We are meeting up with friends in the historic town of Weaverville, in a few days. I'll share more about that as it happens. For now, here are some scenes we enjoyed on the road less traveled. Not all the sights seen were captured. There were far too many that were a blur of ahhh.
We did stop to ogle manmade Lake Almanor. The first dam was completed by Great Western Power in 1914, damming the North Fork of the Feather River and flooding Big Meadow Valley, a longstanding Yamani Maidu village site. When the dam was built, Maidu families still living in the vicinity were displaced while parts of the town of Prattville had to be moved to higher ground, leaving multiple structures flooded over. The reservoir was named for the three daughters of the Vice President of Great Western Power: Alice, Martha and Eleanor. The present dam, which more than doubled the lake's size, was constructed by Great Western Power in 1926.
The dam is now owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. PG&E uses it for hydroelectricity production, but the lake is also a popular recreation area, with fishing, boating, water skiing, swimming and camping.
Though our visit was brief, we did get to do a little birding. Steve I-spied this Osprey nest with an occupant inside.
We also had a chance to gaze at grebes.
And be thoroughly impressed by this White Pelican. Lake Almanor demands a longer stay... next time!
All the privately owned campgrounds were booked solid and all the Forest ones were closed. Our chance to sleep lakeside will have to be at another time.
A reason for the spectacular scenery is because we are traveling part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, a picturesque highway and All-American Road in both California and Oregon. It is roughly 500 miles long and travels past numerous volcanoes. Oh man, some of the sights we saw though couldn't stop for. Next time!
We made a slight detour to the tiny town of Chester, mainly because that was my childhood dog's name. The town was founded and named by two settlers, one from Chester, Vermont, and another from Chester, Missouri, in the 1800s. Lumber and cattle ranching were big here.
We were forced to stop when we saw this barn and the meadow which surrounds it. The story of the Olsen Barn is a story of a beloved place. With its beautiful 135+ year-old barn and its significance as a Maidu ancestral homeland, this last remaining vestige of Big Meadows is beloved by all. Olsen Barn and Meadow offers 107 acres of scenic open space and stunning views of Lassen Peak, as well rich wetlands and wildlife habitat. Barn Owls roost in the rafters; endangered Willow Flycatchers breed in dense willows; Sandhill Cranes nest in the open meadows; and the cottonwood forest supports one of California’s largest densities of Yellow Warblers. Did I mention we will be back?
This is our home for the night. We are just one mile from the entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park. I have never been. I am beyond excited to explore it all.
“And just like that, we’re on our way to everywhere”
– Emery Lord
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1 comments:
That meadow looks fantastic. Nice find.
I know what you mean about private versus state camping spots. Camping is tricky to plan right now. But your camping spot looks perfect.
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