Have you ever snowshoed into Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias? This was one adventure I had not experienced until this week. Tuolumne Grove was one of the big stops that early travelers made on their way to Yosemite. In the 1870’s, they left Hodgdon’s Stage Station, then headed up through these huge trees, even driving through one of the dead ...

By Sal Maccarone A finished piece of sculpture can take many forms. The sculptural process is loosely defined as: The art of carving, modeling, or otherwise producing works of art which are three dimensional, such as would be a relief, an intaglio, or a sculpture-in-the-round. Breaking this definition down, a relief gives the impression that an image has been raised ...

Already February and I hadn’t gone on a single snowshoe this year. It was time to fix that problem with an adventure in Fish Camp but what would the snow be like? Where: Sierra National ForestDistance: 3.64 miles, but you can walk much farther or shorter if you wishDifficulty: Easy to Moderate, depending on the depth of new snowElevation Range: ...

By Sal Maccarone Historians study architectural style because it closely reflects the ideals and beliefs of the builders. Distinctive and identifiable artistic form in architecture also helps us to understand the mood of an era. The particular styles of a past culture, or an artistic movement speak volumes about the individuals involved. Styles evolve, and change because circumstances evolve, and ...

There was a really good reason why I headed up to Yosemite Valley when I did. A nice storm came in and the timing for it moving out would be a perfect time to be in the valley. Maybe if I was lucky, I would see clouds swirling around the high places on the rim. Where: Yosemite National ParkDistance: About ...

This is one of the most recent donations to the Coarsegold museum. We are hoping to get more information about this item for our records. Stories about how it is used, or families that had one on their ranch or in their yard. Thank you for your participation in the History Mystery project. Our museum is closed at this time, ...

No hikes, no snowshoeing and no walking on a dirt road this past week. Like most everyone, I was dealing with winds, down trees, no electricity, then snow and rain.  I managed to pick up a few sticks and burn a couple of piles but those were the extent of my adventures this past week. It is a good time ...

Hiking with the 1883 Topographic Map, I followed the old wagon and stagecoach roads above Nipinnawasee through 1880’s era homesteads as I tried to figure out the routes of travel, neighbor relationships and a few stories from back in the day. Distance: 13.12 Miles (but you can go shorter or longer)Difficulty: ModerateElevation Range: 3,417′ to 5,038′Date: December 24, 2020CALTOPO: Worman’s ...

What could I discover if I tried to walk the old wagon and stagecoach roads above Worman’s Mill armed with the 1883 Topographic Map to guide me? Many of the roads had changed but I bet if I pay attention, I can spot them. The area above Nipinnawasee was a happening spot back in the 1880s, when logging, homesteading and ...

By Sal Maccarone It is always entertaining to try and imagine what the world will be like a century from now. Even though it is impossible to fully comprehend what the future has to hold, we need only to look at the strides taken during the past one hundred years to get some clues. For instance, my grandparents were born ...