Can you imagine the first travelers heading west and hitting the Sierra Nevada? These daunting peaks build what appears to be a barrier to get into California. This natural divider sparked historical achievement, fabled men, and a recreational paradise. Read on to learn of the myths and legends of the California High Sierra & how they shaped its story.
Snowshoe Thompson
The old postmaster’s code of “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” takes on a new meaning when talking about the legendary Snowshoe Thompson. From 1856 to 1876, he made the historic 90-mile trek over the Sierra Nevada to deliver mail in the Lake Tahoe region. In fact, he was the sole link between California and the Atlantic states during the long winter months. Over a 160 years later, you can do your best impression of this famous Norseman by cross-country skiing in Tahoe.
Mark Twain
When Samuel Clemens arrived in the High Sierra, it was during this time his pen name Mark Twain was born. Like any great writer, he waxed poetically in his writings, some being a bit more exaggerated or colorful than others. The words that still ring true are his many quotes about the crown jewel of the Sierra Nevada known as Lake Tahoe. As he wrote in Roughing It, “it must surely be the fairest picture the whole earth affords.” To see the approximate location where he was inspired to write those words, you’ll need to walk 1.3 miles up from the Tunnel Creek Café on the mighty Flume Trail. For a better appreciation of who this famed American Writer was, take a dip into Mark Twain’s California High Sierra.
There’s Gold In Them Thar Hills
We couldn’t talk about myths & legends of the California High Sierra without mentioning the gold rush. It’s what sparked one of the largest mass migrations in US History! Throughout the Sierra Nevada, there are glimpses of this storied past. It’s all here from the ghost-towns such as the Bodie State Historic Park (where at one point in time, there were over 65 saloons and 0 churches!), to opportunities to stake your own “claim” in the High Sierra by panning for your own gold at Matelot Gulch Mining Company within the Columbia State Historic Park.
John Muir
This list wouldn’t be complete without listing the naturalist who helped usher in the era of conservation. A man of many hats or as waxed poetically about himself “a poetico-trampo-geologist-botanist and ornithologist-naturalist etc. etc. !!!!” His words and deeds helped inspire President Teddy Roosevelt’s conservation movement and create Yosemite National Park. He also was the 1st president of the Sierra Club which was key to establishing the national park system and wilderness preservation system. Half a century after his death, the wilderness named after him has preserved one of the largest roadless areas in the lower 48 states. The John Muir Wilderness is also home to 589 miles of established trails including sections of the “PCT” and John Muir trails.
Ansel Adams
Another iconic man that helped promote conservation not just in Yosemite but across the entire American West is Ansel Adams. The landscape within the High Sierra provided him all the crayons for inspiration. But it took his eye to understand how to create visual masterpieces out of them. His iconic black-and-white images helped establish photography among the fine arts. For a closer look of what he saw, take a stroll through Yosemite with Ansel Adams’ Spirit or read about the century old Christmas tradition that he started called the Bracebridge Dinner.
The Donner Party
During winter, the Sierra Nevada are pummeled with some of the most severe weather on the planet. In between these ferocious storms, long periods of sunshine lull you into a sense of relaxation. The tragic tale of the Donner Party is the perfect example of this. A group of American pioneers from the Midwest migrated to California and were caught in one of these massive storms. This forced the Donner Party to camp by what is now known as Donner Lake near the historic town of Truckee. You can take a walk through the Donner Party history as well as the whole Emigrant Experience at the Donner Memorial State Park & Pioneer Monument.
Many come for the beauty and stay for the fun activities. But, these myths and legends of the California High Sierra will have you enchanted.
Author: Alex Silgalis
Alex founded Local Freshies® in 2014 to be the #1 website providing the “local scoop” on where to eat, drink & play in mountain towns throughout North America. When he’s not writing and executing marketing strategies for small businesses & agencies, he’s in search of the deepest snow in the winter and tackiest dirt in the summer.
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