Sierra County of bust!

Happy Memorial Day to all! On this holiday, we take time to remember all of those who have died in the armed forces to protect our freedom. Parades, barbecues, and summer spirit abounds, for many of us it is the sure sign that summer is right around the corner. Since it is a federal holiday, most people have it off, including all schools. So what do us in NorCal do? We head to the mountains! Enter the Sierra Nevada Mountains, a large mountain range that runs along the eastern half of California, serving as a natural barrier between us and Nevada. Some would call it NorCal's outdoor playground, and why not? The Sierra Nevadas (or as the locals say, the Sierras) boast over a dozen ski resorts, pristine alpine forest, and of course, Lake Tahoe. The big kahuna. Tahoe has it all, for all seasons. I would start naming off what it has but I think I would run out of room. But the Sierras aren't just for us in Sacramento and the Bay Area, we share it with those who live there. Once you get away from the hustle and bustle of Lake Tahoe, you can find some very sleepy little towns that are quite interesting. Now enter Sierra County! This small mountain county holds less than 4,000 people, but if measured in scenery, would outpopulate Los Angeles! Now you might be wondering when I'm actually going to get to my adventure. Wait no longer my friend, here it is! Yesterday was all about Highway 49! I'll skip the boring parts, and get right to entering up into the mountains. I've been driving for about 1 hour and 45 minutes when I make a quick stop in Grass Valley. After that I continue up Highway 49 towards Downieville. Folks, this road 'aint for the easily carsick. After winding my way up into the mountains, passing through only two towns (North San Juan in Nevada County, and Camptonville in Yuba County), I reached the town of Downieville. This town certainly has a colorful history. It was founded in 1849 and by 1851 had swelled to a population of over 5,000! It even got more votes than Sacramento in its bid to be the state capital! Today, the Sierra County seat only holds about 300 people, but don't be fooled, this town is anything but boring! It maintains its small town charm and has many cute shops along Main Street. The town also sits right on the Downie River, which at this time of year is rushing with snow melt. The water provides a nice, peaceful backdrop. Moving on up Highway 49 brings you to the town of Sierra City, a town of similar size to Downieville. It too, has a nice main street with shops, but lacks the tourist clout of its neighbor to the west. Heading still more east will bring you up, and up, and up, until you finally reach Yuba Pass, elevation 6,620 feet. About two miles past the pass, a scenic overlook sits to the side of the road. There, I saw one of the most spectacular views I've ever seen. I could see the entire Sierra Valley, including the town of Sierraville, plus snowcapped mountains in the distance. Spectacular! The eastern portion of Sierra County is quite different from the west. The east is fairly flat, due to the Sierra Valley, while the west is rugged and mountainous. About 5 miles after reaching the valley floor, the town of Sierraville appears. Really there is little more than a couple of houses, restaurants, and the junction of State Highways 49 and 89. 49 continues north to Loyalton, while 89 heads south to Truckee and Interstate 80. Now on to the lone city in Sierra County, Loyalton. This is Sierra County's largest population center, and it is about 800. Unfortunately, it lacks the charm of their county seat to the west, and is much like most small towns in the west. They have a grocery store, post office, some businesses, and houses. That's about it. Really your run of the mill small town. Heading north out of town brought me to the end of my stay in Sierra County. The rest of the way would take me town to Reno, Nevada to connect with I-80, then a few more hours to home. One thing is for sure, it won't be my last stay in Sierra County. But of course, all weekends must come to an end. School tomorrow! :(