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Rubicon (6/03)
Thurdsay/Friday

It had been a full two years since my first trip across the Rubicon. This time I was accompanied by my Dad who came down from Portland to ride shotgun. It was his first trip really wheelin', and although he did own a CJ5 briefly in the early 70's, I don't think he had any idea what was in store. I was really looking forward to this trip as it was the first outing of 2003 for me and I had just replaced my stock front shafts with the newer units that have the 297 u-joints. Lots of spare parts, everything looked good to go. And this time we were running the trail backwards (from Rubicon Springs to Loon, instead of the more typical route the other direction).

The trip up was uneventful until just past the turnoff on I-80 to Fordyce, when the Jeep started belching smoke. I pulled over and discovered transmission fluid dripping all over the catalytic converter. Great. We topped it off and headed through Tahoe City to the staging area on McKinney Wentworth Springs road. By then the leak seemed to have subsided. We ran into Lee and his son, then Stoney (AKA the guy with no doors, no spare, no blah blah blah...hahaha, if you know Stoney you get the picture!) and his girlfriend, Jesse and Jacob, and Farmer Matt and his family. Set up camp in the parking lot and had a nice dinner.

Early next morning more of our group showed up. We were waiting for Goatman and Sean P. but Sean P. had a leaky t-case and turned around. We met up with Richard and Kevin, and James and at the top of Cadillac Hill while we were eating lunch. Goatman's Jeep looks great these days (amazing what a rollover can do!) with the back chopped and a really well-designed cage.

Cadillac was easy and the only other thing of note before Rubicon Springs was the horrible swarming mosquitos and a bit of deep muddy water that we crossed. The trail was a lot more wet than the last time I was up there but all the snow was gone.

 
Dad in the parking lot

Dad in the parking lot

Stoney and Farmer Matt's XJ's

Stoney and Farmer Matt's XJ's

Big Shiny posing on a rock, top of Cadillac

Big Shiny posing on a rock, top of Cadillac

Another view of my great parking space

Another view of my great parking space

The view towards Buck Island lake

The view towards Buck Island lake

Another view of the Sierras

Another view of the Sierras

Me and my Dad

Me and my Dad

The "stoneymobile"

The "stoneymobile"

Goatman's nicely modified ride

Goatman's nicely modified ride

Coming down Cadillac

Coming down Cadillac

Mud hole

Mud hole

Mud hole II

Mud hole II

Mud hole III

Mud hole III

A small obstacle near the Springs

A small obstacle near the Springs

Stoney coming up

Stoney coming up

Big Sluice was interesting coming up it instead of going down it. It too was pretty slippery but not that difficult. Of course, I took the sane lines most of the time! Near the hairpin turn at the top I sliced my right front tire up really good, two large quarter size holes in the sidewall that took about seven plugs to fill. Thank goodness I bought a tire repair kit for this trip. The plugs were still leaking a bit but we made it up to Buck Island Lake without other problems. I think there was a bit of breakage for others...Lee knocked out his side window and did some body damage, and I think there were a few other little problems.

Buck Island was beautiful. Two years ago we only stopped briefly, but this time we found a great camp site that was well off the trail and secluded from the wind with plenty of room to spread out. This was a good thing because our group had a LOT of shit. Lee wins the award for biggest gearhead with his powert inverter, Mr. Coffee maker, a sawzall that came in handy cutting firewood and more meat than I've ever seen in my life. Tons of food to go around. That night we had a fabulous mexican spread with half a dozen kinds of homemade salsa, carnitas, nachos, steak, fajitas, and plenty of tequila and blended margaritas thanks to Jesse. It was quite a scene around the campfire that evening with plenty of off-color humor and heavy drinking. Weather was great if a bit chilly. I went to bed but apparently later in the evening Andy and Britt rolled in.

Lee coming up

Lee coming up

Another shot of Lee

Another shot of Lee

Goatman climbing

Goatman climbing

Goatman II

Goatman II

Farmer Matt near the Springs

Farmer Matt near the Springs

A waterfall near the Springs

A waterfall near the Springs

Dad catching some zzz's after lunch

Dad catching some zzz's after lunch

Beer break at the Springs

Beer break at the Springs

Me coming down something

Me coming down something

Stoney on a tough little obstacle

Stoney on a tough little obstacle

Lee getting the line

Lee getting the line

Farmer Matt, with authority

Farmer Matt, with authority

Another shot of Farmer Matt

Another shot of Farmer Matt

Waiting on the way up Big Sluice

Waiting on the way up Big Sluice

A cute canine passenger

A cute canine passenger

More Big Sluice

More Big Sluice

The scene at Buck Island Lake

The scene at Buck Island Lake

Nice spread!

Nice spread!

Lee getting serious with his meat

Lee getting serious with his meat

Getting a fire ready

Getting a fire ready

Kids, please don't try this at home!

Kids, please don't try this at home!

Another camp shot...

Another camp shot...

...and another

...and another

"Can I ask you a few questions?"

"Can I ask you a few questions?"

Dad talks with Keven about Jesus...

Dad and Keven share a few words about Jesus...

Lee looks on...

Lee looks on...

Good times!

Good times!

Lee and his son kicking back after dinner

Lee and his son kicking back after dinner

Now that's a fire!

Now that's a fire!

Rubicon 2001: Day 2

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