Part 6. Continued. . .
Where were we? Oh, yeah, we just changed our shorts and pointed the rigs back up Cadillac Hill.
Now, this very famous obstacle is downplayed by the big tire crowd as being very easy. In reality, I don't think that many people actually run this part of the trail. It is mostly used by people entering/exiting via Lake Tahoe whereas most people come and go via Loon Lake and camp at Buck Island Lake. It is mostly expedition wheelers from afar like us that run the entire trail. We only saw a few of those.
At its most difficult, Cadillac is a shelf road with giant boulders and granite squeezes that do not relent until you are back in the trees. It isn't the most difficult thing we encountered, but it is certainly under appreciated in terms of Rubicon lore.
Unfortunately, while I think that there was at least one in-car cam rolling, there are no pictures of Cadillac Hill. I'm pretty sure that is because no one wanted to stop and take them. A good wheeler realized that keeping forward progress going on this thing was the best bet.
However, we were greeted with some fantastic views from Observation Point. Parker was seriously frightened by a Labradoodle named Fluffy. And we saw some cool rigs including a 6 passenger Scrambler.
Now the trail started to ease up a bit but the scenery did NOT. Danny and Tim got hung up for a minute on a boulder that I turned over in the trail (at least that is the story that they are sticking with) so we took the opportunity to grab a sandwich. While we were munching, the LEOs came up and chatted with us about mapping and GPS and such. They were in a RZR. Good thing those are light weight because they get hung up all the time!
Jess took over at the helm of Orville at this point and we cruised through some more trail, rocks, and by some beautiful lakes (Miller Lake, Lily Lake, and McKinney Lake.
The "end" of the wheelin' portion of the trail:
This was the highest point on the trail, right next to the lake at 7150':
Now we started down hill towards the staging area. We started seeing a combo of ATV tours and stock rigs. . .just taking a peek inside to see what this Rubicon Trail was all about but not wanting to commit to the full experience.
Then. . .after 12 miles of trail and 16 hours of seat time, we officially conquered the Rubicon Trail. Honestly folks, I've done my best to describe this experience in words, but it is impossible to describe the feeling in my gut as I type these words. . .we did it. 3/4 of us did it in VERY stock rigs. Even the big Bronco with a good driver was challenged. And. . .well. . .2 of us still had to drive our station wagons many hundreds of miles. Crazy? You tell me:
Airing up:
On to Tahoe for Slurpees and beer:
Can a wheeler get a valet up in here??
No, dear wheeler. . .the adventure was not over. We hung out in the room w/beer, Pizza, Ice Cream and Toby's laptop to preview the media from the event. The plan was to launch for the return trip at around 4AM so we were early to bed.
Toby, Jess, Parker and I stayed in the HoJo while Danny and Tim stayed across the street at the Day's Inn.
At about 2AM or so, I woke up to screaming in the parking lot. An obviously intoxicated man was yelling, "You are killing me!! I am killed. You aren't helping me!!" Over and over. I kind of figured that he was talking to his now-estranged girlfriend on the phone and begging her to take him back. . .until, a few seconds later, I hear HER voice yelling: 9 1 1, someone 911, we need help. He is bleeding.
So, of course, I jumped up and swung the curtains open at about the same time that a neighboring guest opened his door to assist. The aforementioned bleeding individual was trying to break into the front office of the hotel, presumably to use the phone. He quickly lost energy and slumped over on the bench by the front door.
Ambulances and police intervened and hauled him off to get stitched up/detoxed.
We quickly went back to sleep. . .
When we exited the hotel room a couple of hours later, we were greeted with puddles of blood equaling what had to be several quarts. I leashed Parker around to the rear of the building to see if he had to use the facilities. . .there I encountered "the scene of the crime". The young, drunk, bleeding man either jumped or was pushed out of a second story window. Broken glass, screen parts, and blood were everywhere. Parker and I quickly decided to find a new place to do the doggy business.
After a fuel stop and some coffee, we were off. Toby, Jessy, Parker and I kept straight on US50 while Danny and Tim headed back up Ice House Road to retrieve the big rig. I don't have any photos, but, Danny picked the wrong line climbing the trailer deck in his YJ so there was one last recovery.
We all met back up for breakfast and goodbyes at the Denny's in Placerville. Toby took Danny back to his motorhome and the lovely Mrs. Foley while Tim, Jessy, Parker and I along with Danny's YJ started the long journey home.
The day was hot (111 in Redding), but Orville's AC was blasting on Max so we were comfy for the extended road trip back to the 99352. One more time past Shasta and on through Bend, the Gorge, up over the Horse Heavens and head on pillow by 11:30 to get just enough sleep to survive the day at work on Monday.
So, it can be done. . .on a long weekend, a group of stockish wheelers holding their mouths right can have an adventure that will live on in our minds to our last breath. . .and set the stage for other expeditions to come.
It was, I daresay,
EPIC.