Several years ago I bought some old photos — which arrived with a huge packet of other snapshots I hadn’t expected. These black-and-white “bonus” pictures obviously came from a family album of the 1920s, and are now nearly a century old. And that was the start of trying to unlock their mystery! Most of these old photos were unlabeled, […]
Ancient Survivor
We were driving home through the mountains recently when Rick suddenly swung the car around. “Look at that!!” he exclaimed, pointing. “That” turned out to be the largest sugar pine either of us had ever seen, towering 150 to 200 feet in the air. What a survivor! Rick estimates this ancient tree at over 300 years […]
Leek Spring: Where the Wagons Rested
If you’re a fan of Calif. Highway 88, you’ve probably seen the sign for Iron Mountain Road. It’s a pleasant back-country drive — and also a route with a great bit of history. As the road’s alternate name (“Mormon Emigrant Trail”) implies, this was roughly the route blazed by the Mormon Battalion in 1848 on […]
Veterans’ Day
In honor of Veterans’ Day, here are the true stories of two nearly-forgotten veterans! Both are buried at the historic Fredericksburg Cemetery, just off Highway 88. Tucked beneath a shady smoke tree (roughly in the center of the photo) is the grave of Kermit Neddenriep. When we first began researching, we knew nothing about Kermit […]
Memoir Tips: 3 Places To Start
A student in my Memoir class recently asked for some tips before interviewing her parent for a family history. It’s a common dilemma: “Where do I start??” There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, of course. But here are the suggestions I sent her – I hope they help you, too! (1) People: One easy place to begin is […]
Tragedy Spring
One of our recent rambles was a visit to the historic site of Tragedy Spring. We began by heading west on Highway 88 heading west, then took the right-hand turnoff toward Tragedy Springs. (To follow the directions that follow, stop here and set your odometer.) Continue a bit farther along the Tragedy Spring loop road and […]
Memoir Tip: Two’s Company
The only thing harder than finishing your memoir is starting it. Or more accurately, finding a way to keep going to the finish line once you have started! If you’ve tried — and failed — to make much progress writing your memoir, here’s a simple tip that can help: find yourself a partner. Not an editor. Not a […]
Key in the Tree
Some discoveries just beg for a movie to be made about them. There must be a story behind this mysterious key, wedged firmly in the trunk of a tree at the top of Highway 4. A hidden treasure that this key would unlock? A clue to a long-forgotten murder? If you’d like to visit the mysterious key for yourself, […]
Hope Valley History
Hope Valley received its name from members of the Mormon Battalion making their way back to Salt Lake, who “finally had hope” of reaching their destination once they got this spot. Here they would have found water and grass for their animals, and a place to rest briefly before forging the difficult path down the rocky canyon ahead (Woodfords […]
Keto Tuna Burger
For vegetarians, it can be a challenge to get enough protein on a keto diet. Sure, you can always add scoops of protein powder to your shakes — but far better if you can find ways to up your protein intake from real food. If your vegetarian diet includes fish and eggs, try these tuna […]
Curtz Lake Mystery
Next time you’re up for a fun hike, try the short loop trail at Curtz Lake. Just over a mile long, it’s currently well-maintained (thanks to a recent joint effort between BLM and the Alpine Trails Association). There are plenty of scenic backcountry views along the trail, and interpretive signs make for interesting reading. For […]
Sloughhouse Adventure
Ready for an off-the-beaten-path adventure in Gold Country? Okay, so you’ve done Highway 49, walked the streets of Coloma, and seen Sutter’s Mill. Ready for a little different adventure in Gold Country? Here’s a recent discovery drive we took (with so much crammed in, we’ll finish it in Part 2!) Ever heard of Michigan Bar? Placer gold […]