Man, this is bringing back memories! I lived in SLT for a year or so back in the early 70's and drove Hwy 50 back and forth over Echo Pass many, many times, at all times of day and night and all seasons. Once even drove east bound in the middle of winter in the middle of a heavy snowstorm in the middle of the night. Do NOT want to repeat that experience! During my time there, a car missed or skidded thru the hairpin turn at the top of Echo Pass (it was winter and icy/snowy road conditions), went thru the barricade and plunged down the cliff into Xmas Valley below. As I recall, no effort was made to try to rescue any (extremely unlikely, it's over a 1000' cliff) survivors, due to severe weather and danger to any rescue crews. I lived, at the time, at the lake end of Xmas Valley and remember when, in the spring, they finally brought in helicopters to lift the wreckage (and bodies) out of the base of the cliffs, up the valley south of me. My roommate and I sat on the roof of our house and watched it with binoculars.
Enjoy your videos...and the music gets my approval as well...glad I don't have to listen to the typical top-40 crap that I've heard millions of times over and over.
This drive is one of my favorites!! I used to live in Roseville, CA....and summers in the Sacramento valley....they get pretty hot. Of course you can escape it by just taking a 2 hour drive northeast to South Lake Tahoe or any lake in the Sierra. Got a pic from my car's temp reading of 108 F in Roseville and then took another pick at Red Lake in Markleeville off CA-88. It read 68 F and there was snow on the tops of the mountains around. This was July 2009. Love the POV shot too, on my large monitor, really feels like I am driving. haha. Sadly I haven't been up US-50 since that day in 2009. Need to schedule a trip!!
Keep doing what you're doing Kyle. Of all the travel videos yours stand out with the acknowledgement of the road signs, and the history and details of the area you're passing through. Job well done!!
Nice video: the lake is full right now, and that was a beautiful drive-the Caldor Fire scar notwithstanding. FYI did you know that 50 was considered for Interstate status? It was proposed in 1968 from Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe, and might have been a continuation/terminus of I-70. However, there were no proposals from Utah and Nevada formally to extend I-70 from the I-15 junction, and it was rejected (along with the second proposal to turn CA 58 from Buttonwillow to Barstow as the long-sought I-40 western extension).
Yes, the Caldor Fire was a real piece of work for sure. It came right up to South Lake Tahoe's limits, and even made a push for the Nevada border. It took just over 2 months to be fully contained as well. The scenery around 19:00 can pretty much speak for itself.
Another great video of yours. Love making this drive from Sacramento. I like how you mentioned Lover’s Leap by Strawberry CA. There are a lot of hiking and climbing spots in that area. That sign a little past the lodge for Chain controls is near the trailhead to Pyramid Peak a 9,800 foot peak. There is also Horse Tail Falls by Twin Bridges. The Desolation Wilderness is right there. You should do Folsom to Placerville.
As mentioned, not far east of Placerville, not noticeable from the freeway, is the Apple Hill area, with many orchards and vineyards. There is a weekend festival in the fall, where people can sample almost every imaginable edible product made from apples, and taste from one winery to another.
I remember your series of videos of US 50 in CA going though the Sierra Nevada in the early days of your channel. It's still a beautiful drive despite the forest fire of 3 years ago. But we're seeing that there's a reborn going on in the areas that was affected by the fire. Thanks for mentioning that Echo Summit sits on the Great Basin Divide. It's also where the source of the South Fork American River is- right before US 50 takes that sharp turn to descend into Tahoe Valley. A shame CA, NV, UT, & OR don't put out signs informing drivers that they're going to go over the divide like they would if one was crossing the Continental Divide or the Eastern one on the East Coast. As you long ago removed your 10+ year series on the drive on US 50 though the Sierra Nevada, I can't to see your modern take on the rest of 50 in CA along with the road entering NV at US 395, which was once was a T-intersection, is now the beginning of I-580.
Given it was a Friday morning, surprised traffic was relatively light. Did you stay at the lake through the 4th of July? Did that once back in the Stone Age and vowed never again. Took an hour to get from where we were staying in Lower Kingsbury to the state line.
