Jeepers Jamboree Celebrates 70 Years!
Story and Photos by Nick Cimmarusti
One of the oldest organized four-wheel drive events in the world, Jeepers Jamboree just celebrated its 70th anniversary! And celebrate they did, with four days of wheeling, music, drinks, games, and great food; immediately followed by the 44th annual family-centered, 3-day Jeep Jamboree.
Jeepers Jamboree stretches its roots back to 1953 when a few entrepreneurial folks were looking for a way to revitalize the economy in Georgetown, California, and have fun with their newly acquired surplus military jeeps. They decided to host the very first Jamboree.
Check-in is still on Main Street in the beautiful mountain town of Georgetown. From there, participants take the scenic 45-mile drive along Wentworth Springs Road to the Crystal Basin, making only two turns to get to Loon Lake. Greeted at the Loon Lake staging area by Director Mike Gerondakis, the participants air down their tires and grab a sack lunch from The Native Sons of the Golden West, with all of the goodies needed to tide them over for the trip into Rubicon Springs. 
Once on the trail, participants are greeted almost immediately by Gate Keeper. This is where you find out it’s a serious trail. The Gate Keeper is followed by seven miles of unforgiving trail and breathtaking views on the trail to Rubicon Springs. Participants can follow along with a paper map or an app-based map provided by El Dorado County. One of the more common statements from first-timers is, “there just weren’t any breaks between obstacles; they just kept coming!” And that they do – one tough spot after another, all manned by volunteer trail guides. The Jamboree “Rock Rollers” are stationed all along the trail to help guide participants through the most challenging obstacles. These guys and gals are like the Swiss Army Knives of people, prepared to handle it all, and all with an amazing attitude. They keep the flow of Jeeps rolling and make sure everyone is having a great time.
“What happens if something breaks?” is a question nearly every new participant asks when they sign up. The answer: it gets fixed – with mechanic stations at Buck Island and Rubicon Springs that rival some well-stocked repair shops. Mechanics spread through the trail pulling double duty as Rock Rollers, and with hundreds of years of experience between them, there’s not much they can’t handle. Parts? What about parts? They will likely have them on hand or will get them brought in! Then how to get them to you? Trials bikes, that’s right, these guys throw the parts in a backpack and ride them up the trail to get the parts right where they need to be!
Once in camp, it becomes very apparent what sets Jeepers Jamboree apart from other events. It starts with their crew. Crew that pours its heart and soul into sharing a little slice of the Sierras and a great party with each and every participant. They care, just find anyone in a crew shirt, and they will bend over backwards to help with any issue. Need to find a campsite? Ask a camp crew member. Need some repairs? Head to the mechanics! Hear that dinner bell ring? Know that the cook crew has spent hours prepping you a tasty meal! Most crewmembers come from generations of family that have spent decades perfecting the positions they hold, and it shows in everything they do. 
Camp and all the festivities are held at Rubicon Springs, sometimes called just “The Springs.” Along the banks of the Rubicon River, Rubicon Spring sits at almost the halfway point of the trip from Loon Lake to Tahoma and is the lowest point along the trail at just over 6000 ft. Rubicon Soda Springs, Inc is a private property campground dating back to the late 1800s. Back then, San Francisco residents might take a train ride up to Truckee, CA, followed by a paddle boat ride on Lake Tahoe down to Tahoma, then a wagon ride on the Rubicon Flier to get to Rubicon Springs. The draw, back then? Much the same as today, rest and relaxation in the mountains with friends and family. Plus, the perceived medicinal qualities of the naturally carbonated mineral soda springs located on the property. These days it is a beautifully maintained campground with facilities you wouldn’t expect in an area so difficult to get to.
For entertainment, there are always amazing conversations over dinner with folks from all over the world; seriously, hearing the adventures people have undertaken to get here is entertainment enough. During your conversations, you will be serenaded by the dinner band on the small stage while dinner is served. Bring your camp chair to the lawn for “movie night” on the first night and enjoy this year’s showing of The Great Outdoors (1988) with John Candy and Dan Aykroyd. After the movie Friday night and after dinner on Saturday, you can catch the headline band playing from roughly 9 pm till midnight. The full bar and ice cream parlor will keep you refreshed all evening and during lunch hours. Saturday on the lawn, there is a friendly cornhole tournament complete with prizes and a year’s worth of bragging rights. Float in the river, try the rope swing, hike to the historic stone cabin, or wet a line and try to catch some rainbow trout. There is always plenty to do to stay entertained.
On the second trip, Jeep Jamboree, often referred to as the “family trip,” Camp Rubicon provides a full day of activities for the kids. The Camp Rubicon program provides wholesome fun activities and promotes trail etiquette and conservation; teaching the youth what it takes to keep the trail open for continued access. The day starts with a history talk from Rick Morris, followed by a presentation from El Dorado County’s Search and Rescue about what to do if you are lost in the woods. But wait, there’s more:
- A nature hike that showcases many trail conservation efforts led by director Bob Sweeney.
- RC rock crawling course with a fleet of RC cars facilitated by Chipper Ross.
- An Ice cream eating competition at the Georgetown Divide Rotary Club’s ice cream parlor, with the top prize being a ticket to next year’s Jeep Jamboree.
All capped with a huge raffle just after dinner that nearly guarantees every kid walks away with something. You can tell how important it is to the Jamboree crew to ensure the kids have a positive experience. This trip is just the right blend of kid and adult fun. With roughly 150 kids in attendance, there is plenty of opportunity to make new friendships and have tons of fun all weekend.
It seems that Sunday comes way too soon, and it’s time to pack up camp and head out. Breakfast burritos make a great grab-and-go option for those that want to get rolling down the trail. Cadillac Hill is the big game for the day; a steep climb with equal amounts of exposure and off-camber is sure to get the blood pumping. Rock rollers are up and on Cadillac Hill at the crack of dawn and ready to keep the line of Jeeps moving smoothly and add some needed reassurance. Past Morris Rock, the climb becomes a little less extreme for the remainder up to Observation Point, where it’s customary to stop for a quick photo. Just past Observation Point, lunch is provided by the Native Sons of the Golden West. From there, the trail meanders along Miller Creek with teasing glimpses of Lake Tahoe on the way out to Tahoma.
At the end of two weekends spent on Jeepers Jamboree and Jeep Jamboree, it is easy to see why these events are known worldwide; why the folks from Norway, Italy, Mexico, Canada, and Great Britain continue to return. The camaraderie built, the fun had, and the Rubicon traversed will leave an impression for a lifetime.
