The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-07-18

o, il was glorious, getting over the track
in this stylel For the time being. / for
got all about being tired and sleepy,
feeling that / should soon be cover there
in California.
enjoyed this part of the trip hugely,
in fact, better than all the rest, except
the ride over the Great Sierras.
1t was just at peep of day when we
reached the Truckee River, add began
the ascent. This stream is in the outlet
of the famous Lake Tahoe; in more
modern language, Lake Bigler. This
lake is several miles south of the point
at which the railroad crosses the noun
tains, and lies near the summit, in ba-
sin several miles in diameter. Mark
Twain says the waters of Lake Tahoe are
so clear that you can not only see a fish
at the bottom of it. but can count the
scales on its back. This may be so, but
| doubt it. | think that is one of Mark
peeg feesh stories. This is a wonderful
sheet of water, though, if we believe only
one-half the yarns we hear about it.
Truckee river has very steep grade,
and rushes on and on for thirty miles or
more, down the mountain gOrges and
canons before reaching the Valleys of
Nevada. The railroad passes up the
stream for several miles, following all its
vindings, through deep gorges, under
frOwniRg battlements of huge procipicGs,
often passing over bridges where you
may look down into the boiling, foam
ing, rushing waters as they hurry on
ward down the rough, rocky canon.
Grand old pines tower heavenward, stand
ing thousands of feet above, on the steep
face of the mountains, where, at inter
walls, are also seen tremendous bluffs of
granite jutting out in bold relief, and,
far above all this, the snow-capped sum
nit.
Aftor leaving the Truckee it was not
long before We came to the snow sheds
For some time we passed though sections
of sheds varying in length from two to
eight hundred feet long. Before coming
to the main sheds, we passed for about
five miles up the left side of huge
canon, and could SEQ the railroad track
and sheds on the opposite sid', hundreds
of feet acove, and not, seemingly, over
half mile distant. Upon reaching this
elevated point, we could look down upon
the road we had passed over half an hour
before. At this point the main sheds
set in. For hours we were in semi-dark-
ness, except here and there an opening
of from fifty to an hundred feet. / did
not fancy this sort of thing, for when |
most wished a peep at the scenery, l
couldn't get it. On our left the noun
tains rose, almost precipitously, thousands
of feet above; whilst on the right, were
yawning gulfs thousands of feet deep.
As | don't profess to be possessed of
very extra descriptive powers, you will
pardon me il leave the rest TO your i'm
agination. You must sec if you would
fully appreciate the sublime scenery OF
the Sierra Nevadas
Nearing the summit, through windows
in the sheds, made for the purpose, is
seen beautiful Lake Donner, nestled in
a basin formed by the surrounding noun
tains. Its waters looked clear 'as crys-
tai, and, situated as it is, reminds one of
scenes described by some of our best
novelists. wish could command Ian
guage that would do justice to the beau
ties and grandeur of this lake and its
surroundings. If 'twere possible for me
to do so, you would perhaps think me
Eighty. You would think that | had
drawn pretty largely upon my imagina'
tion.
Our next stopping place Is summit
and here, my friend, | will leave YOU
chin deep in snow.
More anon.