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Donner Summit Mountain Bike Ride

Our tradition is to go for a mountain bike ride on the original Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way over Donner Summit on the day after the Reno Air Races. The Number 1 track, built as part of the original transcontinental railroad in the 1860's, was removed in the summit area over ten years ago. All railroad traffic now uses the Number 2 track, which was built in the late 1920's. The Number 2 track is shorter, straighter, doesn't have to climb as high and is more protected from snow as it passes through a two mile long tunnel bored through the granite of Mount Judah. Concrete snowsheds visible from I-80 still stand over the original right-of-way which was wrapped around and over Mount Judah. Most of these photos were taken in September 2002.
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This photo, maybe taken in the 1950s or 60s, shows the snowshed that once extended out onto the Chinese Wall.

This photo, maybe taken in the 1950s or 60s, shows the snowshed that once extended out onto the Chinese Wall.

 That is NOT a natural rock formation - and it's huge!

That is NOT a natural rock formation - and it's huge!

 This is the entrance to Tunnel 8, right above the Chinese Wall. If you look closely, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This is the entrance to Tunnel 8, right above the Chinese Wall. If you look closely, you can see "the light at the end of the tunnel."

 Here is a view of some of the structure inside Tunnel 8.

Here is a view of some of the structure inside Tunnel 8.
These lighting effects were not intentional, but they are interesting.

These lighting effects were not intentional, but they are interesting.

 There are a couple of roll-up access doors along the side of the snowsheds.

There are a couple of roll-up access doors along the side of the snowsheds.

 A view of the access door from the outside.

A view of the access door from the outside.

 Here we are outside the snowshed.

Here we are outside the snowshed.
Same spot; looking east.

Same spot; looking east.

 Same spot, looking at Donner Lake.

Same spot, looking at Donner Lake.

 Interstate 80 climbs the mountain on the other side of the valley.

Interstate 80 climbs the mountain on the other side of the valley.

 It's been many years since the wooden snowsheds, which at one time covered forty miles of the Donner Line, were replaced with concrete sheds, and then only in the critical areas. Yet piles of timbers from the demolished wooden sheds still line the right-of-way today. If only those wooden beams could tell stories!

It's been many years since the wooden snowsheds, which at one time covered forty miles of the Donner Line, were replaced with concrete sheds, and then only in the critical areas. Yet piles of timbers from the demolished wooden sheds still line the right-of-way today. If only those wooden beams could tell stories!
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