Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1908-06-13
ACROSS The SIERRA
NEVADA IN A CHUC
WAGON


May 81 met w. d. Leavitt and Charles
Ladivez in Sacramento, and with them
came to Yerington. They say the half
can never be told of their experience,
but one telling of the ride, said:
We left Sacramento at $3.50 p. m. We'd
nesday with Ladivez at the wheel. On
the way to Roseville we took the wrong
road and had longer ride than neces-
sary. We found cherries most tempting
on either hand as we neared Newcastle,
but the car refused to come to a stand
still conveniently near these orchards.
Darkness coming upon us the lamps
were lighted and we swept on, startling
a deer that bounded across the road and
up the hill. Reaching Colfax we sought
cover for the horse. but the livery stable
refused to take him in, so we hunted
private barn. Securing gasolene, we
found eating at one and sleeping at an
other of the hotels, showing that bust
ness is good in that line. Early we are
off, and it is down, down till we cross
the narrow guage leading to Grass Val
ley, then up for miles, but she kept
moving, and we enjoyed the lovely
morning. Swinging around the curves
in early morn in an auto is life enjoy
able. Up and down we went merrily on
till knocking warned us that some
thing was lacking, and on examination
we found that the water tank had sprung
leak and things were dangerously
warm. The divine and Ladivez took a
five gallon and started for water. See
ing ravine far down the mountain side
that gave promise of moisture, they de-
scended through brush and over logs
and rocks, but on reaching the depth it
was dry as horn. The climb out was
fearful, but the time consumed had given
the machinery time to cool, and after d
council of war we decided to drive on for
time, trusting to find water. Within
two miles a beautiful lake with fish.
Doing the best we knew we could not
entice them from the lake. Emigrant
Gap and lunch, and just beyond pune
ture and stop of twenty minutes.
Crystal Lake and the toughest and
most rocky and steepest road thus far.
Hung up on a rock that was in place, we
lacked up and slid over, but could not
go around, as the rocks stood up on
either hand, a wall. Now we reach the
Yuba, and hope to see the Summit House
for supper, but we find the road covered
with water for 100 yards, one part five
feet deep and rushing torrent, We re-
turn to Cisco and arrange with the rail-
road agent to 81 ip to Truckee, but are
told that the rush of water is the result
of the melting snow and will subside
during the night. Another lovely morn
ing and we drive down to the food and
find it three feet deep. ALI hands to
picking out stone to make deeper the
channel below the road and the depth is
lowered six inches.
Leavitt mounts and turns her loose
and we hold our breath while she found
ers and jumps over the boulders of the
creek bottom. Wheel under water, then
the hub visible; but this jumping gave
opportunity for the spark to work and
she climbed the bank on the other side
and we are off for the summit. We pass
two men in buggy whose horse dis
likes our looks.
A mile beyond we find snow bank
across the road and attempt to go around
but strike a place that is bottomless.
The men in the buggy pass by on the
other side with smile. The jack is our
friend and we lay corduroy bridge out of
fallen trees and limbs,
The scenery is grand with snow on
every hand. The Summit hotel is
reached and we learn from the genial
proprietor that there is not much snow
on the other side. After lunch we push on
and attempt to climb the first drift that
crosses our way, but it is too rotten, +"
and the body is resting on the snow with
wheels covered. The kindly landlord
and three others volunteer aid and show
els are brought and we dig ourselves out
but the next bank is ten feet deep and
long. Some one suggests plank and a
track, and all go back to the hotel, and
plank three by twelve are brought and
she climbs them like cat and crawls
slowly along as those passed are brought
to the front and used again and again
The bank cuts short and is fifteen feet
down, and again she shows the strength
of her frame as she plunges down to the
road. Another and still longer bank is
found, and this bears on the upper side
so but one track is laid, and that so rap
idly that the car keeps moving