lori or Randy at 888-6rubicon (888-678-2426)

OUR MISSION

To enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon Trail, while ensuring responsible motorized year-round trail access.

Ham Class for 2009 as per Dennis Mayer's wishes

John and I will be teaching another ham radio class this Spring, in memory of Dennis Mayer, W2DWM.

The class will be held on April 18 and the test date will be May 2.

I encourage anyone interested to please sign up. This will be the LAST class taught for 2009. We are offering this course in honor of Dennis because this was his dream and desire for all of you. This is his legacy.

If you are interested, please email John with your name, phone number, mailing address and email address so he can keep track of everyone who is signing up.

John's email is
John.Arenz@RubiconTrailFoundation.org

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them here or email me (n6boa@yahoo.com) or John at the above address.

We will post more info as time gets closer including how to get a radio and what materials you will need for the course. The radio is certainly optional. This class is completely free but the test cost is $15 (new 2009 FCC fee ). The location is TBA.

Barb, n6boa

November 28, 2007

Contact: Scott Johnston

(530 ) 333-2884

El Dorado County Recognizes Rubicon Trail Foundation

(Placerville, CA)—As part of its ongoing effort to preserve and maintain the famed Rubicon Trail, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors today passed a resolution announcing their support of the Rubicon Trail Foundation.

The Rubicon Trail is known world-wide as a premier off-road recreational experience. It is generally accepted to be the first and oldest recreational off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail in the United States.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation exists to enhance the recreational opportunities for current and future generations in an environmentally sensitive manner. The Foundation also strives to educate the public about the Rubicon Trail which includes trail use and ethics, improvement and maintenance projects, and National Environmental Policy Act compliance.

The resolution recognizing the work of the Rubicon Trail Foundation came at the request of Supervisor Jack Sweeney.

“Supervisor Sweeney is a long time user of the trail and supporter of OHV recreation,” said Scott Johnston of the Rubicon Trail Foundation. “The Rubicon Trail Foundation will continue to work with El Dorado County as well as state and federal agencies to enhance responsible trail management.”

El Dorado County recently released the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Rubicon Trail Master Plan.

“We have been waiting a long time for the Master Plan,” said Johnston. “Many trail improvements have been delayed pending its adoption so we are excited to be moving forward.”

The Draft EIR is available at www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/Rubicon/index.html. Public comment on the Draft EIR closes at 5:00 PM on December 27, 2007.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation is a California public benefit corporation. Additional information about the Rubicon Trail and the Rubicon Trail Foundation is available at.

http://www.rubicontrailfoundation.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Off Highway enthusiasts fight for public lands access culminated on September 13^th 2008 when over 180 Toyota vehicles gathered at Rubicon Springs to raise money for the Rubicon Trail Foundation.

The 7^th annual Marlin Crawler Roundup (MCR) was held at Rubicon Springs on the Rubicon Trail in N. California. This customer appreciation day has grown in size from a few dozen folks showing up for an impromptu BBQ to a full blown event that rivals any off road event held in California. “I am flattered that my customers are so proud to use my products” Said Marlin Czajkowski, Owner of Marlin Crawler Inc.

Marlin is dedicated to land stewardship as well. When he announced that all of the drawing proceeds from ticket sales at the event, would be donated to Rubicon Trail Foundation, Scott Johnston, a Director of the foundation said “Marlins dedication to his customers is well known and RTF thanks him for his dedication to us. MCR raised over $6,000 this year and in this economy, that is amazing. Thanks Marlin!”

Marlin grew up in Tujunga, CA and spent time with his family in the high Sierra where he learned to enjoy and respect nature. “The mountains have always held a special place in my heart” said Marlin when asked about his beginnings. He started the business as a small auto repair business and when he discovered that there was a way to put an extra low range gearbox in a Toyota he just had to have one. Problem was it did not exist in the US at the time. So after much effort, he found one in Iceland and brought it to the US and developed and improved it. Well, by now he has sold many thousands of these and Marlin has been called the “Father of the Toyota 4WD pickup” It is easy to see why so many people attend this event.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation is a 501.c.3 non-profit Corporation dedicated to the Rubicon Trail.

