The Jeepers Jamboree is held...
The Jeepers Jamboree is held in July each year. Though much of the Rubicon tips the altimeter above 6,000 feet, it is usually warm and sunny. The camping area at Rubicon Springs is a Mecca for hiking, swimming, or just hanging out.
When I think about the Jeepers Jamboree marking its 59th birthday this July, it is hard to believe…almost mind-boggling. After all, how many businesses, let alone four-wheel-drive events, can stand the test of time of almost six decades? What is even more amazing is that some of the old-time Jeepers, who still drive the trail and can be seen each year hanging around main camp, were spry flat-fender-driving, 20something whippersnappers at the inaugural event! Heck, my mother was just a toddler at the time.
There are good reasons for this long-enjoyed success: striking scenery, great people, good food, and of course, the pleasure of traversing one of the world’s most infamous OHV routes, the Rubicon Trail.
The Jeepers’ crew has had more than a half-century to perfect their operation. Nothing is overlooked, no Jeeper left behind. We also find the Jamboree is a great way to cut your teeth on the Rubicon with the comfort of knowing someone will be nearby to help spot you through a tough section, toss a rock when needed, lend a strap when they are in a pickle, or even assist in spinning a wrench if they break down. For many newbies we meet, Jamboree is a crash course on the where, how, and when about the Rubicon, as well as the “what to bring” — which isn’t much. Other that making sure your rig is in proper shape, you’ve packed weather-suitable clothes, a cooler of your favorite beverages, and a few bucks to lay down at Amos’ Bar or the Ice Cream Parlor, a good attitude is all you need.
Twelve Hours on the Rubicon
The whoomp, whoomp, whoomp of a helicopter, echoing through thick stands of pine trees, greeted us as we picked up a couple of yummy breakfast burritos at the kiosk near Loon Lake. By the time we were handed our fried chicken lunches, the chopper had carved a low arc above our heads and set down on the LZ. My riding buddy Rich Currie looked over to me and commented, “I’ll bet the view is awesome from 30 feet above the treetops at 60 mph.”
The chopper whizzed passed the Gatekeeper — a boulder-ridden section that earned its namesake due to its difficulty and proximity to the trailhead — on its way to Rubicon Springs, this time tethered by a long cable and sling of gear. Though it would be there in about five minutes, we were creeping along at 3 mph and would not see the Springs until dusk.
Before us lay the Granite Bowl, a mixing-bowl-smooth depression left behind by millennia of shifting ice from the last ice age. Beyond the Bowl, a thin line of vehicles traversed the reaches of the other side. Rich took the wheel of my old Toyota Hilux and I headed out on foot with my camera to record the morning.
Arriving at Ellis Creek we were greeted by two members of the Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF). If you are not familiar with the foundation, it is a 501c(3) non-profit organization created solely for the preservation of multi-purpose access to the Rubicon. It works with Friends of the Rubicon on projects and shares thousands of members. It also raises funds to allow for a full-time staff to hand out educational information and sanitation/hygiene goodies (wag bags). We picked up our swag, filled out an RTF survey, and headed for Walker Hill. If you’ve got an area in your neck of the woods that is in jeopardy, or you want to be proactive on keeping it open, the RTF program is a great model to look at.
After skirting around the...
After skirting around the Little Sluice, the Rubicon passes a number of small lakes as it winds towards the Slabs and Buck Island Reservoir.
The Granite Bowl spreads out...
The Granite Bowl spreads out like an ocean. It is the product of the last ice age. Its surface smoothly finished as if polished by a giant buffer. A smooth layer on the surface is geologically referred to as glacial polish.
Somewhere between a rock and...
Somewhere between a rock and a hard place, just beyond an area known as the Soup Can, we caught up with the guys from Poly Performance. They’ve been cranking out some great JK accessories and had their decked-out four-door on hand to show them off.
The Rubicon Trail Foundation...
The Rubicon Trail Foundation has played a major role in preserving future use of the trail. Through numerous fundraisers and generous private donations and grants, the foundation has been able to position a full-time staff member at key locations on the trail to educate users, hand out sanitation equipment (wag bags), and monitor usage.
While the Jamboree is predominately...
While the Jamboree is predominately Jeeps, most 4WD vehicles are welcome. There is always a peppering of Land Rovers, Toyota pickups, and FJ40s.
Perks of the job. The guys...
Perks of the job. The guys at Jamboree were interested in some aerials of main camp; I grabbed my camera and helped out. Best job in the world? Yes!
Some days are better than...
Some days are better than others....
...This guy came full-frame...
...This guy came full-frame into my wide-angle lens...
...then stood his rig up and...
...then stood his rig up and flopped it over...
...Less than two hundred feet...
...Less than two hundred feet down the trail…he did it again....
...Note to self: Don’t loan...
...Note to self: Don’t loan him my rig.
The Jeepers Jamboree put the...
The Jeepers Jamboree put the Rubicon on the world’s radar decades ago. After 59 years of providing great ’wheeling, food, and fun, the Jamboree is just getting started.