The last of the dry season in eastern Nevada Country. Thousands of pioneers walked and accompanied wagons through the Little Truckee River watershed from 1846-70. Pioneer wagons that passed through this area by the date I shot this photo (Nov. 16) could consider themselves lucky. Donner Summit (in the distance of the Boca Reservoir photo) and Henness Pass summit lie ahead and the weather would need to cooperate for safe passage. But the hardships of the Great Basin desert were over. If in 1850 the landscape looked like this — brown, relatively dry, but still refreshed with light rains and snow since late October — pioneers would make it to foothill towns and the Sacramento Valley before the heaviest winter storms.
It must have been a relief. Now, reliable water and livestock feed, mild temperatures and ample firewood to make camp — even abundant wild game — would accompany the rest of their journey which so far had taken so much from them.
Loving Nevada County 