US 50, the now not so lonely road, took us up 8000 feet over the pass to Lake Tahoe. The lake described as one of the most beautiful places in the world is at an elevation of 6200 feet. Kit Carson and John Fremont discovered it in 1844. it is 22 miles long and 1600 feet deep and surrounded by tall pines and granite mountains with some of the most popular ski resorts. This was the first time in a month we had seen real green tall trees. In the hey-day of the Comstock Lode 120 years ago, most of the trees were cut and hauled across the lake and over the mountains by horses and mules to service the mining interests.
US 50 west of Tahoe was called the Bonanza Road.Built in 1859, It was the first west to east road across the Mountains to handle travelers eager to cash in on Virginia City's Comstock Lode. We followed it over another 7500 foot 2 lane highway pass to Placerville, California. Here I was visiting a friend from Towson elementary and high school days. We spent several days on Harriette's vineyard home in El Dorado County. Hee is down sizing and her 69 acres is for sale.
Placerville was once a raugus goldmining town called Hangtown. The stump of the hanging tree is immortalized in the town center. A local pub opens into the passage way into a gold mine. But across the street Sweety Pies offered my favorite cheese blintze's.
Route 49 took us out of Placerville to Sutters Mills where gold was discovered in 1849. The gold fever that followed, transformed California and western Nevada. Sutters Mill is now a State historic park. We explored the gold mining towns along the route which is also a center for hiking and horseback riding. Warm weather had brought out the California outdoor enthusiasts.
Heading east we drove over Donner Pass and returned back to Tahoe. A winter storm closed the passes and kept us in Tahoe on the South side of the lake. I was surprised that in this snow country schools were closed or delayed opening.
We didn't have a four wheel drive or chains required when travel restrictions are in place. I used the opportunity to watch the Olympics. A number of Olympic hopefuls were from the Tahoe area. The majority of people walking around downtown carried skis, snowboards and snowshoes. Ski tags hang from the jackets of 3 year olds.
In 1960, Tahoe hosted the winter olympics at Squaw Valley. (I attended a 10 day conference for developing gifted and talented programs in the public school system here in 1970). The area is vying for the Olympics again.
Lake Tahoe with it's crystal clear blue water, emerald pines and snow capped peaks reaching to the sky casts a spell of mystery that soothes body and soul. It is a land that is hard to leave. But when the passes were free from restrictions we headed east over route US 50 towards Carson City not sure if we were going south towards Texas or north towards Wyoming. This was truly "let's see where the road goes".
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