Re: 2019 Madera Sugar Pine Explorations part 2

Don De Vere's maps in Hank Johnston's Thunder in the Mountains have been incredibly accurate. On this last expedition I found three discrepancies in De Vere's maps vs. what I saw:


1) the long spur and wye at the top of the map appears to be a short spur and no wye.

2) I didn't find the branch line between the 1930 camp and the short spur at the top. I have placed a question mark on the map for this. It may actually exist, but may be hidden by brush.

3) the two spurs De Vere drew on the lower right part of the map appear as only one short spur (where the upper one is drawn) again of about 200 feet in length. A dirt road is extended off the end of this spur and it quickly loses altitude thus doesn't look like a railroad grade after 200 feet. There is wire rope and marks in the ground hinting at a loading site around 200 feet out.

These are the only real differences I have found in De Vere's maps.

Here's a nice view of the high Sierra from the grade back to the Crows Foot:




After lunch at the Crows Foot, I decided to try and trace the mainline back to Sugar Pine. Last time a large tree had blocked the right of way. With so many trees cleared in the past month I figured it would be a good chance I could get through...

I drove down the grade, crossed Chowchilla Mountain road and continued down the mainline. The tree that blocked my path previously was cleared!
About 1 mile down the grade we come around to a nice open view:


Here's a view to the south:

We are looking towards Oakhurst (in the valley in front of the distant big mountain)

And a view to the northwest:

Devil's Peak (Signal Peak) is in the distant center left.

About 1/2 mile further on I was stopped by a large collapse in the grade (no photo). It might have been passable in a Jeep, but definitely not in my truck! Luckily, I only had to back up for about 200 feet before finding a spot wide enough to turn around.

To be continued...