Topic: RIP Lil' Sluice...

[Jeffy]

The paving has commenced.  

[neale_rs]

Pretty shocking.  What is the reason for this?

[Jeffy]

Pretty shocking.  What is the reason for this?

From what I can gather money.

[Jeffy]

I should mention the pictures above are not of Lil Sluice but rather Big Sluice.  Lil Sluice is next though.  With that there is only difficult part is probably Old Sluice which isn't a part of the main trail.

Here's Big Sluice before.

[neale_rs]

Regarding the Little Sluice, I once read an interview with Mark Smith where he said that the Little Sluice was made harder on purpose by people dropping rocks into it from the sides.  The purpose supposedly being so they could watch carnage.  He seemed to consider it an "incorrect" modification of the condition it was in back in the old days and that it was a shame that it was no longer driveable for the majority of Rubicon trail visitors.

Making the Big Sluice that easy is ridiculous.  Especially since it was already driveable with 31s. On the other hand, a lot of those rocks stacked on the side of the trail will eventually fall back into the trail. It might end up harder than before!

[chardrc]

what are they going to do pave it for those rollerblading road biking smug idiots. that looks smother than some paved roads around here. 

[Jeffy]

Regarding the Little Sluice, I once read an interview with Mark Smith where he said that the Little Sluice was made harder on purpose by people dropping rocks into it from the sides.  The purpose supposedly being so they could watch carnage.  He seemed to consider it an "incorrect" modification of the condition it was in back in the old days and that it was a shame that it was no longer driveable for the majority of Rubicon trail visitors.

Making the Big Sluice that easy is ridiculous.  Especially since it was already driveable with 31s. On the other hand, a lot of those rocks stacked on the side of the trail will eventually fall back into the trail. It might end up harder than before!

Seeing as you could drive the Lil Sluice back in the early 1900's I guess you could say that.  I hope they don't make it like that though.  Remove the big rocks in the beginning and leave the rest.

[neale_rs]

I would prefer it be left alone but if they must make it easier (for whatever reason) it should be left at least so that it would be just barely doable on 31s.  They really went too far with the Big Sluice.

[Jeffy]

Here's a nice pic of the area.  The upper area on the NE side of the sluice is closed off.  That used to be the bypass road.

[aw12345]

Lil sluice is tamed, the reason being to much carnage and fluids dumping on the ground without cleanup, thus getting in the watersupply, which is protected.
So it's our dear fellow fourwheelers that are lazy slobs that caused this.
If it's past your skill level and capabilities, then don't be an idiot.
Any way this is what had to be done to keep the Rubicon open

[Jeffy]

I think they're doing a great job in reinforcing the banks of the trail to limit erosion.

Not what you'd expect to see in a remote area.

[Jeffy]

They filled in a lot of the big gaps.  Doesn't look that bad but I'm not sure if they're done.  Looks like they chopped down the redwood at the entrance.

[neale_rs]

Had the tree died?  That was in all the old-time pictures of the Little Sluice, I was hoping to see it some day in person.

[Jeffy]

Had the tree died?  That was in all the old-time pictures of the Little Sluice, I was hoping to see it some day in person.

I don't believe so.  It just leaned over a lot.  Too much liability I bet.

[Jeffy]

Here's some video I took back in '98.

http://youtu.be/Jg_IchJbTp0#t=9m30s