High Sierra Topix

adam921 wrote:I didn't mean to avoid the question at all- I missed that you were talking about the book and not just the article. No, I haven't read the book, have you?

No worries. Just clarifying.
Yes, I have. Recommend you do the same - it's not a time consuming book and should help with your research paper.

“A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”
Plus where the boundaries are.

I'll definitely read it, our library has just about everything

Coincidentally just finished reading the afore mentioned book...nice read. Stand out was the many pictures taken back in the 20's of how they built the dams, penstocks, powerhouses, etc. Interesting that even though a complete history of the project, there was never a complete map of the entire project given...wonder if this was intentional?
Would like to see a Topo including all the tunnels, penstocks, dams...anybody?

Regarding the initial question: Yes, these dam roads are great for the wilderness - providing access all along that section of the west side of the Sierra Crest. (Too bad there was not the vision to include another West-side hydro-project between VVR and Whitney Portal - would make doing that 100 mile stretch of the Muir a lot easier weight-wise.)
IMHO, having these roads has made getting to that part of Sierra easier, no complaints...Much like Beasore Drive in the West or the East-side roads to: Horseshoe Meadows, Onion Valley, Devil's Postpile allowing access on the east-side.
Just a long as there are no roads cutting all the way through through.

markskor wrote:

(Too bad there was not the vision to include another West-side hydro-project between VVR and Whitney Portal - would make doing that 100 mile stretch of the Muir a lot easier weight-wise.)

There is! Check out the N. Fork Kings. the only other alternatives would be Tehipite, Cedar Grove, or possibly the Kaweahs.

Are you really sure thats what you want?

mike

There was almost another road crossing the sierra in the middle. The road to Huntington and beyond to Florence Lake is CA 168. Look on the other side of the mountains and you will see that the road to Sabrina is also CA 168. Plans were afoot at one time to connect them - fortunately it never happened.

markskor wrote:Would like to see a Topo including all the tunnels, penstocks, dams...

Of course, all these features (also power lines, etc.) are marked on regular topo maps. For example:
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.p ... llshade=18" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.p ... llshade=18" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
As a guide to help finding them one can use a schematic map at
http://www.sce.com/PowerandEnvironment/ ... efault.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For those of you interested in the topos, I should be getting maps from Southern California Edison any day now and I'll pass them on if you'd like.

i would love to see the maps, and when your project is done, get a copy of it, or a pointer to it.