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December 20, 2005
Exploring the Historic Rock Point Mill in Dayton
Rock Point Mill site at Dayton State Park, about 40 miles southeast of Reno
Old storage room cut into the rock wall
Rock Point Mill ruins
Impressive foundations of the Rock Point Mill
Founded in the early 1850s after gold and silver were discovered in the area, Dayton is one of Nevada's most historic mining communities. At the east edge of town, adjacent to Dayton State Park, are the remains of the Rock Point Mill, a remnant of Dayton's mining glory days.
Charles C. Stevenson, who was Nevada's governor from 1887 to 1890, built the mill in 1861. Constructed at a cost of about $75,000 (a considerable sum at the time), the mill had 40 stamps that crushed silver and gold ore carried over the mountain from Gold Hill via an elaborate tram system.
At the peak of the Comstock mining boom, the mill was enlarged to include 56 stamps and more than $170,000 in modern equipment. The mill was one of three important ore processing plants located in Dayton and was instrumental in the development of the Comstock mining district.
In 1909, the Rock Point Mill was destroyed in a fire, but its owners immediately rebuilt it using galvanized iron. The second mill remained in use until about 1920 when it was closed for good and dismantled.
Today, a couple of small wooden signs at the site offer a few details about the history of the mill. Many of the ruins date to the second mill built on the site, including the cement foundations. Others, such as the stone walls, date from the original mill, which was one of the first to process ore from the fabulous Comstock Lode.
You can wander the ruins, open to the public year round, via a series of marked trails. At the top of the hill overlooking the ruins is a large, round concrete structure that was once part of the mill complex. From there, you can get a marvelous view of the Dayton Valley.
At the base of the mill you can find a small rock hole (it looks like a cave) cut into the rock wall. Portions of a wooden wall and door frame the hole, which goes back about five feet.
The mill foundations are quite large and extensive. Climbing onto one of the concrete blocks, which are bigger than a person, gives some indication of the size of the mill's buildings.
Surrounding the foundations are clusters of mature cottonwoods--very colorful in the fall--and nearby is the remnants of a small earthen and concrete dam that once must have captured water for use at the mill.
Dayton State Park is a picturesque spot located on the banks of the Carson River. It has tall, shady cottonwoods, developed picnic areas and a campground with 10 sites for tents or self-contained RVs. Additionally, the park offers drinking water, RV dump station, flush toilets, and picnic areas. It is open all year. For information call 775-687-5678.---Richard Moreno
Posted by Rich Moreno at 02:29 PM | Comments (1)
December 19, 2005
Completly white
We woke up on Sunday to discover that it had been snowing all night. So after church and lunch with some friends, we decided to go for a few runs!
It was late as usual, but we couldn't resist...
The snow was heavy and the wind was crazy, but we stayed in the trees and had a blast!
Posted by tele girl at 09:15 AM | Comments (0)
December 16, 2005
Snow Shoeing at Kirkwood
Last Saturday, I went with the hubby to Kirkwood, where he strapped on the skis for the first time this season, and I went snow shoeing.
I normally hit the slopes with him, but since I'm nearly 8 months pregnant, I determined that perhaps skiing wasn't the sport of choice for me this winter (that's sarcasm, people).
I headed for Kirkwood's Cross Country & Snowshoe Center, and took my trusty black lab, Shadow with me for company, as dogs are allowed on the trail for a fee of $4.
Shadow was wonderful company for me to have around. Yes, it sucked not being able to go ski, but it was nice to at least be in that atmosphere and take in the beautiful winter scenery.
Anyway, I was thankful that there was a bench at the trail head for the snow shoeing (it's actually Kirkwood's cross country ski trail), because I really needed a bench to be able to put on my snow shoes. I trapsed around for a while, but after 30 minutes, my hips and back were aching, so I went back to the lodge, hung out on an outside deck for a while, and then went back out snow shoeing for another half hour. You can't get far when you're only going in half hour bouts, but it was good exercise and it was nice to be doing a winter sport.
Here are some pictures from my outing.
