Foresthill California

Foresthill, California
Location in Placer County and the state of California

Coordinates: 39°1′10″N 120°50′10″WCoordinates: 39°1′10″N 120°50′10″W

Countr: United States
State:California
County: Placer

Area: • Total

11.188 sq mi (28.977 km2)

 • Land

11.188 sq mi (28.977 km2)

Elevation: 3228 ft

Population (2010)
  • Total: 1483
  • Density: 130/sq mi

Time zone: PST
 
ZIP code: 95631

Area code(s): 530
 
California Historical Landmark: #399
 
Foresthill is a census-designated place (CDP) in Placer County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,483 at the 2010 census, down from 1,791 at the 2000 census.

 History

Foresthill is located on a broad ridge between the North and Middle Forks of the American River on the gold-bearing gravel bed of an ancient river. In the spring of 1850, miners came to the Forest Hill Divide in large numbers. There was one route from Auburn through Yankee Jim's and one from Coloma. At the junction of these trails, the Forest House hotel and trading post was built. The height of mining activity in Forest Hill began in 1853 after a winter landslide at the head of Jenny Lind Canyon exposed numerous nuggets of gold. The Jenny Lind mine produced about $2,500 of gold a day for a while, up to a total output over $1 million by 1880. The combined production of all the mines in the Forest Hill area was estimated at $10 million by 1868 with gold selling for $16 an ounce. In the 1860s, there were about 125,000 feet (38,000 m) of hard-rock tunnels dug into the hillsides in, around and under Forest Hill. By 1857, this area had become an important center for trade among the many gold camps on the divide. In 1862, the Hardy-Kennedy building was erected - the first fireproof store in Forest Hill. This building, now known as the Langstaff building, is still being used by the merchants of Foresthill. By 1880, Forest Hill was one of the largest towns in Placer County. The town had an 80-foot (24 m) wide main street befitting such an important place.

Today the town has a marker identifying it as a California Historical Landmark.

 Geography

Foresthill is located at
39°1′10″N 120°50′10″W (39.019562, -120.836085).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29 km2), all of it land.

 Demographics

 2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Foresthill had a population of 1,483. The population density was 132.6 people per square mile (51.2/km²). The racial makeup of Foresthill was 1,371 (92.4%) White, 8 (0.5%) African American, 29 (2.0%) Native American, 6 (0.4%) Asian, 2 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 17 (1.1%) from other races,50 (3.4%) from two or more races,and 173 from the Henry/Middelton family. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 97 persons (6.5%).

The Census reported that 1,483 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 625 households, out of which 182 (29.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 314 (50.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 66 (10.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 45 (7.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 49 (7.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 9 (1.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 140 households (22.4%) were made up of individuals and 53 (8.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37. There were 425 families (68.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.76.

The population was spread out with 301 people (20.3%) under the age of 18, 118 people (8.0%) aged 18 to 24, 304 people (20.5%) aged 25 to 44, 540 people (36.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 220 people (14.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.7 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

There were 681 housing units at an average density of 60.9 per square mile (23.5/km²), of which 407 (65.1%) were owner-occupied, and 218 (34.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%. 965 people (65.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 518 people (34.9%) lived in rental housing units.

Want to spend some time in Foresthill, click HERE for Over The Rainbow Lodge and enjoy the peaceful serenity of the sierras.

Hell Hole Reservoir, A Gem in the Sierras

Hell Hole reservoir is an artificial, crescent-shaped lake in the Sierra Nevada mountain range 10 miles (16 km) west of Lake Tahoe in California. The lake is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long when at full capacity. Surface Elevation 4,630 ft.

The lake was created in 1966 with the completion of Lower Hell Hole Dam across the Rubicon River, which is a major tributary of the Middle Fork of the American River. Hell Hole is named for a deep canyon which is now under the waters of the lake.

How the canyon came to be named Hell Hole is a combination of folklore and speculation. An early author, George Wharton James (1858–1923), visited the canyon in 1913. James attributed the name to an unidentified miner seeking riches during the Squaw Valley mining excitement of 1862. It was "a hell of hole to get out of," James wrote but admitted his source for the place name was more speculative than the anonymous miner's chances for riches at Squaw Valley.

James' guide for the 1913 camping expedition to Hell Hole was Bob Watson, a well-known camping guide who operated in the Lake Tahoe Region from the 1880s into the first decades of the 20th century. Watson may have been the source of the story who sought to entertain and edify his paying clients with tales of local history. James attributed much of the local lore to Watson.

The United States Board on Geographic Names attributes the first use of the name "Hell Hole" to a United States Geological Survey map of 1894. The board was created in 1890, so previous uses of the name on federal government maps are possible.

James reported finding a natural lake near the Hell Hole chasm known as Bear Lake, which would have been drowned by the reservoir. James also described Hell Hole in terms that belies the colorful name: "Hell Hole? Then give me more of it," he wrote. The author reported his pleasure of the canyon was derived from its rugged nature that precluded human exploitation: Logging, mining, water development and road building, evident in other portions of the Lake Tahoe region. It was "a paradise of delightful surprises," he wrote.

