Monday, September 7, 2009

Exploring The Rubicon Trail

By Birch Wheeler

Off-road adventure almost always equates to conquering desert dunes, muddy bogs, and roads strewn with rocks and pits. Quite simply, these are the places where no fancy vehicles dare tread their tires and shimmy bumpers with, unless if you own a Jeep Wrangler. But if you are adamant in really experiencing the mother of everything that is off-road, then get into your Wrangler and drive off to the Rubicon Trail, the Mecca of off-road driving.

The Jeep Wrangler has been deemed as a vehicle that can surpass any stretch of terrain on this earth. And for many Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts, finishing the Rubicon Trail in once piece is a great achievement. However, the obstacles present in the said stretch of land are not easy to pass, much alone conquer.

A bit of trivia, the Rubicon Trail is named after the Jeep Rubicon, variant of the Jeep Wrangler. The said trail, which stretches for 22 miles, treads the Sierra Nevada and is located due west of Lake Tahoe. While 22 miles may not be that long, the Rubicon Trails is peppered with obstacles that are extremely difficult to surmount.

While the Rubicon Trail may start out as a rocky yet easy path to traverse to, there are several obstacles in the route that challenge even the most daring 4x4 drivers. Jeep Wrangler owners who have conquered the Rubicon Trail have experienced problems when reaching specific points of the trail. Sometimes, these obstacles are too much for the Jeep sand their drivers.

Walker Hill is one of the most challenging spot of the Rubicon Trail. The hill, which breaks down into a three-part course, is specked with sharp turns and boulders. The hilltop also features a small path that is situated over a decomposing rock.

While Walker Hill is a hard route to pass, Little Sluice proves to be harder. Stretching to only a hundred feet, this path is strewn with big boulders that have overturned vehicles that attempted to cross the trail. In fact, because of its near impassable status, Jeepers have created three alternative routes to bypass Little Sluice.

The Rubicon Trail is one of those stretches of land that really pushes any off-road drivers to the extreme limits. While many have conquered what this trail offers to the table, there are a significant few that did not fare well. That said, the Rubicon Trails appeal remains vibrant for master off-road drivers and eager adventurers alike.

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