Self portrait of me on a break from snow shoeing:
Looking back at my footsteps in the snow:
The moon rising over the Sierras:
A beautiful creek I came across in the meadow:
More beautiful winter scenery:
My faithful snowshoeing companion, Shadow:
Posted by AdventureGrrl at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)
Update from Shelly Robertson, US Ski Team Member
The Reno-Tahoe Blog will occasionally feature entries from athletes sponsored by Reno-Tahoe, America's Adventure Place. Shelly Robertson, who lives in Reno, is a member of the U.S. Ski Team, and was the 2004 U.S. dual moguls champion.
I just returned home to Reno-Tahoe after three weeks in Colorado. I had a US Team camp, which started out in Breckinridge and ended in Winter Park. Then, I had the first competition of the year at Winter Park this past weekend. It went great! On Friday, I placed 1st and on Sunday, I placed 3rd, which gave me the overall title and a spot for the US World Cups. It was a great way to start the season because it's satisfying to know that the training this summer has been paying off. Thanks for all of the words of encouragement that I received this weekend - I really appreciate it!!
I also look forward to skiing Tahoe with everyone over X-Mas, I will only be home for a couple of days because I will be in Salt Lake until Dec. 22nd and then leaving for Steamboat on the 26th for the BIG DAY! As I'm sure you all know- Steamboat is where the Olympic Qualifier will be held. It is going to be on Dec. 30th and for those of you that won't be able to make it to the competition, it will be on NBC on Dec. 31st at 2:00. I have been dreaming about the 30th for months and I can't believe it is only a couple of weeks away!!!! Well that's about it for me, hope everyone has an amazing holiday season. I wish everyone lots of love and happiness. And as always, thanks for the support!!!
Posted by AdventureGrrl at 10:53 AM | Comments (1)
Kayaking Before the Holidays
Since my last update a lot has happened. The Truckee came up to 1800cfs which made for some really fun kayaking for a few days. Macy and I met a couple of times after he got off work, and also one day at peak flow during his lunch break. On that particular day the river was awesome but was also hands down the coldest water I have ever been on. If it wasn't moving I am sure that it would have been frozen.
We paddled for almost an hour when I started to notice my neck really getting stiff. I told Macy in the eddy that it was bummer that the two places on your body that you just can't really protect from the cold are your face and the back of your neck and then paddled into the hole for another ride. Well, during that ride I did a loop and halfway around I felt everything from my skull to between my shoulder blades strain. Not good.
I took the next day off and did nothing, and then on the second day I just went for a long walk with Lisa and the dog to just loosen everything up. One the third day I was able to do a little bit of stretching, and since then I have been doing flat water workouts every day. Can you say "EJ's Strokes and Concepts"? All my other workouts, as far as running and gym time are now back to normal. The last few days I really feel like I could get back to normal on the river, but I am really trying to be good and give it a little extra time just in case. The last thing that I want to do is re-injure myself before going to Africa.
On Friday, Lisa and I are heading up to Ontario, Canada to spend Christmas with her family. And yes, I am actually looking forward to that.
I am also looking forward to getting back here and working out double time so that I am all fit and ready for Africa. I will be.
So until next time, I hope you are enjoying the river as much as I am missing it.
Posted by AdventureGrrl at 10:29 AM | Comments (0)
December 15, 2005
History Lessons at Virginia City's Fourth Ward School
Virginia City's Historic Fourth Ward School
With its elegant Victorian-era architecture, Virginia City's Fourth Ward School almost seems too fancy to have been a schoolhouse. Built in 1876, during the peak of the Comstock era, the Fourth Ward School remains one of Virginia City's civic treasures.
Construction of the school, built in the French-influenced Second Empire architectural style, cost more than $50,000, with some estimates placing it as high as $100,000.
Befitting a successful mining town, the Fourth Ward School was big--it could accommodate more than 1,000 students in 16 classrooms. Housed on its four floors were both a grammar school and a high school.
The structure also boasted many modern conveniences--at least they were modern for the times--such as a central heating system, water piped to every floor, drinking fountains and indoor "Philadelphia-style," patented, spring-loaded, self-flushing toilets.
Virginia City's declining fortunes along with the school's age and construction of a newer school building resulted in the Fourth Ward School closing in 1936.
