The desert was once an ocean. Hmmmm. Perhaps a Flood swallowed it whole.
One more thing, Ai is a product of humanity.
Humanity was a product of the Devine.
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Alas yet another breathtaking day concludes in energetic fashion.
A former Southern Pacific era signal bridge has been out of service since the late two thousand teens.
This one remains standing with a Union Switch & Signal Co. decapitated signal head left within the bridge's walkway
A hallmark of a bygone era is this piece of signaling plant
Meanwhile, a high priority westbound intermodal decends Donner in the rugged exposed granite west of the former crossover at Crystal Lake.
A few mosquitoes fly in and around as gentle reminders of the joys of the spring and summer twilight hour
Photographic possibilities are unique at this hour with the limited, yet usable, amount of light.
And although there's no direct sunlight, there exist countless other ways to compose a photograph.
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Ribbon rail glows atop the high Sierra as the summer sun leaves its warm touch upon the scene.
Below, some several hundred feet, roars interstate 80 with its regional, recreational, and transcontinental traffic.
We are at the 6,000 foot elevation west of the former crossovers at Crystal Lake
Marked by many a sharp curves upon dramatic points, this particular scene would have looked different in the late nineteenth century.
For one, there were dozens of miles of wooden snowsheds.
Second, the tree growth would have possibly been more plentiful near the road bed.
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Sentiment spoken by the astute geography professor of whom I am not.
Yet.
The view from a turnout along old US 40 gives motorists a breathtaking glimpse of the eastern side of Donner Pass.
Truckee and portions along its eastward flowing river record some of the lowest lows statewide. The only area in the golden state that tops that list of lows is in the eastern Sierra Nevada north of the Owens Valley near Mammoth Lakes and Bodie State Park. Another pocket of bitterly cold temps is in the far inland north state east of Modoc National Forest. This high desert sees low temperatures I wouldn't wish on my worst enemies.
And although precipitation can occur in any month in the high Sierra, history tells us the months of February and March yield the highest accumulated amounts.
The Reeds, Rastings, and Donners were caught in a November 1846 blizzard between Coldstream Canyon and the eastern shore of this lake, currently obscured by low morning fog. Many in this party resorted to cannibalism of the 35 total deceased in their wagon party.
I highly recommend a visit to Donner Memorial State Park.
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