Rubicon - Little Sluice ByPass Closure?

[sleeperjeeper]

I've been hereing rumors that the guy who owned the land on which the little sluice bypass is located has sold it, and the new owners closed it off. This would mean everyone has to do the little sluice in order to do the rubicon. Has anybody been to the rubicon this year or have any knowledge of this?

I got a rubicon trip coming up in a month, but there is no way I will be able to do the little sluice.

Thanks,

 

[sleeperjeeper]

some info I found on it

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=681519

 

[Bryan C.]

I've been hereing rumors that the guy who owned the land on which the little sluice bypass is located has sold it, and the new owners closed it off. This would mean everyone has to do the little sluice in order to do the rubicon. Has anybody been to the rubicon this year or have any knowledge of this?

I got a rubicon trip coming up in a month, but there is no way I will be able to do the little sluice.

Thanks,

You should post this up in the Sierra Chapter. From what limited information I have gotten the plan is to blast Little Sluice so it can be driven with 33" tires. For now I believe the upper and lower bypasses are still open until the blasting is done. I am pretty sure the so-called 2 trees or Toyota Rock bypass is what you are referring to. That section was neven an official bypass anyway and was considered off-trail.

 

[EricsXJ]

The other way to bypass it (legally?) is head into Little Sluice and just before the big rocks you turn and drive up the rock face on your right. It is fairly steep so you would need at least one locker or 2 good LSDs. A spotter is always good to have there also.

 

[xjblue]

Here is a photo from last summer, the bronco is just trying to enter the hard section, you will notice a black CJ or wrangler up on the slab to the left, that Eric is talking about, it's a tricky slab to get on judging from the spectating I did. Several were strapped up it while we were there. I know it doesn't look steep from this angle but it is.

 

[Bryan C.]

Here is a photo from last summer, the bronco is just trying to enter the hard section, you will notice a black CJ or wrangler up on the slab to the left, that Eric is talking about, it's a tricky slab to get on judging from the spectating I did. Several were strapped up it while we were there. I know it doesn't look steep from this angle but it is.

I have been told that the line to the right is off trail now(or will soon be) as well.

 

[EricsXJ]

If that is the case then you can bet they would blast LS to make it passable. Otherwise what would most of us do, including Jeep Jamborees? (I'd hate to think they would close the bypass for the general public but allow the Jamborees to use it...)

 

[cal]

I just talked to Del Albright, and these bypasses are open currently.

I asked permission to post his response here, waiting to hear back.

 

[cal]

From: Del Albright
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 4:08 PM
To: Cal Tuttle
Subject: RE: Hey there!

Little Sluice bypasses are OPEN for this year as always. Both long and short ones. The rumors are probably caused by the fact that these bypasses are NOT in the USFS Travel Management Plan (FEIS) that we are appealing; but everything is copasetic for this year. Bypasses are legal still, until 2009. By then we’ll have them in the Travel Plan or we’ll sue ‘um. J



The County and the feds have yet to shake hands on how this will all shake out. Friends of the Rubicon and the Rubicon Trail Foundation are all over this fighting to preserve those bypasses..

Del