For the next three decades, the magnificent structure stood empty, its fate uncertain. Starting in the 1960s, however, the community rallied around efforts to save the old school.
The building was finally rehabilitated in the 1980s. It reopened in 1986 as a museum devoted to the school's rich past and to telling the history of the Comstock region.
Today, a visit to the Fourth Ward School is a chance to glimpse the glorious history of 19th century Virginia City. During our recent visit, we found that several of the old classrooms have been renovated as exhibit halls filled with historic artifacts telling the story of the school and the city.
For instance, one room on the first floor of the school is filled with dozens of historic photographs of past Virginia City school children. The photos feature classes from the late 19th century as well as the mid-20th century.
In an adjacent room is the exhibit, "A Comstock Lesson," which offers an overview history of the Comstock region including information about the initial discovery of silver, the Bank of California's control of the Comstock mines, the story of Sutro Tunnel, the history of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, and other aspects of Virginia City's rich history.
Another room contains reminders of the school's glory days such as desks and old chalkboards. The school's basement houses restroom facilities and the old janitor's storage area, which is filled with an assortment of old doors and other paraphernalia.
While the building boasts a modern elevator, walking to the second floor is a special treat because you can trudge up the worn wooden steps used by so many generations of Virginia City students and almost feel their presence.
The Fourth Ward School is located at 537 C Street at the south end of Virginia City (the Gold Hill side). The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May to October. A donation is recommended. For more information call 775-847-0975.---Richard Moreno
Posted by Rich Moreno at 02:40 PM | Comments (0)
December 12, 2005
Cloudy in Reno -- but sunny and beautiful up in the Sierras!
Another weekend in Reno-Tahoe, America's Adventure Place!
It was so cold and cloudy here (in Reno) that we thought it would be snowing up at the lake. But as we were driving up Mount Rose Highway the clouds dissapeared and the beautiful sunshine made it seem like a Spring day. What a surprise!!!
We knew the snow wasn't going to be all that it could be.
Indeed, it was not powder like last week. But it was good enough to have a fabulous time and left us with the desire to come back!
De-skinning and getting ready for the big long run:
Posted by tele girl at 12:09 PM | Comments (0)
December 09, 2005
Washoe Lake Meditations
Walking to the new wildlife observation platform at the south end of Washoe Lake State Park
View of the lake from the elevated platform
Playing in the sand at Washoe Lake State Park
Even during this time of year, when it can get a little cold, I like to sit and enjoy the magnificent views at Washoe Lake State Park.
To the northwest is Slide Mountain, a 9,600-foot slope with pine-covered sides and a distinctive half-face dusted with snow. To the east is the Virginia Range, which contain drier, more barren and smaller mountains.
All around me is Washoe Lake, a remnant of a prehistoric inland sea that once covered most of Northern Nevada. From where I'm sitting, I can see the reflection of Slide Mountain in the placid lake waters.
The native Washoe Indians once gave Slide Mountain a name that roughly translates as "mountain that falls down on itself." About once every century--the last time was in 1983--Slide Mountain releases a wave of mud and rocks.
In fact, in the mid-19th century, humorist Mark Twain wrote about a fictitious legal battle between two ranchers--one wanted his house returned to him after a slide had deposited it on top of his neighbor's dwelling.
Washoe State Park was created in 1977 to preserve the valley's natural assets and provide a place for water sports enthusiasts. The park encompasses 8,053 acres and sits at an elevation of about 5,000 feet.
At the Main Area Campground in the center of the park (accessed from Lake Boulevard), Washoe Lake State Park has 49 campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is also an RV dump station, boat ramps, flush toilets, showers, drinking water, hiking trails, and picnic tables.
The park can accommodate tents or self-contained RVs (up to 45 feet in length) and has 10 RV pull-throughs. There are, however, no hookups for the RVs.
A one-third mile trail from the Main Area Campground winds through sand dunes and leads to the lake. Smaller, undeveloped trails lead around the lake.
A recent addition to the park is a raised, wooden viewing platform and interpretive displays adjacent to the wetlands at the south edge of the park. You'll also find a coin-operated telescope on the platform, which allows you to scan the marsh looking for various birds and wildlife.
The displays point out that the marsh at the south end of the lake is popular with a variety of waterfowl, which you can occasionally spot, including cranes and herons.
Washoe Lake State Park is located 10 miles north of Carson City and 15 miles south of Reno via U.S. 395. It is open all year.
Admission to the park is $4 per person; $12 per night for a campsite. For park information, call 775-687-4319.---Richard Moreno
Posted by Rich Moreno at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2005
Did You Know?
First Reno Arch, now located on Lake Street.
Recently, I was updating "The Nevada Trivia Book," which I wrote, and uncovered some interesting Reno-related information that I thought I'd share.
See how much of this you know!
Q: What Baseball Hall-of-Fame member was married to the daughter of Nevada's lone Congressman in 1914?
A: Walter "Big Train" Johnson was the ballplayer. Johnson, who pitched for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927 and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936, married Hazel Lee Roberts, daughter of Congressman Edwin Ewing Roberts of Reno, on June 24, 1914.
Q: What former Miss Nevada starred in a popular 1960s TV show set on a deserted island with a group of castaways?
A: The actress was Dawn Wells, who played "Mary Ann" on the show "Gilligan's Island." Wells, born in Reno on October 18, 1938, was Miss Nevada in 1959.
Q: How many Reno arches have been erected over Virginia Street in Reno?
A: Three. The first was constructed in 1926 to celebrate completion of the transcontinental highways, the Lincoln and Victory (and modified in the 1930s to incorporate the city's slogan). It was replaced in 1963 and, again, in 1987. Origins of the slogan vary but most historians believe it was adopted in the 1920s as part of a chamber of commerce promotion.
Q: Where in Nevada were the first Levi jeans invented?
A: The first pair of Levis were sewn in Reno in 1870 by tailor Jacob W. Davis. The pants were made for a gigantic-size woodcutter--he had a 56-inch waist!--who kept bursting out of his other clothing. Davis used a durable, white cotton canvas called No. 7 Duck, and added rivets to hold the pocket corners and seams. Davis' invention was an immediate success. To meet the demand, in 1872, he became partners with Levi Strauss, a San Francisco materials supplier. Noticing that white cloth was difficult to keep clean, Strauss changed the material to a blue, woven cotton twill from France called "serge de Nimes," which was later shortened to "denim."
Q: What was the name of the first legal gambling casino licensed in Reno?
A: The first legal casino in Reno was a joint called the Owl Club at 142 Commercial Row, which was granted a gambling permit on March 26, 1931.
Q: True or False: Reno, Nevada, is west of Los Angeles, California?
A: True: If you look at a map, Reno is actually slightly west of Los Angeles because of the shape of California's coastline.
Q: What current member of Britain's House of Lords was born in Reno, Nevada?
A: The Nevada-born Lord is Garret Wellesley, the "Earl Cowley," with courtesy titles that include Baron Cowley of Somerset and Viscount Dangan. Wellesley's father, Christian Arthur Wellesley, moved to Nevada in the 1930s to obtain a divorce (not available at the time in England). The senior Lord Wellesley enjoyed Northern Nevada and, after obtaining his divorce, built an 18th century-style English estate at the south end of Washoe Valley. He remarried to a Reno woman, Mary Elsie May, and they had two children, both born in Reno, Garret and a younger brother, Tim. In the mid-1970s, Garret Wellesley, then living in San Francisco, inherited his father's title, which included the family seat in Britain's House of Lords, and relocated to England.---Richard Moreno
Posted by Rich Moreno at 01:37 PM | Comments (0)
December 05, 2005
Tele Girl is back
We weren't sure if the snow was going to be good or not this weekend. So we decided to give it a try...
We went up to Mount Rose Wilderness area on Saturday and Sunday and had a blast!!!
Our friend Erik calls it champagne snow.
My hubby calls it powder.
I call it PERFECT!
And because pictures communicate louder than words, here you go:
Saturday afternoon in snow heaven
Me and hubby overlooking Lake Tahoe
Enjoying the gorgeous view
Posted by tele girl at 02:32 PM | Comments (0)