Sonoma Lake
After three failed attempts, we made it to Sonoma Lake. We discovered many wrong turns made during previous efforts were due to trails that do not look like trails. Sometimes a trail would be a stream of rocks, much like a dry riverbed on the side of a mountain. Many trails were merely bumpy and rutted, well within the limitations of the dune buggy, but as one gets closer to the lake the trails become too rough and are best traveled by four wheel drive vehicles. We eventually reached a point we could no longer drive and hiked in the three quarter mile.
Here are a few shots of the terrain as approaching the mountains:
And finally, the lake!!
At the far end of the lake in the above photo was found a fascinating historical remnant in an abandoned siphon pipe. I have seen a lot of riveted heavy wall pipe and boiler components, but not gauge metal pipe. The pipe flanges are riveted to the pipe, too. Note the square head bolts and square nuts.
The lake truly is at the top of a mountain. The drop off is steep and sudden from the edge of the lake.
This is a view from that opposite end of the lake.
This is the entry to the lake. It is quite steep and very rocky, somehow making a successful journey to the lake more satisfying.
A parting shot before leaving.
I couldn't end this without a gratuitous dune buggy shot. I drove as far up this trail as the buggy would go, then backed up and backed around ninety degrees to the slope so I would not have to trust the parking brake. The angle of incline is deceptively steep. I was less than twenty feet from the buggy with a wide angle lens and yet eye level is even with the tires. Upon leaving we sort of skidded and bounced our way downhill.
.
Here are a few shots of the terrain as approaching the mountains:
And finally, the lake!!
At the far end of the lake in the above photo was found a fascinating historical remnant in an abandoned siphon pipe. I have seen a lot of riveted heavy wall pipe and boiler components, but not gauge metal pipe. The pipe flanges are riveted to the pipe, too. Note the square head bolts and square nuts.
The lake truly is at the top of a mountain. The drop off is steep and sudden from the edge of the lake.
This is a view from that opposite end of the lake.
This is the entry to the lake. It is quite steep and very rocky, somehow making a successful journey to the lake more satisfying.
A parting shot before leaving.
I couldn't end this without a gratuitous dune buggy shot. I drove as far up this trail as the buggy would go, then backed up and backed around ninety degrees to the slope so I would not have to trust the parking brake. The angle of incline is deceptively steep. I was less than twenty feet from the buggy with a wide angle lens and yet eye level is even with the tires. Upon leaving we sort of skidded and bounced our way downhill.
.