I-80 : Donner Pass

Continuing on my I80 series, this is the latest portrait near Donner Pass, CA.

Often under snow at this time of the year, this field is usually part of the Donner Memorial State Park's cross country ski trails. But last week it was very warm.

Donner Lake, 1866 (photo Library of Congress)

The most notorious history about this area is the infamous winter of 1946, and the Donner Party's failed attempt at crossing the pass in late November.

 

More about Donner Lake history:

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/ca-donnerparty4.html

I-80

(the series finally has a real title)

On a cold day in mid-January, we decided to bail on skiing for the day on ice and rocks (very little snow this year in Tahoe) and focus on exploring the nearby structures. 

This corrugated steel structure is an enigmatic guardian to something we can't figure out. It has a bit of an overhang in the front, looking almost like a loading dock for loading up a truck bed with road salt. But there's no trap door, the window is boarded up and it's pretty much seemingly unremarkable. I set up a couple lights, moved a couple giant logs and did my thing by the lone pine tree and window in back.

 

 

The next day the sun came out and we rode the gondola: