I apologize for not getting a notice posted sooner... West Side Convention Posted by: "TuolumneMuseum@FrontierNet.net" TuolumneMuseum@FrontierNet.net comet95379 Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:57 pm (PDT) A message from the Tuolumne City Memorial Museum President Joe Celentano. The Tuolumne City Memorial Museum (TCMM) is inviting WSLC modelers to a walk on the WSLC right-of-way from Flume to River on Sunday morning April 20 at 9:00 am. We will walk the initial five-mile stretch of the WSLC mainline grade between Old Town Summersville and the North Fork of the Tuolumne River. This field trip is open to everyone and no charge. We should be finished by 12:45. The grade was blasted into the steep and rocky canyon to build a railroad right-of-way. The WSLC built the narrow-gauge railroad to bring timber to its mill site. Chinese workers began its construction in 1901, with local Me-Wuk finishing the job. This five-mile historic railroad right-of-way begins at the Mira Monte trailhead on Buchanan Mine Road, near Sunrise Drive. We will walk through Friedenburg, Dry Tank, Big Rock Cut, Little Rock Cut, Provo, and Mustang. This all leads down to the north fork of the Tuolumne River, but River Bridge is no longer there. The trip is guided by TCMM Docent and WSLC Historian, Art Kauppi. You will see rails, ties, and other construction features, such as stacked retaining walls. The trail affords spectacular views and a stunning display of wild flowers in the springtime. This walk will take about three hours. Bring water, a hat, camera, comfortable waterproof footwear and your favorite walking stick and maybe your GPS handheld. There is little or no shade on this wide and level trail. This is considered a "medium" walk for those who have previously walked five miles at a time. It is a four-percent down-grade walk. At about 8:50 AM, you can park your car at the Mira Monte & Buchanan Mine Road staging area where we will have a hand-out map and a sign-in sheet. Art Kauppi will begin his preliminary opening remarks at 9:05. The walk begins promptly at 9:15 AM. At the end of the walk, about 12:45, you will be shuttled by automobile five miles back to your car. From there, you are invited drive back to the Tuolumne Museum Courtyard for a picnic lunch (and restroom facilities). Be sure to bring your own lunch and soft drink. After lunch, we encourage you to visit the museum for further discussion about West Side Lumber Company operations. RSVP by sending an E-mail with your names to TuolumneMuseum@FrontierNet.net. We would like to have your RSVP, so we can have adequate handout material. The Museum will have this event RAIN OR SHINE! It will not be cancelled. Bring appropriate rain gear and waterproof hiking boots if necessary. Check out the museum website at Tuolumne City Memorial Museum <http://www.tuolumnemuseum.org/> for further info. Stop by the museum's display table at the WS Convention in Sonora on Saturday April 19.
