Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[cl94]

I want to put larger feelers out for this idea that got the interest of a smaller group: how would people feel about a guided hike along the old Donner Pass Roads? While there may be a short driving tour involved, the main "tour" would be a moderately strenuous walking tour of the Donner Pass area. There are no fewer than two abandoned alignments over the pass and, combined with the abandoned railroad, there's a boatload of transportation history to explore on foot in a very small area. No fewer than half a dozen tunnels and two historic bridges at the pass itself, with more nearby. Possible other stop at the infamous Donner Party Picnic Ground.

Such a "meet" would take place in September or October of 2023 if there were a couple interested persons. This would be late enough to be after the summer peak season, but still early enough to avoid snow. If there's enough interest, there could also be a series of these guided roadgeek hikes in the Tahoe/Truckee area given the wide range of possibilities. Old Meyers Grade, Old Kingsbury Grade, and other abandoned Lincoln Highway segments are in the area and would make for interesting expeditions for adventurous road enthusiasts.

This would push Reno back to 2024 or 2025, which might be better because it would allow other projects in the region to start.

[Max Rockatansky]

Considering I’m about four hours out I would go given I would have advanced notice.  Really I would probably go in general given it’s one of my favorite hikes.

[Alps]

already did the tunnels so i will probably not be drawn out thousands of miles

[hbelkins]

Where's the meet lunch going to be? 

[Max Rockatansky]

Where's the meet lunch going to be? 

The Donner Lake Picnic Area (which is real) of course.

[Brandon]

Where's the meet lunch going to be? 

The Donner Lake Picnic Area (which is real) of course.

Better question, who’s for lunch?

[SSOWorld]

Where's the meet lunch going to be? 

The Donner Lake Picnic Area (which is real) of course.

Better question, who’s for lunch?

even better question.

Why's for lunch?

[Max Rockatansky]

Where's the meet lunch going to be? 

The Donner Lake Picnic Area (which is real) of course.

Better question, who’s for lunch?

even better question.

Why's for lunch?

I’ll do you one better, when is for lunch?

[Alps]

Where's the meet lunch going to be? 

The Donner Lake Picnic Area (which is real) of course.

Better question, who’s for lunch?

even better question.

Why's for lunch?

I’ll do you one better, when is for lunch?

L is for lunch

[Rothman]

Where's the meet lunch going to be? 

The Donner Lake Picnic Area (which is real) of course.

Better question, who’s for lunch?

even better question.

Why's for lunch?

I’ll do you one better, when is for lunch?

L is for lunch

That's good enough for me.

[roadfro]

Thought I replied to this thread weeks ago. I'd be interested to join. Despite having been in the Reno area for over 20 years, I've never really explored around Donner or some of the other nearby historic alignments.

[moabdave]

I've done hiked the old rail line a few times. That alone is worth it. But yeah, i'd be interested in a hike of old highway too.

[zzcarp]

Right now I'm a maybe. It will depend on which weekend y'all choose and my availability to road-trip 1000 miles from Denver.

[kurumi]

Pencil me in, too; that looks interesting.

[SSOWorld]

Road meets are not priority outside 2, (maybe 3) within the Midwest due to a long trip that will suck money and PTO.  I'm out

[cl94]

Well then, maybe this needs to be a thing. This winter being reminiscent of what the Donner Party went through may make for an interesting few months up at the pass, but the advantage of this is that it *should* mean smoke would be less of a worry for us. But hey, more of an example why the rail alignment up there was abandoned for a lower tunnel!

I'll make a date poll, etc. in the next few weeks and come up with an itinerary over the summer. The nice thing about the layout at Donner is that we can have a mostly-flat walk when we meet up to explore the old highway and tunnels, then maybe driving stops at the bridge and/or viewpoints and a lunch in Truckee at the end depending on how everyone is feeling.