June 6, 2007
June 6, 2007
It rained last night and got pretty cold. Looking around this morning, we can see a dusting of snow in some places. This is the second time Aimee and I have been to Lake Tahoe. The first was during the winter several years ago to ski. I think the temperature today is the same as back then. When I think of California I think of hot weather. Our experience so far has been mostly the opposite.
In the RV we head clockwise around the lake. We stop at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center but it is closed; it’s only open on weekends this time of year. There are interpretative signs outside where we learn some interesting facts about Lake Tahoe. The lake formed when a lava flow dammed up one end of the canyon here causing it to fill with water. As a result it is the third deepest lake in the country at over 1600 feet. There is enough water in it to cover California to a depth of 14-inches. That is a lot of water!
On the southwestern corner of the lake we stop at the Emerald Bay vista for a picture. Lake Tahoe is very pretty but we like warmer weather in the summer. I think briefly about doing some hiking in the area but it is way too cold. We continue our drive north past the rest of the lake.
It rained last night and got pretty cold. Looking around this morning, we can see a dusting of snow in some places. This is the second time Aimee and I have been to Lake Tahoe. The first was during the winter several years ago to ski. I think the temperature today is the same as back then. When I think of California I think of hot weather. Our experience so far has been mostly the opposite.
In the RV we head clockwise around the lake. We stop at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center but it is closed; it’s only open on weekends this time of year. There are interpretative signs outside where we learn some interesting facts about Lake Tahoe. The lake formed when a lava flow dammed up one end of the canyon here causing it to fill with water. As a result it is the third deepest lake in the country at over 1600 feet. There is enough water in it to cover California to a depth of 14-inches. That is a lot of water!
On the southwestern corner of the lake we stop at the Emerald Bay vista for a picture. Lake Tahoe is very pretty but we like warmer weather in the summer. I think briefly about doing some hiking in the area but it is way too cold. We continue our drive north past the rest of the lake.
Just past Truckee, CA we stop at a picnic area to have lunch. It is snowing. I can’t believe it. Appropriately though we are at Alder Creek where the Donner party also couldn’t believe they were having a blizzard. The Donners were a group of pioneers from Springfield, IL who journeyed west on a wagon train along the California Trail in 1846. They were one of the first to do so. Unfortunately they split from the main body and took an untried “short cut” and didn’t make it over the snowy Sierras in time before the early onset of winter. Half of the party died. The survivors resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. This picnic area has an interpretative walk around the area describing their ill-fated struggle.We continue north along Hwy 89 through a very picturesque part of the Sierras. We eventually stop in Quincy, CA at a private campground.
posted by Mike and Aimee at 7:30 AM
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