Remnants of the past: Sheepherders’ ovens part of rich Basque history
Tucked away off the beaten path are the remnants of a Basque sheepherders’ camp. One early evening just before sunset, I set out to...
Kyburz Flat, Explore Petroglyphs, sheep camp & way station
Before and during California’s Gold Rush era, a multitude of routes were blazed over the Sierra Nevada into the Golden State. The northern mining...
Squaw Valley Celebrates 70 Years, Part II
On Thanksgiving weekend 2019, Squaw Valley Ski Resort celebrated 70 years of epic skiing for winter sports enthusiasts. Since 1949, millions of people have...
Exploring historic Markleeville
On a hilltop above the quaint town of Markleeville, a century-old schoolhouse stands proud. Preserved in white, the structure appears timeless under a sapphire...
“Mountain Picassos” on exhibit
Basque tree carvings, or arborglyphs, have long been of interest to historians, Basque scholars, foresters and hikers. Carved by Basque sheepherders tending their flocks...
Granite Chief Wilderness | Desolation’s Quiet Northern Neighbor
Like Canada is to the United States, Granite Chief Wilderness is to Desolation Wilderness.
Desolation is a place of stunning beauty with countless crystal-clear mountain...
In search of arborglyphs
From the late 19th to mid-20th Centuries, herds of sheep roamed the High Sierra meadows, managed by sheepherders; most of them were Basque immigrants....
Five Lakes · Granite ridges & snow-fed pools
The Five Lakes Trail climbs through multicolored granite and volcanic rock formations, then delves into a deep forest of firs and pines to reach...
Squaw Valley Tram | A ride into history
By Mark McLaughlin ·
Five months from now, Squaw Valley will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the opening of the ski area in November 1949,...