Proposals for the dam date to 1958. In 1964 the first Hell Hole dam was completed. Placer County sought drinking water supplies to fuel growth of its communities in the Sacramento Valley. The gold-rush-era town of Auburn is in Placer County as is the suburban community of Roseville. The agency also sought to generate hydroelectric power to finance its ability to deliver the water to users.

Recreational uses

Today, the lake offers modern facilities to aid in waterborne recreation. The remoteness of the lake limits the number of visitors, so the lake is seldom crowded even during the height of the summer season. Most boating activity is limited to small powered fishing skiffs, canoes and kayaks. Afternoon high winds can make boating precarious.

Upper Hell Hole campground's mid-level campsite nestled between two streams
The lake is known by its three components: Lower Hell Hole, the Narrows and Upper Hell Hole. The lake is accessible by motor vehicle only at Lower Hell Hole, where a paved launch facility and forest service ranger station are located. The Hell Hole campground is also located there.

The campground features a view of the polished granite lakeshore but is not located directly on the shore of the lake because of the steep grade. The campground features a parking area but the 10 campsites are walk-in only. Many visitors use Big Meadows campground about one mile (1.6 km) away, which has 54 drive-in campsites suitable for recreational vehicles.

A second forest service campground is maintained at Upper Hell Hole and is known by that name. It can be reached by boat or a 3.5-mile (5.6 km) hiking trail that is reached by crossing the breakwater of the dam and hiking on a trail that flanks the lake but is several hundred feet above the water.

Upper Hell Hole campground is said to have 15 campsites and two pit toilets, but does not have trash service or other amenities. A camping fee is not charged. The campground is arranged on three tiers of elevation. Steps are cut into the granite rock to connect the levels. During the spring and early summer snowmelt, several of the campsites feature creeks and waterfalls nearby. Other campsites there are sheltered by giant granite boulders. Camping is also permitted wherever the rugged shoreline will permit boat landing.

Lowest cataract on Rubicon River before it enters the reservoir Driftwood-filled Five Lakes Creek as it joins the reservoir. The lake's principal inflows are from the Rubicon River and Five Lakes Creek, formerly a tributary of the Rubicon. Lake water has drowned the historical confluence of the two water courses. The Rubicon River was once known as the south fork of the middle fork of the American River. The Rubicon River's entry into the lake is via a cataract where the river has eroded through the elevated granite block.

The lake also features many small granitic islands that expand and contract with the level of the lake. Hell Hole typically has its highest level of water in May and lowers gradually through the summer and fall. The forest service maintains visitor services from May 15 through September 15. The lake is accessible until snow makes roads to the area impassable.

In 1984, the federally protected Granite Chief Wilderness was created by the United States Congress after a long advocacy campaign by the Sierra Club, a conservation organization.

Upper Hell Hole forms the western border of the Granite Chief Wilderness. A small buffer zone between the lake shore and the wilderness prevents accidental intrusion into the wilderness. The juxtaposition of the lake and wilderness presents the opportunity for rustic boat/backpacking adventures through the rugged and scenic 25,680 acres (103.9 km2) of wilderness. Like the lake itself, the wilderness is lightly used on the western border. Hell Hole Trail enters the wilderness from near the lake but is difficult to locate. Granite Chief Wilderness is managed by the Tahoe National Forest, while visitor facilities at Hell Hole are exclusively managed by El Dorado National Forest (Georgetown district).

The Truckee and American River (formerly Foresthill) ranger districts of the Tahoe forest advise caution at Granite Chief: "Topographic maps and skills to use them are highly recommended in the wilderness because of the minimal level in signing and remoteness of the area." Wilderness permits are not required to enter the Granite Chief Wilderness. Campfire permits are always required.

Hydrology

The construction of the present Hell Hole Dam also changed the course of the Rubicon River. The pre-dam river channel wended its way several miles to its confluence with the Middle Fork of the American River near Ralston Afterbay. Now, In addition to releases from Hell Hole down the pre-dam path, water is diverted through a pipeline to Middle Fork Powerhouse (AKA Stephenson Powerhouse) where it flows into Interbay Reservoir. From here, in addition to releases down the Middle Fork American River, the water is diverted into a tunnel to Ralston Powerhouse and into Ralston Afterbay, where it joins water from the pre-dam path. Oxbow Powerhouse and Oxbow control dam there releases water into the middle fork of the American River just below the spot of the historical confluence.

Water for hydroelectric generation is also shuttled into Hell Hole from French Meadows Reservoir which impounds the Middle Fork of the American River. The water travels through a tunnel to a powerhouse located on the north side of Hell Hole. French Meadows, at 5,200 elevation, is higher than the 4,700-foot (1,400 m) elevation at Hell Hole. The powerhouse at Hell Hole is actually known by the name, French Meadows powerhouse.[6]

The traditional channel of the Rubicon River still maintains water flow from the spillway at Hell Hole Dam and from tributaries of the Rubicon below the dam, such as Gerle Creek (pronounced girly).

