Train Tunnels

Driving past Donner Lake on Old Highway 40, we came upon the sign shown on my cover. It describes how over 8,000 Chinese workers worked for eight years to build a railroad from Sacramento to Utah. This section is in the Truckee area of California. They build this rock wall as well as tunnels to shield the trains from extreme weather common to the area.

It's difficult to see in this photo, but if you look closely, you can see the faint remnants of petroglyphs left by the Martis Tribe long before the famous Donner Party. 

Wildflowers can be found scattered around the train tunnel area. By the way, there are a couple of ways to reach this historical area. The adventurous can park on Old Highway 40 by the sign. With a good pair of tennis/hiking shoes, you can climb up the rocky hill to the tunnels. This way, you are able to see the petroglyphs and have a good view of the amazing rock wall. 

This is also a great hike for people who are unable to be so adventurous. Driving past the sign (when coming past Donner Lake) and on up the windy road, there is a parking lot across from the Donner Ski Ranch. It allows the visitor a flat walk into the tunnels. The entire hike through the tunnels is very level. The ground is uneven due to gravel and rocks. It is best to bring a flashlight as some areas are very dark.

The tunnels are 19 feet high and 16 feet wide. They are made of rock, as you can see. This is such a great area for photography! For those who like to play with lighting... this is heaven!

There's a break between tunnels where you can walk out to a vista point... beautiful Donner Lake lies below. Wildflowers bloom after the snow melts. Depending on the winter, it can be early June or as in 2017, mid to late July! Past the lake is a ridge of mountains... on the other side is Lake Tahoe!

In some areas more light shines through exposing the graffiti. It's unfortunate that this historical site has been tagged but there is some nice artwork. I'd love to see it in a different venue :-)

As I am NOT an expert in lighting, this attempt at creativity is lacking. Light peeking through cracks create stunning subjects. It is a good place for me to practice...

Here are some examples of graffiti found inside the tunnels. If you ever get a chance to visit the Tahoe/Truckee area,  I suggest making time to explore!