-
May 2, 2008 4:48 pm US/Pacific
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
One Tank Trip: Donner Trail
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
On a clear day this time of year, you can see the snow capped Sierra. But I say for a real eye opening view, take a drive on the original highway over the top.
That's Interstate-80 way down there. But if you make a right at Soda Springs and head up the old historic Highway 40, you'll climb to almost 7000 feet and the original Donner Summit. And it's going to be cold and windy.
From the warmth of your car, think about the early settlers who came over this pass by horse and wagon in the 1840's. Park at the summit and enjoy a breathtaking view of Donner Lake. There are walkways and benches that give you spectacular views. These tourists are from Hawaii and are amazed by the vista.
"Beautiful, incredible, but I'm a little afraid of heights," they say.
So head eats and down the summit, you can stop and enjoy Donner Lake and the wildlife. Drive a few more miles and near Truckee, you find the Donner Memorial. Many of the artifacts here are from the original Donner Party that was stranded in the Sierra. There are also exhibits honoring the Native Americans who lived here, the early railroaders who brought the iron horse over the Sierra, and the Chinese laborers who helped build it. Soon a new tribute to Sierra survivors will be built here.
The new memorial will focus not just on the Donner Party, but everyone who made it across the Sierra.
Park Ranger Don Schmidt has been working on this project for years.
"We will be breaking ground early this summer. It will be 9000 square feet, and within a two year period of time it will be complete and ready to go," says Schmidt.
This memorial is a key stop for visitors headed to Reno or Lake Tahoe.
So the next time you cross the Sierra, pause a moment and think about what it took for a man to conquer the mountain.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)