RUBICON
September 2000

First Second Generation Amigo to cross the RUBICON
   The Rubicon Trail is known to 4wheelers world-wide. It is often the proving ground for new vehicles, products and modifications. The Rubicon Trail originally started as a gravel maintained road that allowed travelers to take the direct route to Lake Tahoe from Highway 50 out of California towns such as Sacramento, Meyers and Kyburz. I have seen photos of early cars driving along this gravel road to get to the Rubicon Springs Resort, a swank destination resort deep in the Rubicon Valley. But that was many years ago and fires have since destroyed the resort and constant erosion has made the trail much more challenging than a typical gravel road. Fortunately a group of people bought the privately owned land in the Rubicon Valley and still today maintain campgrounds for the off road traveler and do what they can to make sure the Rubicon Trail remains open for off highway use. This is no easy task since no vehicle without modification can make it into the valley. Even the porta potties are airlifted into the valley! Occasionally the snow can reach 30+ feet deep in the winter making the Rubicon Valley truly an isolated wilderness. I happily pay the 10 dollar per vehicle per night campground fee in my effort to support the owners of the Rubicon Valley. Without their efforts I'm sure the area would now be closed and a historical trail would be lost forever to the off roading public.

    I was asked to travel with the Suzuki crowd on the Calmini Appreciation Rubicon Run and was delighted to do so. I've been meaning to do the Rubicon for over a year now and was anxious to see how the '98 Amigo would fare. I have to admit I was a bit concerned since everyone I know that travels the Rubicon said it was tough and my little Isuzu would suffer from the trails many obstacles. I typically am not the first to venture a trail without seeing it be done in a vehicle similarly equipped as mine since this is a new truck and also serves as my daily driver and I'm in no rush to destroy it.

    Steve Kramer of Calmini led the group to our fist nights destination, Spider Lake. Here we set up camp and watched those who wanted to attempt Little Sluice. Out of 15 vehicles only 4 attempted the sluice and 3 made it with one of those laying it over on the side before completing the sluice. I elected not to even try it, at least not until some more modifications are completed. The Little Sluice is the toughest obstacle of the Rubicon and claims many a vehicle and parts each year. It is however an excellent place to sit on the rocks and see some awesome driving and the occasional carnage.

I have more to write but for now you can see some pictures of my Isuzu on the Rubicon.

The Rubicon is filled with obstacle after obstacle for the moderately modified vehicle. Here Sam helps spot me over a group of rocks. Note the rock stacking left over from the 4th of July Jeepers Jamboree. Fortunately the Pirates of the Rubicon frequently remove these stacks and restore the trail back to it's natural and tough state.

I had no idea my IFS had that much down travel! WOW a whopping 4 inches. ;~)

There is many squeezes on the Rubicon, ranging from moderate to gnarly. This one is fairly easy but it would be interesting in a full sized vehicle. Note the Land Cruiser behind me. It isn't uncommon to have some traffic on the Rubicon. Fortunately for us our weekend was fairly light.

Geez, almost like pavement. Notice I'm gassing it, as usual.

The scenery of the Rubicon is breath-taking but if you are driving you will only see it when you stop.

Crossing the dam on day 2.

Just a few rocks to keep it interesting. The Jeep behind me is 3 guys from UC-SLO and the Jeep was made by the drivers father and is very nicely equipped with a Ford motor and a Chevy drive train. Personally the combination makes it lucky the vehicle starts in the morning and label guys would cringe. The hardtop Sammy is owned by Matt who is employed by Calmini. Matt swapped in a Volkswagen diesel in his Sammy that works well on the trail but no one wants to be behind him (phew). Lucky me.

In the Rubicon Valley is the Rubicon River and Rubicon Springs. I really had fun splashing down here.

It was truly a fun run, I just gotta get to the car wash and get rid of some dirt. The Sammy guys where asking me where I found the mud. I said the same place you guys went through, only 205 HP helps to kick it up a bit.

I'm looking forward to going again next year, I only hope I have some more Isuzu's to pal around with.

BACK