Burnt, Dry Grass Seen along the Interstate at Altamont Pass in the Summertime. View Opens Looking SouthEast.
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I-580 near Livermore, CA.
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(Photo = 122-2275+7 ...... ZMM Page = NA ...... WayPt = 072 0732ft)

A Fertile, Well-watered, Wide Level, Rock Free Valley and Rail Road that Joins the Fabled Donner Pass from the West .
Soda Springs, CA. The main Interstate I-80 that goes over the Sierras, from Sacramento to Nevada, several miles North of here, parallels the former Historic California Trail over what is known as Donner Pass here. I was able to find and drive over Donner Pass on what was once the main highway, which I believe was old Rt40 & Rt95 prior to the Interstate. This road still serves as a marginal road for the California Trail towns of Gold Hill, Cisco, Soda Springs, Norden, Donner, Donner Lake, and Trukee. This old highway is well maintained and is a very scenic tourist route with access to a mountain ski lift at Donner Pass. But you will have to study your map and look hard to figure out how to find it from I-80. To see a map, request Donner, CA on http://www.mapquest.com/ and zoom in. Lake Tahoe is about 30 miles southeast of Donner Pass. The otherwise arrow straight California–Nevada border takes a “dog-leg” change of direction in the middle of Lake Tahoe.

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(Photo = 122-2294+1 ...... ZMM Page = None ...... WayPt = 073 ~6000ft)

How EVER Did The Gold Rush ‘49ers Get through These Granite Rock Fields? Donner Pass, CA.
This is one of the several routes of the pioneers' "California Trail" over the High Sierras. The covered wagons came up a practically vertical granite cliff from the east and then had to negotiate around and over miles of the rocks you see everywhere in this 360 degree panorama! Scroll to the right end of this panorama where you will see the buildings of the Donner Pass Ski Lift tucked nicely into the huge rocks!!
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(Photo = 122-2296+6 ...... ZMM Page = None ...... WayPt = 074 7150ft. My Rand McNally gives 7089 ft)

Donner Pass Granite Rock Fields and in the Distance Donner Lake. Donner Pass, CA.
View opens looking east over Donner Lake in the distance. Looking closely, you will see the old rail road tunnel entrance that once carried the first Trans-Continental steam engine powered trains over Donner Pass. This is one of the several routes of the pioneer "California Trail" over the High Sierras. The ox drawn covered wagons had to be moved up a practically vertical granite cliff just beyond those rocks to the east and then had to negotiate around and over the rocks you see everywhere here. In the distance of the east view, you can see the tunnel entrance of the original (first) Trans-Continental RR that came this way. The main Interstate I-80 over the Sierras, from Sacramento to Nevada, several miles North of here, parallels the former Historic California Trail over Donner Pass. It is heart breaking to learn that, among the several different ways over the California High Sierras to the Gold Fields, Donner Pass is not the easiest, or even the shortest route! The emigrants were falsely drawn into this tortured route by literature written (or promoted by) persons motivated by financial gain, certainly not the best interests of those who had to suffer it!
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(Photo = ~123-2304+7...... ZMM Page = None ...... WayPt = 075 7150ft. My Rand McNally gives 7089 ft)

How EVER Did The Gold Rush ‘49ers Get Up These Granite Cliffs? Donner Pass, CA.
As panorama opens, you see the Granite Cliffs and Donner Lake in the distance. Scrolling will reveal the original Trans-Continental Rail Road cut carved out of the vertical cliff face (looks “uphill” due to photo distortion!). Scrolling to mid panorama, you will see the highway road cut, old Rt40/Rt95, descend eventually to a “switch-back bridge”, bringing the highway to the visitor parking lot plaza, seen everywhere in the panorama foreground. The “bridge”, placed here to achieve space for the needed switch-back, is an unusual highway construction made necessary because these cliffs are so steep! In the panorama, you will discern several historical markers, signs on granite blocks, which tell story of the pioneer California Trail emigrants. After enduring the August/September heat of the total life void called “the 40 mile desert”, they rested at Donner Lake. Then out of necessity, they started up these granite cliffs, in some places the cliffs were practically vertical. So steep that they had to dissemble their wagons and hand them up piece by piece! It is heart breaking to learn that of the several different ways over the California High Sierras to the Gold Fields, Donner Pass is not the easiest, or even the shortest route! The emigrants were falsely drawn into this torture route by literature written (or promoted by) persons motivated by financial gain; certainly not in the best interest of those who had to suffer. Detour in new browser frame for Google Map Donner Pass and Lakes, Showing Original & Current Trans Continental RR Cuts, as well as Original & Current Highways = Old Rt40/Rt95, & Interstate I-80 .
Detour in new browser frame AND Scroll to Truckee Trail, in Wikipedia California_Trail.

