Caltrans Humor

[Jim Frame]

My wife, son and I hiked to the top of Mt. Whitney on Wednesday. I neglected to do my homework in advance, so was unarmed with datasheets while at the top. However, I found 6 disks at or near the summit, including this one:

http://members.dcn.org/jhframe/Whitney%20Caltrans.JPG

I'd be interested in learning who set it, and whether or not it was ever positioned by Caltrans.

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[D Ryan]

They may build that project yet, Jim. It's still in for permits...

[E_Page]

Somebody needs to put in for stimulus money. Just think of all the jobs that could be created or saved to knock down that pile of dirt!

[Jim Frame]

"Just think of all the jobs that could be created or saved to knock down that pile of dirt!"

Having walked it from bottom to top and back again, I can assure you that there's very little dirt to be found -- it's all rock!

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[Steve Martin]

I remember that mark from the several times I made the trip in the early 90's.
Great view from there. Those old time route Surveyors were pretty hearty!

[Jim Frame]

"Those old time route Surveyors were pretty hearty!"

What amazes me is that in 1928 and again in 1940 someone ran First Order Class II levels up there. The 1928 run (L27) went from Whitney Portal to the summit and back, but the 1940 run (L8952) went all the way from Tulare (near Visalia) over the top and down to Whitney Portal. That must have been quite an operation!

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[Ian Wilson]

Check with Tim Case. In September of '94, his project included Mt. Whitney, White Mountain & Point Low (Death Valley) in a GPS observation. Tim's team tackled Whitney.

[Jim Frame]

Thanks, Ian.

Anyone have an e-mail address for Mr. Case that they can share? Or maybe just let him know that I'm looking for information about the Mt. Whitney campaing that he might have.

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[Ian Wilson]

Check your email, Jim.

[Jim Frame]

Thanks. I've sent Tim a message. If I learn anything interesting about the mark, I'll post it here.

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[land butcher]

They may build that project yet, Jim. It's still in for permits...


Nope, dead. They had the plans and ROW done and Moonbeam came along in the 70's and wanted bus lanes added.

[RAM]

Thanks for the memories, I worked there as a wilderness Ranger 81-84, and you are right not much dirt, but then there was a section of trail that was paved below Trail Camp. Curious if the sign at Trail Crest is still the same one I packed up there in 82. Oak sign and post, it was a challage setting the post.

[Jim Frame]

I think the sign that's there now is made of pine. You can decide for yourself by looking at the photo my wife took:

http://static.smallworldlabs.com/bnp/us ... t-sign.jpg

There's still some evidence of pavement below Trail Camp. It looks like concrete, but it might be extremely weathered AC. There's not much of visible, but it does appear in places. I was wondering why they bothered -- the trail didn't look to be all that rough in those areas, but maybe there's more paving there than I realized.

Wilderness ranger in that area must have been quite a fun job. I bet it kept you in pretty terrific shape!

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