Trail Gear was invited by The Pirates of the Rubicon to witness there annual club initiation. This takes place at The Rubicon, in the famous Little Sluice Box, it's also one of the biggest party events of the year for the Rubicon, and that’s no understatement. The action was full speed all weekend, with people coming from all over to try and get there junk through the Sluice box. That’s no easy task when the rocks are the size of Volkswagens and placed in all the right spots to keep even the most experienced wheelers from making it through, and claiming victory over The Little sluice box.

  We did have to listen to a small speech from the club President about our responsibility on the trail and to the trail. The Club then quickly established that there would be no drinking and driving on the trail, and that the partying (celebrating) would take place only in designated camp sites and trash bags were handed out to help the participants pack out what they packed in.  For such a crazy event it was reasonably monitored by certain designated club officials.

  Only 1 out of 6 prospect made it into the club this year. Their initiation is that they have to drive through the Little Sluice blind folded with the spotter of there choice, but the spotter must be in the truck when he spots (how do you do that?).  They have to make it all the way through or completely roll there junk trying, it hurts either way. Its really cool to watch a Pirate do the Little Sluice Blind folded after you have just watched 9 out of 10 rigs get denied, and those guys could see.

  Every year the initiation gets more outlandish and crazy, this year the prospect dressed as Elvis in a forestry uniform. You should of seen the look on all the spectators faces when the prospect finished the Little Sluice box and ripped off his hood and reveled that he was Elvis. (Elvis has been located) The crowd all had a good time with the whole initiation and no trouble arose and no one was hurt. In my opinion that was a successful (non-official) event.