Man, this is bringing back memories! I lived in SLT for a year or so back in the early 70's and drove Hwy 50 back and forth over Echo Pass many, many times, at all times of day and night and all seasons. Once even drove east bound in the middle of winter in the middle of a heavy snowstorm in the middle of the night. Do NOT want to repeat that experience! During my time there, a car missed or skidded thru the hairpin turn at the top of Echo Pass (it was winter and icy/snowy road conditions), went thru the barricade and plunged down the cliff into Xmas Valley below. As I recall, no effort was made to try to rescue any (extremely unlikely, it's over a 1000' cliff) survivors, due to severe weather and danger to any rescue crews. I lived, at the time, at the lake end of Xmas Valley and remember when, in the spring, they finally brought in helicopters to lift the wreckage (and bodies) out of the base of the cliffs, up the valley south of me. My roommate and I sat on the roof of our house and watched it with binoculars.
Enjoy your videos...and the music gets my approval as well...glad I don't have to listen to the typical top-40 crap that I've heard millions of times over and over.
Town of Myers, at 22:52 just on the left is the Getaway Cafe, good breakfast and actually robust coffee.
This drive is one of my favorites!! I used to live in Roseville, CA....and summers in the Sacramento valley....they get pretty hot. Of course you can escape it by just taking a 2 hour drive northeast to South Lake Tahoe or any lake in the Sierra. Got a pic from my car's temp reading of 108 F in Roseville and then took another pick at Red Lake in Markleeville off CA-88. It read 68 F and there was snow on the tops of the mountains around. This was July 2009. Love the POV shot too, on my large monitor, really feels like I am driving. haha. Sadly I haven't been up US-50 since that day in 2009. Need to schedule a trip!!
Keep doing what you're doing Kyle. Of all the travel videos yours stand out with the acknowledgement of the road signs, and the history and details of the area you're passing through. Job well done!!
Nice video: the lake is full right now, and that was a beautiful drive-the Caldor Fire scar notwithstanding. FYI did you know that 50 was considered for Interstate status? It was proposed in 1968 from Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe, and might have been a continuation/terminus of I-70. However, there were no proposals from Utah and Nevada formally to extend I-70 from the I-15 junction, and it was rejected (along with the second proposal to turn CA 58 from Buttonwillow to Barstow as the long-sought I-40 western extension).
Summer...the PERFECT time to visit Lake Tahoe.
Yes, the Caldor Fire was a real piece of work for sure. It came right up to South Lake Tahoe's limits, and even made a push for the Nevada border. It took just over 2 months to be fully contained as well. The scenery around 19:00 can pretty much speak for itself.
Another one of the many places that I would love to see in person! But seeing this video is the next best thing!
Another great video of yours. Love making this drive from Sacramento. I like how you mentioned Lover’s Leap by Strawberry CA. There are a lot of hiking and climbing spots in that area. That sign a little past the lodge for Chain controls is near the trailhead to Pyramid Peak a 9,800 foot peak. There is also Horse Tail Falls by Twin Bridges. The Desolation Wilderness is right there. You should do Folsom to Placerville.
perfect mix...
A very nice and beautiful drive through the mountains!
As mentioned, not far east of Placerville, not noticeable from the freeway, is the Apple Hill area, with many orchards and vineyards. There is a weekend festival in the fall, where people can sample almost every imaginable edible product made from apples, and taste from one winery to another.
Drive this 2-4 times a year. In bad weather that final approach to Tahoe along the cliff still gets me nervous.
I just did the drive the opposite way 3 weeks ago. We just bought a new car and it was nerve wrecking for me as I hadn’t driven it in 20 years.
I remember your series of videos of US 50 in CA going though the Sierra Nevada in the early days of your channel. It's still a beautiful drive despite the forest fire of 3 years ago. But we're seeing that there's a reborn going on in the areas that was affected by the fire.
Thanks for mentioning that Echo Summit sits on the Great Basin Divide. It's also where the source of the South Fork American River is- right before US 50 takes that sharp turn to descend into Tahoe Valley. A shame CA, NV, UT, & OR don't put out signs informing drivers that they're going to go over the divide like they would if one was crossing the Continental Divide or the Eastern one on the East Coast.
As you long ago removed your 10+ year series on the drive on US 50 though the Sierra Nevada, I can't to see your modern take on the rest of 50 in CA along with the road entering NV at US 395, which was once was a T-intersection, is now the beginning of I-580.
Given it was a Friday morning, surprised traffic was relatively light. Did you stay at the lake through the 4th of July? Did that once back in the Stone Age and vowed never again. Took an hour to get from where we were staying in Lower Kingsbury to the state line.
I really the driving videos! Any chance of you downloading real time versions of them?
Advice: use fast motion on your cameras only, not your vehicles. This stretch is heavily patrolled by CHP.