![]() This is the gateway to remote lakes and forgotten campgrounds. A meandering stream, a horizon that fairly bristles with jagged mountain peaks and a huge expanse of sky. Suddenly you burst into the "high country," Hope Valley. The road is two lanes most of the time with occasional passing lanes for drivers intent on missing the scenery. ![]() The drive up the canyon to Hope Valley parallels a gushing stream, hemmed in by walls of shattered granite and flecked with gnarly evergreens. For those who crave statistics, Alpine County has California's smallest population 1,300. Reading about the early mining days, the cattle drives, the thievery and all kinds of shenanigans made me feel like I knew the place. An old general store and a café or two are set beside a gurgling stream. The charms of Markleeville are its location (mountain greenery home) and its history. When the generator contracted tuberculosis and a mysterious gooey substance oozed out of the fridge compressor, we fled. Our first night there, in May, it snowed. Two years ago we parked our RV at Turtle Rock Campground, intending to loll away the summer. Downtown Markleeville is similar to downtown Smith.don't blink. We cross into California, nudge the Immigrant Trail cutoff and buzz through the intersection that spurs off to the charming village of Markleeville, just seven miles away. Jagged peaks, occasional rock slides and a carpet of trees soon bracket the road. Once on Highway 88, just outside of Minden, Swiss style meadows appear, complete with waving grasses, neat rows of baled alfalfa, tiny bogs and dozing cattle. ![]() The sweltering heat of Smith Valley is soon behind us. In case you don't know, Fallen Leaf Lake is just a tad west of Lake Tahoe and that's where the cabin is. The anticipation, however, was very real. The illusion alluded to was all in my mind. "Would you like to spend three days at our cabin? Tom and I will be there for one night and then you and Orllyene (my wife) can be on your own."īefore the words leave Marilyn's mouth, I hoist her overhead and bellow "bring it on girl!" Taking a moment to clarify, Marilyn just turned 80 and I am not far behind. ![]()
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