03/09/2026
Happy International Women's Day to all of the incredible offroad women that have traversed the Rubicon Trail! You may not realize that women have had a significant role on the Rubicon Trail since its inception...
♡♡♡♡♡
Did you know that the first automobile to arrive at the Rubicon Springs was driven by a woman!?! In fact, there were 2 women (front seat) and 2 men (back seat) that drove a Mitchell car from San Francisco to Tahoe, to the Rubicon Springs, out all the way over to Reno, then back to San Francisco via Placerville. 16 days in this open vehicle. This was in 1908 ~ 118 years ago ~ where pavement wasnt even on the highways.
Marion Walcott was her name, a journalist who wrote the story for 'Pacific Coast Motor' in 1908. It was noted she drove 700 of the 724 mile round trip. She was accompanied by another journalist Edward Cohen. The trip was initiated by A.E. Hunter, the son-in-law of Daniel Abbott, owner of Rubicon Springs at the time, who owned the Mitchell automobile dealership in San Franciso and San Jose. He and his wife Frances Hunter were also along for the adventure.
♡♡♡♡♡
Sierra Nevada Phillips Clark Bryson was an enterprising woman who bought the Rubicon Soda Springs on December 8, 1888 ~ 140 years ago! A widow & single mother, she had the energy, resources and foresight to turn Rubicon Springs into a popular tourist attraction.
Vade, her nickname, entrepreneurial spirit also helped to secure a more formal road through Rubicon Springs. She also began the first stagecoach service through the area.
After 6 seasons of operation, she sold the properties back (at significant profit) and went on to manage a number of resorts around Lake Tahoe, married again and had another daughter. She did come back to manage the Rubicon Springs Hotel under the new owner for the summer tourist seasons 1904-1907.
♡♡♡♡♡
More details and Pictures are from 'Rubicon Springs and The Rubicon Trail: a history' By Rick Morris c 2011 This is just a teaser, read the whole chapter!!.
