Steam Donkey Steam Up at Shaver Lake

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We went over to the Central Sierra Historical Society museum for their annual steamup where they run the old steam donkey that used to pull logs through the forests around Shaver Lake when all the old growth sugar pine were cut down.

 

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A part of the original lumber flume that carried rough cut wood out of the mountains and down to the valley below.

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An original restored line truck used when Southern California Edison built the Big Creek Hydroelectric Project.


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A part of the original water piping in the area.


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Old school winch.



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The caboose from the old San Joaquin and Eastern Railroad built to service the hydro dams.

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The mockup of Redinger Powerhouse where an old pelton turbine is installed to show people interested in how hydropower works.

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The old pelton wheel is inside this green circle.


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The controls to sync the generator with the grid.  These controls still work!

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An example of a pelton wheel.

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They cranked the generator up to show us how it works.


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Shaver lake sure is pretty.

Exploring Rock Creek Road

IMG_0483Heather and I took Sean and Katie out for a trip along Rock Creek Road in the 4runner.  We found a little bare granite to play around on about halfway through the trail.  If there is ever a big fire in this part of the Sierras (probably more like when), this would be a good place to hide out and wait for it to blow by.


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