 |
| Bridge, Lake Don Pedro - Tuolumne County 2026 |
No trip through this area would be complete without stopping for a photo at beautiful Lake Don Pedro!
I've noticed this bridge while driving through in the past . . . this time I actually drove across it. Not that exciting actually.
 |
| Road, Trees, Clouds - Tuolumne County 2026 |
 |
| Burnt Trees, Clouds - Tuolumne County 2026 |
I noticed the burnt hillside in the distance while I was driving on highway 49 and managed to stop for photos where a side road joined the highway.
 |
| Burnt Fencepost - Tuolumne County 2026 |
 |
| Fire Damage (Chinese Camp) - Tuolumne County 2026 |
I paid a visit to Chinese Camp last year. Very little new construction happening since then.
 |
| Tree, Lake Don Pedro - Tuolumne County 2025 |
 |
| Lunch at Lake Don Pedro Overlook - Tuolumne County 2025 |
Sometimes I stop at the McDonalds in Oakdale for lunch. Not this time! Fritos 'n Coke Zero and cheese sticks. Yum! Then the drive home in Friday afternoon traffic.
 |
| Fire Debris Removal (Chinese Camp) - Tuolumne County 2025 |
 |
| Fire Damage (Chinese Camp) - Tuolumne County 2025 |
"Chinese Camp is the remnant of a notable California Gold Rush mining town. Between 1849 and 1882, thousands of Chinese immigrants arrived in the area to look for good fortune on the legendary 'Gold Mountain.'"
"The TCU September Lightning Complex included more than 20 lightning-sparked wildfires in four counties that spanned the foothills of the central Sierra Nevada, east of Modesto. All told, the complex has burned nearly 14,000 acres. Some fires were less than an acre, while others grew to thousands.
"In the swirl of so many fires that consumed the Sierra Nevada foothills all at once, Chinese Camp burned to the ground in what felt like a blip. Another California town gone, claimed by wildfire, forever lost. This one had history dating back to the Gold Rush, when thousands of Chinese immigrants lived here, mining for gold or working as servants for American miners. The town’s first post office was established in 1854, and the town grew into a hub for stage coach lines with travelers passing through."
I just paid a quick visit while driving over to Bishop. I found it a bit unusual that the area consists of rolling hills studded with oak trees. Not thickly forested! The wind must have been a main factor causing the fire damage.
There is still some structures remaining in the town; I'd hope that some residents will be able to return.
%200924.jpg) |
| Digger Pines - Tuolumne County 2024 |
Driving past Lake Don Pedro to experience a genuine car camping trip. My goal was to camp somewhere in the mountains west of Bishop, but I knew in advance that it was going to be a long drive.
 |
| Horse Training - Tuolumne County 2023 |
 |
| Lake Don Pedro - Tuolumne County 2023 |
I wanted to spend a few days in the area around Bishop in the Owens Valley last October . . . hiking, taking pix etcetera. I followed the usual route on highway 120, stopping to take some photos here and there. Of course, one of the must-visit scenic views was the one of beautiful Lake Don Pedro. (Compare to 2015 photo.)
 |
| Lake Don Pedro - Tuolumne County 2020 |
 |
| Lake Don Pedro Viewpoint - Tuolumne County 2020 |
 |
| Lake Don Pedro, Digger Pines - Tuolumne County 2019 |
 |
| Oaks, Fence, Snow - Tuolumne County 2019 |
