Sierras

Overview:

The Sierra Nevada mountains once stood as a mighty barrier for the immigrants travelling westward in their search of fame, fortune and a better life. Witness the trials and tribulations of the Donner Party in their attempt to navigate the Sierra's.  Today, the region is an alpine playground where fishing, skiing in winter, climbing, hiking and even gambling abound.

The Sierra range streches approximately 400 miles from Lassen County in the north down to the Tehachapi Pass at the southern end of the San Juaquin Valley.  The majority of the range lies in Califonia but it does stretch into neighboring Nevada. In fact, biggest attraction  of the northern Sierras, Lake Tahoe, has shoreline in both California and Nevada.

One often thinks of Lake Tahoe, a draw for winter skiing and hiking and aquatic sports in the summer, as being symonymous with the Sierras. This is a big mistake as the 'jewel of the national parks', Yosemite, is located in the southern Sierras. Over 3.5 million people this majestic park and its awe inspiring scenery each year.