Photos: Zack Cunningham
DAY 1
On Thursday morning we met at a deli in downtown Sacramento, grabbed sandwiches for later and caught the 11:00 Amtrak to Reno, NV. ~5 hrs later we rolled our loaded GRAVTRONs off the train, a bit later and with a few more thunder clouds than expected. The route out of Reno took us through the city, along the Truckee River into Verdi, NV. It was all dirt from there, up Henness Pass and across Stampede Meadows to our campsite at Boca Reservoir. The evening was damp but nobody seemed to care, we were all excited about being in the mountains and the days ahead.
DAY 2
We woke up at Boca Reservoir and by the end of a long day, we were swimming at French Meadows. Highlights of the day included riding Donner Pass by way of the abandoned Donner Railroad Tunnels. The tunnels were primarily built by Chinese, who’s labor allowed the first railroad to traverse the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The tunnels are dark, cool, damp and filled with colorful art. A recommended stop should the opportunity present itself. Along the route, we stopped at Soda Springs for some last minute snacks and libations that we happily carried over a few more passes before relaxing at camp.
