A California Summer
I had just delivered my talk at the Yosemite Climbing Association / Museum in Mariposa. My mind was abuzz with images of Sierra highlands, treacherous hikes along craggy cliffs, and heroic acts of bouldering and rock climbing. I was speaking at YCA about my recently published book ‘Yosemite of my Heart, Poems of Adventure in California.’ I heard from another speaker about the rock climbing history and adventures in Mariposa.
Later I drove along Route 49, marveling at the mountains, meadows, and serenity of nature on my way to the quaint town of Twain Harte. It was almost 9 pm. The weather was hot, and the sun began to cast its orange hue across the landscape as I zipped through it, breathing in crisp Sierra air. I was absorbed in the natural splendor of the winding, mountain road when suddenly on the distant horizon, I noticed a fiery streak leaping across the sky above the mountains. I pulled over by the side of the highway to try and freeze that moment in a frame.
Adventure in the High Sierra
I spent the night at McCaffrey House B&B, set picturesquely in the Stanislaus National Forest area, just off Hwy 49. The next day I drove further north to Pinecrest Lake situated in the Sierra foothills at an altitude of 5600 ft amidst towering pine trees. It’s a popular area for hiking, fishing, boating and camping.
I decided to hike up to the ‘Strawberry Dam’ towards the other end of the lake following the winding Pinecrest Lake loop trail which hugs the lake. The scenery changes from tall pines to craggy boulders providing a stunning vista that ultimately leads to a small sandy opening from where one end of the dam rises across the deep azure waters of the lake. One can walk across the dam and admire the lake views from one side to the deep forests and mountains beyond.
From Pinecrest Lake, I took Hwy 108 to my next stop – ‘Column of the Giants’ in Stanislaus National Forest. A short hike from the parking lot took me to these volcanic wonders – pentagonal or hexagonal columns of basalt stretched across a huge rock formation. These columns were ‘shaped by fire and ice’ explains a nearby informational post. Basically, Column of the Giants owes its origin to both volcanoes and glaciers. On the hike back, I made a brief stopover on the wooden footbridge that spans a narrow section of the serene Stanislaus River to admire the beauty of Mother Nature all around.
Further north on Hwy 49, the curvy and scenic road up the mountain took me to Sonora Pass. Overlooking the mountains and meadows from a vantage point of more than 9500 feet with astounding vistas can quickly feel like a meditation to Nature.
Sonora Pass is the second-highest pass in the Sierra Nevada range, after the Tioga Pass. Heading back towards Pinecrest, I pulled over briefly at Donnell Vista Point, which provided stunning views of the Canyon formed by Stanislaus River and Donnell Reservoir.
Wild West Gold Rush Towns
Twain Harte
In the evening I was back in the quaint, small town of Twain Harte named after the famed authors Mark Twain and Bret Harte, who spent time living and writing here. The downtown, filled with small saloons, boarding houses, and brick homes, gave a distinct Wild West town vibe.
Sonora and Columbia State Historic Park
The next day I drove to Sonora, the county seat of Tuolumne County. I wanted to get up close and personal with the Gold Rush heartlands. Sonora downtown has a charming eclectic mix of vintage and modern art houses, hipster coffee shops, and establishments of bygone Gold Rush history. As I make my way to Columbia State Historic Park a few miles ahead, I’m excited to decipher more of the West’s rugged history.
Sonora houses the largest collection of brick buildings and antiquities from the Gold Rush era, more than 150 years old. Along the main street, both sides are lined with well-preserved saloons, vintage stores, and blacksmithy shops with curios of bygone days that transport one to the Gold Rush age. staff dressed in traditional clothes from the Gold Rush era and time. Staff dressed in traditional clothes from that era greet customers entering their stores.
Groveland
The Wild West energy spurred me on to drive down Hwy 120 to experience more of the countryside, mountains, and passes till I reached Groveland. On its main street, I saw a sign that read ‘California Oldest Saloon’ and entered a grand, ‘frozen in time’ saloon bar called the ‘Iron Door Saloon’. Its walls and ceilings were decorated with photographs of Sierra’s gold rush history, and mounted deer heads, while local patrons in cowboy-stetson hats lined the bar. It felt like I had walked into an era frequented by miners, lumberjacks, and horsemen, searching for their gold.
Tuolumne Family Camp
From Groveland, I drive on Hwy 120 towards Hetch Hetchy Valley, the northwest entrance to Yosemite National Park. Just before the entrance, I took a short detour on Yosemite Lake Road, drawn in by towering Sequoias, and arrived at the picturesque Tuolumne Family Camp on the bank of Tuolumne River. It seemed like a great overnight stay camp for exploring ample hiking, biking, swimming opportunities in the neighborhood of Yosemite.
Experiencing a California summer while driving through its countryside and Tuolumne County’s Gold Rush towns along winding, open roads, gave me the thrill of adventure but also brought me closer to the history of that period.
I write in my recently published book, ‘Yosemite of My Heart, Poems of Adventure in California’ –
“I see California, through the eyes of gold-rush prospectors,
And I see the courage to leave the comfort of home behind
To venture out into unknown terrain for a better future.”