Re: Madera Sugar Pine Then and Now and some exploring...

Near the can dump was a broken logger's coffee mug:

I've found numerous broken mugs in logging camps all through the Sierra. They are made from thick pottery and had no handle which might easily break off.

Here's a mature Sugar Pine next to the ROW:

You can usually identify them as they're the only pine that has its cones out at the end of the branches. Before logging, they were quite numerous, but now they are somewhat rare and Ponderosa Pine, Incense Cedar, and some White Fir dominate the forest. The logging of the area had a profound and long lasting effect on the species diversity.

About 1.5 miles in, we came to an open area where the railroad had to do some rock work. Here's a shot looking back:

There was a short log loading spur (not visible here) built up on the shelf of rock above the grade. It passed to the right of the tree just above the grade in the center of the photo.

Here's the view looking forward:

Lots of Manzanita and some Black Oak in this area...

And here's a nice panorama looking east:

You are looking towards Wawona and the high Sierra south of Yosemite. Yosemite is on the extreme left over the next ridge.
In about 10 years, this will probably be a very nice hike...

To be continued...