In 1952 several residents of Georgetown held a meeting to discuss the possibility of an organized Jeep tour from Georgetown to Lake Tahoe, via the Rubicon Trail. What began as a Rotary Club effort to boost the economy of Georgetown, CA, still continues to play a major role in Georgetown's business community. On August 29, 1953, 55 jeeps with 155 enthusiastic participants left Georgetown on a two day trip that is now known as "Jeeper's Jamboree 1." 56 years later we would continue the tradition of running the "Grand Daddy" by running the 56th Annual Jeeper's Jamboree on the world famous Rubicon Trail.
What an amazing trip it was this year! For some in our group this was their first time at Jeeper's Jamboree and did not know what to expect. Boy were they in for a good time!
Our trip in was a long and adventurous one. Once we were registered at the Jeepers Jamboree office in Georgetown, CA, we got a quick sandwich from Worton's Store and were on our way. The ride from Georgetown into the mountains is a beautiful journey in itself as you drive through the Eldorado national forest. Beautiful Stumpy Meadows reservoir is picture perfect, and the water looked very inviting on a warm July afternoon. We didn't stop at Stumpy for a swim, but we did make a much needed pit stop at Uncle Tom's Cabin for a cold one! Adam always has a great story to share and is willing to take our annual group photo for us. Adam's kitty cat "Pest" always greets us with a purr every time. Uncle Tom's has become a ritual for us, and we couldn't imagine a better start to an incredible weekend.
Our trip went relatively smooth all the way to Buck Island with a small detour at Little Sluice for some fun in the JK. When we arrived at Buck Island, our friends from the Faber Family greeted us with open arms. We hung out at Buck Island and chatted with the mechanics that would undoubtedly be busy tomorrow (when the actual Jamboree begins) repairing any Jamboree participant's Jeep that needed it. After some good conversation and a snack, it was off to Rubicon Springs which would be our final destination for the weekend's festivities. It was a quick pinball ride down Big Sluice in the dark, but we finally made it to the Springs as the clock struck midnight. It was silent when we rolled in so we tried our best to be courteous while pitching our tents in the dark. We all know that pitching a tent in the dark is hard all by itself, but being quiet and exhausted adds a novel dynamic to it! After a long but fun day, our tent felt like the Ritz Carlton as we instantly drifted off into never-never land.
Taking the JK through the infamous "Little Sluice"
The slabs near the beginning of the trail. You can see Loon Lake in the distance.
Each morning we would enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared by the courteous Jamboree cook crew consisting eggs, sausage, and even biscuits and gravy! The typical day consisted of hanging out at the swimming hole where. We saw a lot of familiar faces and met some very cool people. Relaxing by the water, enjoying the music, and basking in the sun was both soothing and energizing. The rope swing added a great deal of excitement if you had the courage to give it a try! Each night the Jamboree main camp would come alive starting with delicious dinners such as BBQ steak, spaghetti, and more. After dinner each night there was live entertainment with a band, dancing, and even a roaming magician. Back at camp, some of our crew played games such as washers, poker, beer pong, and "name that tune." Some of the girls really knew their 80's tunes and put most of us to shame!
The planning and logistics that went into such a large event takes a lot of time and organization. The helicopter crew that made several trips daily was sure that our meals and other supplies got there in a timely manner. Those who attend for the first time or the 10th time can sense that the Jeeper's Jamboree Crew truly put a great deal of care into the event. In addition to the mechanic's station at Buck Island, there was also an elaborate mechanic's station set up at Rubicon Springs for those who need parts or to repair the damage caused from the ride in. Thank you for being there when you are needed!
The evening festivities that Jeeper's Jamboree put on for the participants was outstanding! The band and food were superb and the staff was exceedingly pleasant. We loved seeing what they were wearing each night while serving dinner. The volunteers at Amos' Place (the fully stocked bar at Rubicon Springs main camp) were outgoing and quite generous, and they support American Legion 119. One of our favorite spots to visit in main camp was the "Ice Cream Parlor". There are no words that truly explain what it's like to enjoy a hot fudge sundae in the middle of the woods.
"Do I want the Special Sauce? YES, please!"
Saturday was Vendor's Day at main camp. There was an incredible amount of booths crammed into main camp this year! The entire main camp was packed with everything you could think of. From axles to inflatable couches, you could find it all at the Vendor's show.
Trailer races!
Later that day was the "trailer races". There were 5 entries for the water trailer races and this was extremely amusing for the onlookers. Each team had two contestants, and the goal was to paddle their military Jeep trailer (yes, they float!) upstream from the "starting line" to the "finish line". The challenge was getting past the "fire hose" that was being sprayed toward them. Some teams were filled to the brim with water and consequently did not make it to the finish line!
Saturday night was party and raffle time. All of the Jeeper's Jamboree Vendors donated generous prizes for a HUGE raffle. The cook crew prepared a delicious steak dinner and there were people wearing outlandish outfits. One couple even tied the knot that evening! Most everyone was dancing to the variety of tunes that the live band jammed to.
Sunday morning seemed to come way too quick. After all of the fun in the sun, scrumptious food, dancing, games, and laughs, it was time to depart and none of us were happy about that. The four days seemed to go by so fast! It was a crisp Sunday morning, but the scenery and sunrise were incredible. We waited in line behind other rigs for a bit, as we found that most of us all had the same idea to pack up and leave early. When we were heading up Cadillac Hill the "Rock Rollers" were there to help out those who needed spotting. Thanks guys, you did a remarkable job making sure we got out of there safely.
We want to thank those who are behind the scenes of Jeeper's Jamboree that we never got to see. There were more than a few phone calls to Lacey, Courtney, and Bob Sweeney for a variety of questions. They were always ready to help and especially patient. Very special thanks to you for making certain we were well taken care of!
We look forward to seeing you next year and having even more fun.
