June 2000

For over seventeen years a calling from within the ranks of the Diablo 4 Wheelers has been made for fathers, so to-be fathers, and grandfathers to assemble for a weekend of wheelin on the Rubicon. This year's attendance of members and friends was a near record for our small family club, as a total of seventeen rigs assembled Friday night at Airport Flats campground. As you read on, you'll find out why this year's Father Day Rubicon run was more of the more memorable runs in the clubs history.

Saturday morning just before sunrise one can hear the rustling of bodies from the scattering of tent campers. Excitement is quickly building over our group of season members with rigs that have rock for years, newbies with new rigs, and of coarse the most excited were our children.

Our weekend plan of attack was to enter from the slightly more challenging Wentworth Springs entrance. We would stop at Little Sluice for lunch and arrive sometime late Saturday afternoon to Rubicon Springs to camp for the night. Sunday we would sleep in (a bit) and then head up Cadillac Hill to Observation Point for a group photo, and then exit the trail sometime mid day.

The sun has just started to crest over the towering trees that line the entrance to Wentworth Springs. Seventeen rigs, which consisted of an assortment of Jeep CJ's and TJ's, Toyota FJ40's and pickups, Ford Broncos and even a "bone" stock Toyota Tacoma.

It was not long after airing down that our excitement began for the weekend. Our first obstacle to overcome: Wentworth Springs entrance. In the end all but the tail gunner made it successfully through the Wentworth Springs entrance. Our tail gunner ended up parked with a large boulder wedged in his under carriage. With the build up of a small rock ramp and a tug from Brandon's Bronco our group was off to the granite slabs for a short rest.

The day was shaping up to be fantastic, temperatures in the mid 70s, challenges right from the get go and we hadn't even reach our first challenge, Walker Hill. As we approached the granite slabs it was decided a short break was needed to regroup. During our short break it was decided to break our group into two smaller groups and reassemble at Little Sluice for lunch. The trek to Walker Hill was uneventful with the exception of usual problems of one way traffic flow. The first group quickly arrived at Little Sluice and enjoyed watching several exotic rigs attempt Little Sluice as they ate lunch.

Meanwhile the second group was still fighting traffic on Walker Hill. By the time the second group had arrived to Little Sluice, the first group was already heading onward to Spider Lake and eventually, Rubicon Springs.

It's now early afternoon and everyone is back on the trail heading to Rubicon Springs. The first group has encountered few problems until Big Sluice. This year's snow and rains have created quite a challenge. Add to the difficulty of getting through Big Sluice is the factor that traveling through this area is once again one way traffic flow. The second group is wandering their way along the granite slabs just before Buck Island. The tail gunner of the second group is definitely giving his co-pilot an "E ticket" as several skyward salutes are pulled back down to earth by those proceeding their rig.

As the second group approaches Big Sluice we hear on the CB that a large group is making their way up the trail. We are requested to hold until further notice, with the following footnote; there's a rig totally disable just around the corner entering the Big Sluice.

The first group is now heading onward to Rubicon Springs to acquire an area large enough for the entire group's overnight stay. Better than an hour passes before the second group is able to start the climb down through Big Sluice to Rubicon Springs. With the elapse of time a rather large meld of vehicles has assemble to begin the trek downward so the journey is a slow one. This is the most difficult challenge for the day as in the second group is several first timers and some stock vehicles. As the last of the second group makes their way through the start of the Big Sluice we hear from the first group that most of the camping areas are already occupied. The sun is close to setting as the last of the second group wander they way down Big Sluice.

Almost half way down a call over the CB for help is heard, a Toyota pickup as rolled over just behind us. There are about four nearby Diablo rigs, so out we get and head back up the trail to help. No one is injured, in the mishap, and there is minor damage to the pickup. It doesn't take ten plus bodies long to upright the pickup. But this would be only the start of a string of problems. With the last of the second group almost down to the valley's floor and everyone else now in camp, a call for the President of the club to head back to Big Sluice is made. A member has sheared off the pitman arm on his FJ40 which will require a welder to repair.

If there had been a small traffic problem before the second group start their trek down the Big Sluice, the problem had now turn into a full scale parking lot with groups from both directions. As before with the recent rollover, fellow off-roaders gather to help with whatever they could. Tools and hi-lifts we loaned out, food and drinks were shared among those running low on supplies. Stories of their break-downs and such were told until Diablo's President arrived with his welding equipment. An hour passes, the sun has retired for the evening, and we're rolling again with a temporary fix. As we follow the President back to camp for what seemed forever was actually a short distance. Once back in camp again fellow members pitched in and help those just arriving setup their camps, prepared their food, and to top off a long day, a long hot shower. The remainder of Saturday night was spent around the campfire telling stories.

Sunday morning is a bustle of activity as three rigs required welding before we can start. As the welding starts the morning air is fill with bacon, eggs, and hot coffee.

By 9:00am we have broken down our camps, packed the rigs, and are ready as a single group to head out. As the precession heads slowly towards Cadillac Hill we take in the sights of the valley floor for one last time. Today's travel will be slow as there are several traveling wounded rigs.

Cadillac Hill as always, presents itself as a major obstacle for us. The trail is very wet, very slippery and line with several heavy rocked areas, just for our entertainment. The good news is that we are early enough that there is no problem with vehicles attempting to traverse down the trail. With a major group effort everyone makes the trek up Cadillac Hill, but not without problems as a fellow member while pouring gasoline into his rig has gotten some gasoline into his eyes. With the assistance of several others his eyes are flushed out with milk and his co-pilot as assume the driving duties for now.

As it nears mid morning the majority of us start gathering at Observation Point for a group photo. We're near completion of this year's run and everyone is in good spirits, rigs are still running, and the day's weather looks to be awesome again. There's not much left to completing the trail, but many of us are already showing signs that's it's been a long weekend.

From Observation Point the journey should be somewhat easy and allow for some relaxation. This is what we thought away. With both Toyota FJ40's in our group considered part of the traveling wounded, one has chosen the wrong path. Not to be outdone, the tail gunner from Saturday, whom has had anything but an easy time of time, has capped off his journey with a rollover.

Could there, would there, be anything else that would go wrong? Well the answer was actually YES. Everyone did make it off the trail, with two groups departing the service area at the trail head. One group was headed into town for a group lunch, the other was headed back to Airport flats to pickup their motorhomes and trailers. And it is once again that infamous tail gunner heading back to his motorhome that had a problem with his rear axle losing all of its fluid.

All in all, you might consider this "the trip from Hell", but it really was not. It was a journey where club members, friends and fellow off-roaders came together. Whatever the problem or obstacle, we as a team helped each other, learned from each other. And in the end, we'll share many stories about this weekend together.