With our youngest daughter in town, we headed up to our cabin near Sonora to get some cleaner air and hopefully to a little hiking. The air in Napa has been so bad that we haven't been out much at all, on a bike or on foot. It has been truly miserable.

But we were happy to see that the air in Twain Harte was much better. And so on Saturday we drove up towards Sonora Pass to see if it continued to improve as we went uphill. It did. And we took the opportunity to do something we had wanted to do for a long time.

Every time we drive along Highway 108 below the pass, we note the remnants of the old Pioneer trail that brought early immigrants into Tuolumne County over Sonora Pass. And we've always wondered exactly where it went, and how we could follow it. Saturday, we found out.

Parking just above the 8,000 level on the highway, we crossed the creek and clambered up the slope to the obvious traces of the old road. From there we followed it East towards the pass, until we finally lost it in a sea of alders. But as we climbed up above the alders to get a better view, it was clear that the old road continued through the alders and across the creek, to head up the pass underneath the existing highway.

Cool.

And then we went back downhill and followed it in the other direction for a while, until it did the same thing at that end, crossing the creek to avoid some steep granite, and getting paved over by Cal Trans.

It was an interesting hike. And while we didn't find any truly historic treasures, we did get a sense of how much work went into building this old road. Some of the stonework was still visible today. The air was clear. The scenery was stunning.

And we got to spend some quality time outdoors with a wonderful child.

A very good day indeed.

The photos from this trip, as well as the hike the following day, are here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bjSdN25VZMNhJM5PA

Sounds like a fun ramble.

Here in the East, we’ve got lots of historical remnants: old logging roads, abandoned railroad beds, dugout basements of early 1800s structures, and prehistoric Indian mounds and earthworks. What we don’t have is the kind of spectacular scenery you describe.

Glad you had a good time.

After heading up to Sonora Pass, we decided we'd hike where the weather would be a bit warmer the next day. And since we had fun following the old pioneer trail yesterday, today we took the West Side Trail from River's End on the Cherry Lake Road back towards the town of Tuolumne.

This trail begins with a steep but short climb from the road up to the old railroad bed, and from there on it is almost dead flat. There were a couple of gullies that required us to climb up and down a total of maybe fifty feet because the trestles were no longer safe, but other than that, this was a cakewalk.

But that didn't mean it wasn't lots of fun. We rolled along at a good pace, and covered about seven miles in our afternoon walk. We found a nice spot for a picnic, read a few educational signs, and really enjoyed the fall colors and the cool autumn air.

This trail in the spring can be quite hot---but it also has loads of wildflowers. In the fall it was a completely different experience. And we saw a total of one person, a lonely mountain biker, during our three-and-a-half hours on the trail. Pretty nice.

Sounds like a great trip, with a good time had by all! It's great you could get out of the smoke, which I hear has been so bad that they've closed down the schools.

While we're discussing daughters: My daughter-the-veterinarian is in Chico helping provide medical care to the displaced animals from the horrible Camp Fire. It is a lot more intense than her volunteer work in Napa last year--lots more smoke, still potential danger, and no fancy Napa Valley restaurants providing free food! Also, since the location is farther from home (Sonoma), she is sleeping in her van.

I am so proud of her!!!

As well you should be!

All I know is what I hear on the news (God help us all), but it sounds to me like this is about the worst fire anyone has seen in our lifetimes?

Tell her to be safe, and that we all appreciate her efforts.

Sadly, the "Camp Fire" has leapfrogged other Northern California disasters as one of the most deadly. The death toll already exceeds that of the Loma Prieta Earthquake and the number of missing is over a thousand--hopefully to be resolved via reconnections.

Locally, we can basically shovel the smoky air. Rain would solve a lot.

OM: Bless your daughter for volunteering--the need is very great.

The NWS is still hopeful for rain starting Thanksgiving. It will certainly be a grateful Thanksgiving if it happens!

Daughter is back home in smoky Sonoma after a 40-hour shift. She goes back again next weekend. Some vets are driving 500 miles to volunteer!

Every time I check the news, there are more deaths! Last year's fires are beginning to look a bit tame by comparison (and only by comparison).