FTA News August 2000 August Meeting: Tuesday, August 29th, 6:30 PM, Foresthill Divide Middle School, Rm 15

Congratulations to FTA member Jack Meyers for finishing the Vermont 100 Mile Run -- his first 100!!

August's Meeting
Tahoe National Forest archeologist Nolan Smith of the Foresthill Ranger District will be our guest speaker at our August 22nd meeting. Nolan will tell us of his experiences through color slides exploring Picayune Valley near the Granite Chief Wilderness on the Foresthill Divide. Many of the slides show petroglyphs made by Native Americans who inhabited the area as well as evidence of early settlers and sheep herders in Picayune Valley.

Hike the Picayune Trail
The trail into the Picayune Valley is a wonderful day hike. The trailhead is close to Talbot campground located northeast of French Meadows. Check with the Forest Service for maps and campground details. New restrooms have recently been installed at Talbot campgrounds. Along the trail you will see late blooming flowers, aspen, and if you are lucky, a bear. If you are concerned about bears, ask the rangers what to do if you see a bear. The Picayune Valley is worth the drive and this is the best time of year to hike there.

New Robinson Flat Trail
The Forest Service has been busy. The new trail is under construction at Robinson Flat. Most of the trail is complete except for a section in the middle that requires some blasting.

Patent Road Staging Area
FTA is formalizing a proposal to present to the County. The goal is to ensure permanent access with parking to the Western States trail. Without a doubt trail access has been restricted over the years and we have a chance to guarantee future access. If you would like to help in the planning and development of this project, please call Larry Clarke, 367-3851.

Fire Season
Are you prepared to ensure the safety of your animals in case of a wildland fire in Foresthill? Have you cleared a defensible area around your stables, as well as your house? Evacuation options may be limited. With our one-road circulation system, a jack-knifed horse trailer could cause a disaster, so fire personnel are first recommending that you be prepared to leave your animals at home where they can be defended along with the home. If you do need to evacuate your animals, do you have a plan? Is your truck and trailer ready at all times? What supplies would be essential if you had to take your pets/livestock to a temporary emergency shelter?

Sources of Information
Foresthill Veternary clinic has brochures which list emergency supplies
Foresthill Emergency Plan - there is a copy in the Foresthill Library

Far into the high Sierra's is a place called Robie Equestrian Park. Usually it is a quiet wilderness setting near a pristine meadow where only the playful chipmunks, pesky mosquitoes, soaring birds and powerful black bears control the natural environment at their given space and time.

But, once a year during the full riding moon there is a transformation changing the natural domain into a bustling, energized and electrified challenge between a rider, his horse and an ancient rugged trail. This ancient trail was shaped by the feet of the Native Americans long before white man appeared on this continent. If you look closely along the trail you will find rock chips from early tools, maybe a few arrowheads and if you get lucky, some old grinding stones can be located on high ridges. I have searched and seen them all in the peaceful serenity of these high mountains and deep purple canyons. I have even found ancient petroglyph's towering over the mystical landscape at the nearby Royal Gorge.

This ancient trail took on a new and highly competitive role during the California Gold Rush. This direct route between the rich silver mines of the Nevada comstock and the richer gold fields of the California motherlode would forever change this ancient trail. Foot traffic gave way to the pounding hoofs of horses and wagons as they raced to discover that hidden precious metal. In its wake, a continuous set of communities sprang up along this ancient trail. Some you will know by name: Tahoe City, Squaw Valley, Michigan Bluff, Foresthill, Todd's Valley and on to North Fork Dry Diggings, now known as Auburn, for they still remain. Others you will not know of: Little American Valley, Greek Store, Last Chance, Deadwood, Bogus Thunder, Slug Gulch, Poverty Bar and the infamous Murderer's Bar. These and hundreds of other mining camps have long ago faded into the landscape. This ancient trail I speak of, it too, was fading into the rubble of time.

This forgotten trail was rescued in 1955 by a person who, like the ancient trail, some of you will know, but most do not. Wendell Robie's name is etched and echoes along the trail as you leave Robie Equestrian Park and approach the beckoning lights of Robie Point. This powerful 100 Mile One Day Journey makes a continuous connection between the soft footprints of Native Americans, the pounding hoofbeats that now protect the trail and the need for humans and nature to be one. This silver buckle, well, to me it is but a symbol to fulfill that need. I believe that all those who live near and visit this nearly forgotten trail become a part of its ever-changing spirit. Hear it, Touch it, Smell it, See it around you -- Then you too will know.

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