The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-01-25
IN SNoWLAND.
A Wonderland Of Beauty as Yet
UnexpIored.
Where Californians VIII in the Future
Hold Their Winter Carniyals-
Sleighing and Skating.

AIl-the-year-round jewellers in the
Sierra say that so far this has been one of
the pleasantest winters on record. The
snow came just right as to depth and
time. Sleighing is perfect, the mercury
always several notches above zero. A
visit to Truckee and vicinity last week,
after traversing the south, middle and
west Of tho State, set me to thinking
Why is not winter the best time for ex-
ploring our California-at least, such
parts as can be reached by public con-
veyance? After many summers spent at
Lake Tahoe and the charming resorts in
its vicinage, have discovered that one
sees but half the shield unless winter
trip be made. But the mountains are al
most deserted just now. Pacific coasters
read with envy of the ice palaces of the
East, Of tobogganing and skating carni-
walls, Of real ice, and the sky for roof,
and oxygen to make each breath fresher
than the last. How long will it take our
pleasure-loving Californians to find out
that they have at home the most magnif-
cent winter resort in the world? To visit
Canadian carnivals he must pass the lei
cled gates of our own kingdom. For four
or more months in each year there waits
in the white solitudes Of the Sierra
wonderland of beauty as yet UNEMPLOYED,
almost undreamed of by the ordinary
tourist.
This ordinary tourist is, by the way,
sort OF human sheep-he must be told
where to go, and must follow bell
wether of guide-books and flaming ads.
Just now he sits by his tiresome coaI-fire,
yawns over his engagement list, looks
out on muddy streets, and counts the
lenten. weeks to intervene before plea
sure trip can be ventured. Let him try
visit to snowland. He knows all about
the summer places, Tahoe is one of them,
and is identified in his mind with Coro-
nado and the Geysers. Oh for a swift
to Canadian scenes. If
twenty-four hours would do it, what
hegira OF our society lights there would
be-. Sometime it will be suggested to him
and his set-why not try our own Sierra?
Then there will be rush, and many
lonely little mountain lake, now hiding
like frost mirror in its high recess, will
become merry skating pond. The Sierra
valleys are not nearly as cold as Atlantic
and Canadian resorts. They are beautiful
with forest greenery, and only a few
hours ride from the social metropolis.
Think of the countless natural Kinks and
toboggan slides laid out by nature her.
self, and waiting impatiently for the ring
ing steel, the gay shout and laughter Of
young voices, the brightly costumed
swirl of robust lads and lasses.
Last week, after few hours of slumber
in a comfortable Pullman, l awoke in the
heart of the Sierra instead of Sacramento.
Instead of black streets, a white and
green world, lit by an Arctic young
moon, and more stars than / thought
were in the sky. We were crossing the
Truckee Meadows, and presently entered
the town. The big hotel glowed with
warmth and hospitality as 1 stepped from
the cars to its very entrance.
Friends were to entertain us, and a
five minutes walk along slippery path
between snow-banks led to their house.
The air was keen, but not piercing, our
wraps being ample, and the house seemed
almost too warm. Truckee houses can
afford the old-fashioned fireplace full of
burning logs.
The next morning we began to realize
our ,wintry surroundings. Sleds and
sleighs were passing the door. The CEN
trail plaza was glassed over with ice. Great
icicles fringed all the caves, and every
roof was double snow-bank.
The first venture was a walk. Over
shoes and furS must be worn, though q
bright, warm sun soon made us take off
the furs. Across the river-its rapid cur
rent had greenish twist, and looked
colder than the ice on its banks-we
climbed to the Indian camp hill for view
of the town. Quite stretch of surround
ing country was also in view. Snow
everywhere. Enough remains Of the once
dense forests of pine to agreeably vary
the landscape. Singly or in thinned-out
groups, the dark-green conifers every
where dot and serve to accentuate the
whiteness. Truckee is not attractive in
summer. In winter it is beauty-land,
The hue of innocence shrouds the town,
which might, indeed, be dead, We're it not
for the fussy engine that goes rampant
up and down, Natures communion veil
hides multitude of roofs, under which
the stranger can imagine no guile.
We had a sleighing picnic to Bonner
Lake, three miles distant. 1t hardly
seemed possible that this was the same
State in which on Christmas Day we had
taken swim in the warm surf of Santa
Barbara.
Bonner Valley is the frozen cul-de-sac
where the historic Bonner party suffered.
A lovely though somber valley it is at
any season. There is an amphitheatrical
curve to it's lower space. The mountain
walls rise sheer and abrupt, semi-circling
around the dark, still lake, over which
they seem pressing and crowding like
savages around mirror. On west and
north they are -precipitous ramparts of
broken rock. The cliffs in some places
seem to lean over the valley.
The lake was in q rejecting mood. not
ripple on its surface. Films of ice
reached far out toward the center, and in
the clear spaces lay mirrored the opposite
shores; peaks, with their snow and
sunny spots, the serious pines and sky
above lay TRANQUILITY inverted. We
passed the hotel and skating section and
went toward the lakes head. Here a
number of fishing boats lay moored to a
cove. Entering these our party rowed
out through sort of canal through the
thick ice and across the open water. It
did not seem very cold. The sun was
bright and warm, but the old boatman
remarked:
mo living man could swim in that
water; the cold would paralyze him in a
minute.''
How deep is it?n
Three hundred and twenty feet right
here; deeper where that jag of peak casts
its likeness
Has any one been drowned ?" I in
CURED, glapcing furtively at small leak
in the boat.
"Oh, yes; two men that I know of. You
see this still water has way of waking
up. In five minutes from now there may
be white caps and witches tumble all
over 1t" was more satisfied like when
we recrossed and again sat safely in the
sleighs. As if to show what it could do
the lake was all alive with rifles, and the
singing of the ice bubbles were audible
some distance from shore. Very good
skating is had at the eastern end of the
lake, also at Prosser Creek. A moonlight
sleigh ride to the latter place was new
experience. AS we SKINNED along over
the frozen lands our host pointed out
some Mountaineering wastes. where
was neither bush nor tree, oniy dis
tracted riffs of deep snow.
Those are our vegetable gardens in
summer" he said. NETTIE HIMSELF.
Girls Behind the Counter.