As we head into summer, it’s time to head back up-country to enjoy the fresh air and cooler temperatures. Our summer chapter meeting is being held at the Old 40 Bar and Grill at Donner Ski Ranch. This will be a great opportunity to check out some of the amazing history that’s just outside our meeting place. Donner Ski Ranch is itself historic, as it was one of the pioneering ski resorts in the west.
A skier using a rope tow at the Ranch, c. 1948
If you are a bit daring, there is a short hike up to the Donner Summit weather station site, part of the 1920s era Transcontinental Airway System. Before pilots had instruments for flying, they flew by what they could see. There were beacons and weather stations for guiding planes across the country.
Monica looking up towards the air station site
The weather can be so extreme on Donner Summit that steel cables were stretched over it and anchored to the granite when the weather station was built. That kept the building from blowing away.
The weather station overlooking Donner Lake
Monica standing at the site of the weather station
Just below the weather station site is a small quarry that was used for building and repair of the highway. There is a “C” Monument, a Caltrans right-of-way survey marker, in a most unlikely location. Can you see it in front of Monica in the photo below?
Monica standing near “C” Monument
“C” Monument and pine cone