Support FOTR and the Rubicon at the same time. This sticker is for everyone who has done the Rubicon Trail.

We formed at the end of 2000 when a gate was proposed on the Tahoe side of the trail. Overnight, hundreds of folks were communicating via email about how to mitigate a winter/spring erosion problem with Placer County. FOTR formed instantly.

FOTR is now the strongest single-trail oriented coalition in the country. We are proactive in keeping the Rubicon Trail alive and well (and accessible to all).

We are working with Placer County, El Dorado County, the USFS, private businesses, many organized recreation groups, and other land management agencies to ensure our famed Rubicon Trail remains as one of our crown jewels of motorized and mechanized recreation.

We are also about responsible use of the trail. We don't advocate building new bypasses or using shortcuts around the established trail and existing bypasses. We advocate obeying the rules and the law, as well as trail ethics.

We now sit at the table as an official permanent member of the Rubicon Oversight Committee (ROC) that will guide the future of the Rubicon Trail.

With the ROC, FOTR was working on a long term, strategic Master Plan for the Rubicon Trail. However, as of May 2008, the Master Plan was set aside by El Dorado County due to budget constraints. The County jurisdiction over the trail also shifted to the County Department of Transportation (DOT), which makes more sense to us anyway.

Now as to the connections and the various acronyms:
FOTR (Friends of the Rubicon) is the work force (informal) that maintains the trail and leads our effort of fixin stuff and doing jobs on the ground; as well as taking political action when needed.  Trail Patrol is part of FOTR that leads our on the ground education efforts (with funding support from RTF).

RTF (Rubicon Trail Foundation) is the fund-raising, public-educatin', idea-creatin' arm of our effort with a real IRS non-profit status.  They are the bank for FOTR fund-raising efforts.  RTF and FOTR sit at the table of ROC.

ROC (Rubicon Oversight Committee) is the official body for action on the Rubicon Trail for El Dorado County, because the Rubicon is a non-maintained public road. These folks line up the jobs to repair and maintain the Rubicon Trail (with our help of course).  It's the El Dorado (EDC) County Department of Transportation (DOT) that now has oversight of the Rubicon Trail (as a public road passing through El Dorado County).  This is way good news for us.

ENC (Eldorado National Forest) surrounds the Rubicon Trail and has jurisdiction on all the spur and side roads, off-trail camping, wood-gathering, parking, etc.

If you are still confused (smile), please drop me a note.