This was our first outing to Spooner Lake's 2.5-mile hiking loop. It was a spectacular nature walk with many informational signs dotting the path. What a perfect way to learn the local history and ogle beauty.
Sitting at 7,150 feet, Spooner Lake, a manmade lake on the Nevada side of Tahoe, was created as a means of redirecting water to chutes transporting logs from Spooner Summit to mills in Carson City. These logs were used to support the walls of the ambitious silver mining operations in what is now Virginia City.According to the introductory plaque, Michel E. Spooner couldn't read or write but he started a thriving settlement. This French-Canadian adventurer established himself by first acquiring a 640 acre ranch with a partner, Simon Dubois. They called the parcel Spooner Ranch.
In 1860, Spooner added a shingle mill and Spooner Station was born. The settlement that centered around this mill came to include a hotel, a saloon, workmen's shacks, a blacksmith shop and a combination stable/barn. At the height of the Comstock boom, Spooner ran a ranching, lumbering and way station business. In 1870, Wells Fargo express listed Spooner Station as a regular station stop on the great Bonanza Road.
After mining and logging ended, Spooner continued to operate a ranch and a way station here until 1896. By the time he left, he was nearly bankrupt. Several years later, he died penniless in Carson City's poorhouse, though his legacy lives on.Before John Frémont and Kit Carson visited Western Nevada, the Washoe people ranged and rested in the area known today as Spooner Summit, which acted as the gateway as they made their annual exodus from the valleys to the mountains in summer. We were drawn to the lakeside rocks and discovered these amazing grinding stones. History is truly found everywhere. WOW.
The big star of today's hike was the Quaking Aspen tree and its fall colors. Aspens grow as a community; they are interconnected by their roots and share nutrients and resources to support each other. Underneath, they are survivors. An Aspen's roots can remain dormant for years. At the right time, they jump to life and re-generate as a community.We learned that Quaking aspens "quake" because of the way the leaves are attached. The petiole (stem) is flat, instead of the usual round. So instead of the flat leaf and stem being in the same plane, the flat petiole is attached at a 90-degree angle to the flat leaf. That causes the leaf's trembling movement. We learned a lot today.Heart or Hidden Mickey?Frozen puddles delighted.I was intrigued by this large mound, created by Thatching Ants. The mounds may be 3 or 6 feet across and 1 1/2 feet high. The mound really only represents part of the entire nest structure. Much of the colony's home is a vast array of subterranean tunnels.These are large, stocky ants with large heads and powerful jaws. Most are bi-colored, red and black, but some species are all black. It's usually the head end that is red. They are polymorphic; that is, within one colony there may be workers of different size and shape. Oh, and they bite! Interesting.Natural beauty, human history and new discoveries made this first Spooner Lake outing outstanding.
"We were in the shadow of the mountains,
the light was cool and quiet and no wind was stirring.
The aspen trunks were slightly greenish
and the leaves were a vibrant yellow."
-Ansel Adams
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1 comments:
So, was there really a poorhouse? Does it still exist? I was curious so I searched online, and only found Carson City’s Pour House. Which looks a lot more fun than what I was picturing. Ha.
I am surprised you are still able to find things you haven’t done in your neck of the woods!
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