Marlin Crawler Inc. is a small business that provides aftermarket parts to Toyota owners.

# # #

for more information about Marlin Crawler see:

www.marlincrawler.com or phone them at 559-252-7295

for more information about Rubicon Trail Foundation see:

www.rubicontrailfoundation.com

Links to letter writing efforts to Keep our public lands open to the public!

Dennis Mayer 1943-2008
RTF Treasurer and Friend of the Rubicon

Celebration of Life - Remembering Dennis Mayer

Dennis Mayer Memorial Fund

FOE Workparty Press Release.
Click here for the story and photos

The Tahoe Forest Route Designation

Route Designation for Tahoe is out. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is available for review and download at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/tahoe/projects_plans/ohv_inv/DEIS_overview.shtml

History of the Rubicon Trail Foundation is now available to read.
http://rubicontrail.org/aboutus/history.asp

Amateur Radio on the Rubicon

The Story
On July 7, 2007 a local Jeep club made their annual run on the Rubicon Trail. During that run, on their second day, on the way from Rubicon Springs to the Ellis Creek area, they were running Big Sluice in the uphill direction. In this difficult section, one of the vehicles rolled onto its right side, injuring the passenger. He was complaining of neck pain and chest pain and it was obvious to those nearby that he needed medical help. The club members and others on the trail tried futilely to summon help via CB and cell phone. The range on the CB’s was too short and no cell sites were available.

As the victim’s condition worsened it became clear that he needed to be flown out immediately, and it was decided to send hikers in each direction to try to find help. One was sent towards Rubicon Springs, the other towards Buck Island Lake. Fortunately, a small volunteer work crew had just finished a minor project at Buck Island Lake. One of those volunteers was a paramedic, but most importantly had access to amateur radio: a license and a radio. He had soon summoned a medical helicopter via amateur radio, secured a helispot at Buck Island, and begun treating the patient.

By the end of the day, board members of the Rubicon Trail Foundation had begun to discuss bringing widespread year around amateur radio use to the trail. This plan consisted of two phases:

By that fall the first RTF amateur radio license class was completed. Since then RTF has sponsored and put on classes to license more than 100 OHV oriented hams. More classes are planned!
In the spring of 2008 RTF began to execute a plan to have permanent year around repeater in the Rubicon. Cooperation with a local repeater operator was secured, an agreement was signed between the stakeholders, and construction completed on a repeater vault and the associated equipment by the summer of 2008. This required the assistance of many groups and individuals. To see the list, check the links below.

How it Works
The KA6GWY repeater system is comprised of three transmitters and a multitude of receivers. Keep in mind that this is the primary EL Dorado County Search and Rescue Team repeater, so courtesy should be shown them if they have a SAR mission going. It should be used as follows:

146.805 mHz, –0.0600 mHz split, PL 123.0 – The main KA6GWY repeater, located in the Placerville area, it works well on the western slope of El Dorado County including the western side of the Crystal basin and in the Sacramento Valley. This is the appropriate repeater to use in these areas and is permanently linked to the repeater on the trail.

444.9875 mHz, +5.00 mHz split, PL 156.7 – This is the Rubicon repeater, boasting year around hand-held coverage on all of the Rubicon Trail. It should be used in the Rubicon for talking from one area of the trail to another. Note that there is a receiver for the 146.805 permanently linked to the repeater so all of the 146.805 traffic will be heard.

444.9875 mHz, +5.00 mHz split, PL 107.2 – The same repeater listed above, but using a different PL will cause the Rubicon repeater to connect a transmitter to the 146.805 repeater, thus linking the two repeaters. This repeater should be used to contact emergency services or to talk to an amateur radio operator outside the Rubicon on the 146.805 repeater.

145.605 mHz, +0.600 mHz split, PL 123.0 – This is the Tahoe basin repeater. It is permanently linked to the 146.805 repeater and works well in most areas of the Tahoe Basin as well as in some side canyons.

Please keep in mind that you must be licensed to use these repeaters.

For questions please contact:

John Arenz
N6YBH

For information on RTF amateur radio licensing classes contact:

Dennis Mayer
W2DWM

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