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(Photo = ?123-2314+7? ...... ZMM Page = None ...... WayPt = 076 6915ft)

The Forty Mile Desert!! In the Middle of The Worst, Lifeless, Waterless , and Desolate "Anywhere" in Nevada. How EVER Did The Gold Rush ‘49ers and Their Animals Survive 40 Miles of THIS?
As panorama opens, you see miles of loose sand that the pioneer California Trail emigrants had to endure in the August/September heat. This is lifeless void is called “The Forty Mile Desert”, and was by far the most dangerous part of the California or Oregon Trails. Click on Wikipedia link below.
Geology: This area of USA is called Basin & Range Provence. Apparently the continental plate that underlies this area of our country is being “pulled apart”. There are a series of many wide, semi-parallel “cracks”. Over eons of time the high places between the cracks (seen in the panorama above as distant mountains) wear off to sand and dust that fill the low places (seen in the panorama above as flat sandy areas between the mountains). Due to the “pulling apart” hot magma can rise closer to the surface, causing in this area numerous hot springs and steam vents. Click on Basin & Range Wikipedia link below.
Detour in new browser for Wikipedia re AND Scroll to Humboldt Sink AND then Forty Mile Desert.
Detour in new browser frame for in Wikipedia Lanthon Valley re AND Scroll to Forty Mile Desert. .
Detour in new browser frame for California Trail, a National Park Service Resource.
Detour in new browser frame for Wikipedia Basin & Range Provence.

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(Photo = 123-2342+7 ...... ZMM Page = None ...... WayPt = 079 ~4027ft)

Panorama of a Main Street Whistle Stop in a Nevada Once-Upon-A-Time California Trail Town.
View opens looking northeast toward the desert where the ox drawn covered wagons came into this area. Later the town turned into a Trans-Continental Railroad town. As you scroll around, the first street points east toward Salt Lake City. The buildings you see did business (food, accommodation, and cargo) with the people on the train when it stopped here. Wells, NV.
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(Photo = 123-2357+7 ...... ZMM Page = NA ...... WayPt = 083 5653ft)

The Snake River Canyon. Twin Falls, ID.
As this panorama opens you are looking up river. This is the direction of rapids and the Twin Falls. The series of photos for this panorama, were taken from an observation area just east of the huge bridge that connects the north and south parts of the town of Twin Falls. As you scroll half way, you see the bridge, then the second half of this panorama starts anew from the observation area just west of the bridge and shows the down river view.
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(Photo = 124-2405+7 ...... ZMM Page = None ...... WayPt = 091i ~3600ft)

The Green River Formation.
View opens looking north from Rt89, where you see a mountain formed of whiteish-tan rock known as the Green River formation. Huge ancient lakes once existed in this region, which over the years collected layers of mud and very fine volcanic ash lake sediments. These sediments were the absolute best for preserving fossils of the lake creatures. These fantastic fossils are now on display at the Fossil Butte Monument, just north of these cliffs. They are well worth a visit!!.
Fossil Butte National Monument, about 15 miles West of Kemmerer, WY.
The traveler becomes first aware of the whiteish-tan rock layers, soon after leaving Idaho and entering Southwest Wyoming on Rt89 at Sage, WY. The formation is noticeable for the next 80 miles to Rock Springs. It is most noticeable along both sides of the Green River, from which this formations naturally gets its' name. The Green River, a major river of the area, runs south into northeastern corner of Utah and eventually emptying into the Pacific Ocean by way of the Colorado River, Grand Canyon, and the Gulf of California a large "bay" off the north-western coast of Mexico.
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(Photo = 125-2523 ...... ZMM Page = None ...... WayPt = ~115 ~6400ft)