The Road To The Rubicon

Six years ago I discovered the Rubicon Trail from videos on YouTube. I had no idea there was even such a trail.  A fellow Jeeper on Instagram told me, with practice, one day I would be able to wheel the trail. 


At the time, I didn't think I would ever be at that level. Boy was I wrong. Recently, I upped my wheeling game with some off roading in Kingman, Arizona where the trails are quite difficult, some compare them to the Rubicon trail and even harder. I made it through a few of those trails, so I figured I might do okay on the Rubicon Trail.

The time was finally here. Not only was I going to get to wheel the Rubicon Trail, I was going to get to do it with my two sons. Neil was able to convince my oldest Michael to join us. 


I picked my kids up at the airport on Thursday night and Friday morning it was off to the Rubicon Trail. Michael and Neil were in the 1969 CJ5 and Ben and I were in the Rubicon.

Since our truck was on the fritz we were driving the CJ5 instead of towing. It was going to be a challenge with the smaller gas tank and low speed.  

We took our time getting from Del Norte, Colorado to South Lake Tahoe, California where we were meeting the rest of the Jeep crew that were going to wheel the Rubicon Trail with us. 

Spending time on the road with my kids was amazing. I was able to show them the amazing beauty of the west. The first night we found dispersed camping in the Manti-La Sal National Forest. 


Their first experience at dispersed camping. They liked the fact we were the only ones for miles and out in the middle of nowhere with just nature. 

It was a great time and an awesome memory. We took a little hike just me and my kids then came back and Michael got the fire started. Then we ate dinner and hung around the campfire. A moment in my life I will cherish forever.  

Those three days on the road are ones I will never forget. It was frustrating with all the stops the CJ5 needed to make with gas fill ups and engine issues, but my kids and I made the best of it.

 One of the most amazing parts were the views along Highway 95 in Utah between Blanding, Utah and Hanksville, Utah. It's one of America's Scenic By-ways. The views were absolutely breathtaking.  


We pulled into South Lake Tahoe Sunday afternoon and meet the fellow Jeepers at the hotel. That ride into South Lake Tahoe coming over the mountain and seeing the lake was spectacular and scary. I created a traffic jam because I was so freaked out at the heights. I wish I had pictures but I couldn't take my hands off the wheel and Ben was secretly recording me freaking out. 

The next morning it was off to the Rubicon Trail. But first Neil needed to do some work on the CJ5 so it was off to the parts store and then some wrenching. 

I was pretty stressed about the CJ5 wondering if it would make it on the trail. I had the confidence Neil would be able to keep it a float. But there was just something not right and I could feel it in the air. I just couldn't put my finger on it.

On The Road to the Rubicon Trail 

A Jeep Momma YouTube Video