| Above the Fog December 12, 2004 |
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| While most of the San Joaquin Valley was sopped in fog today, I drove up the Blue Ridge Road in search of sun. I found it and what a beautiful day it was above the fog! |
| The Blue Ridge Road is a very narrow, very steep road, like every other road that goes up into the southern Sierra. It is just a few minutes from where I live on the Sequoia National Forest. At the top of the ridge, elevation 5,733, is an old fire lookout and a couple of cell/radio towers. There are also a couple of lucky people who own cabins up there and are blessed with an amazing view every time they spend time up there. |
| What's especially amazing about the Blue Ridge Road is nobody but locals seem to know about it. Shhhhhhh, can you keep it a secret? Blue Ridge extends westward from the Great Western Divide and divides the Kaweah River drainage from the Tule River Drainage. There are amazing views that stretch westward to the coast range and eastward to the Great Western Divide. To the north and south are the expansive oak-dotted Sierra foothills. |
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| For all the big views there are also many little treasures to be found on Blue Ridge... |
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| Looking to the Great Western Divide Mt. Silliman is on the left and Alta Peak is on the right |
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| Dennison Ridge and Moses Mountain |
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| Homer's Nose |
| And if you're careful enough you may even spot some wildlife signs... Did a mountain lion pass this way? |
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| This is the old Forest Service Lookout that is no longer manned. Also near the top of the ridge is the small Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuge which was established in 1982 to protect critical habitat of the endangered California Condor. This is part of a larger Bureau of Land Management Area of Critical Environmental Concern. According to the BLM, "Blue Ridge has been an important California Condor roost location close to nesting and foraging areas. Both the historic record and recent surveys by the National Audubon Society, the Condor Research Center, California Department of Fish and Game, and the Bureau confirmed frequent use by condors from June through August. It is also suspected that periodic use of the roost occurred throughout the rest of the year." I have yet to see a condor up there but I hope someday I will! Blue Ridge was the first foothill mountain people had to cross while travelling on the historic Jordan Trail. This trail originated in Yokohl Valley near Exeter and travelled southeast to cross Blue Ridge and then continue on over the southern Sierra. John Jordan built this trail in 1861 and it was the first to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Tulare County. It was a toll trail that was used mainly by miners seeking silver in the Coso Mines. Parts of the trail are still in use today. |