The Placer County Water Agency does not take water directly from Hell Hole or the other dam but instead claims rights to the water as it is shipped through the American River System and ends up at Folsom Lake near Sacramento. Folsom dam was originally constructed for the purposes of flood control. The Placer water agency's dams and Ralston are presently known as the Middle Fork Project.

Historical usage

Hell Hole canyon and nearby vicinities initially escaped man-made exploitation during the latter half of the 19th century, but events that occurred then allowed eventual exploitation of Hell Hole during the 1960s.

The gold rush of 1849 on the South Fork of the American River resulted in establishment of Sierra foothill towns of Auburn, Placerville, Nevada City and Georgetown. The gold rush did not intrude into the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada range, but the water and timber needs of these towns did intrude into the upper elevations. In one case in 1873 the privately owned, California Water Company employed a scheme to dam Loon Lake to the south of Hell Hole and then sluice the water closer to Georgetown where it could be used by residents and farmers.

Somewhat later, in 1862, the residents of Placer County (Auburn, Foresthill) came upon a scheme to build a road from the Foresthill divide to Squaw Valley with the intent of luring immigrant trains away from Nevada City and into Placerville and neighboring vicinities. George Wharton James, the author, described the road as an ill-fated enterprise: "The grade is frightful. For an hour or more, we go slowly up it stopping every few yards or so to give our horses breath," James wrote of a ride on the old road a half century after it was built. "It is hard enough for horses to go up this grade but to pull heavily-ladened  wagons - it seems impossible, " he concluded. Later attempts to improve this road or forge other wagon roads not successful.

The Comstock Lode silver rush in the 1860s in Nevada Territory also encouraged the attempt of the gold-rush foothillers to find pathways over the mountains to the riches of the Comstock and the more local Squaw Valley silver excitement.

The roads then brought timber claimants and homesteaders, called locators, who were able to claim public lands. The old homesteads and timber claims were bought by private water companies or hoteliers who sought visitors to the "healthful" mineral springs after much of the timber was depleted by the mid-1880s.

Railroads brought the tourists. Tourists could reach Truckee, California by rail from either San Francisco or Ogden, Utah by the end of the 19th century. The Tahoe Railway and Transportation Company brought them to the lake. One particular resort established east of Hell Hole has a significant relationship to the canyon. Deer Park, just south of Squaw Valley (now a ski area and home to the 1960 Winter Olympics) was a tourist hotel which had a rustic hideaway camp at Five Lakes now in Granite Chief Wilderness. James described the Five Lakes resort as a 160-acre (0.65 km2) timber claim in which the timber had never been cut but in which cabins had been built and rowboats kept in hand for fishing upon the five small lakes.

The Five Lakes are the headwaters of Five Lakes Creek which led James on his 1913 horseback descent into Hell Hole in the company of Bob Watson, the guide. The pair camped at Hell Hole, then ascended the Rubicon River to Rockbound Lake, where they camped again. Rockbound Lake is now in the Desolation Wilderness and is near the headwaters of the Rubicon River. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District controls a dam within the Desolation Wilderness: Rubicon Reservoir. Desolation Wilderness was created in 1969.

Recent history

Upper Hell Hole looking northwest to Granite Chief Wilderness. May 2005
Placer County's 1961 bond approval allowed its water agency to seek out water supplies that were not already claimed by others. Loon Lake, south of Hell Hole, was already prescripted, but the rugged, untouched Hell Hole was not. In 1934, the State of California took steps to claim any unclaimed water rights along the American River's three forks. In 1962 the rights to the Rubicon River water were conveyed to Placer County.

The Hell Hole dam, a rock-fill-type dam, was completed across the Rubicon River in December 1964. As the reservoir began filling the dam sprung a leak during a flood event and failed completely the next day. The resulting flood washed down the Middle Fork of the American River and washed away the Greenville Bridge near Auburn.[10]

The Placer County Water Agency began a new dam which was completed two years later and has now stood for 42 years.

Want to see this historic area, you can stay at Over The Rainbow Lodge which is off the Foresthill Divide Road that leads to Hell Hole Reservoir. Click HERE to see more about this beautiful lodge.

Foresthill Sled Dog Winter Classic

Sled Dog Winter Classic



Foresthill Sled Dog Winter Classic

Saturday, Sunday March 10/11, 2012 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The Forestill Chamber, in partnership with the Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers, One Track Mind Snowmobile Club and the Tahoe National Forest Service welcomes you to the 2012 Sled Dog Winter Classic Race.

Visitors to the Sled Dog Races are requested to park in downtown Foresthill and take the shuttle bus to the race venue at China Wall. There is a small fee for the bus. Parking at China Wall is very limited and used by the mushers and their crews. Read More Info.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2012 Sled Dog Winter Classic. Contact the Chamber office for more info.

Meet the Mushers! A community dinner will be held Sat March 10th at Veteran's Memorial Hall at 5:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $17/person, $8 children's menu and can be obtained through the Chamber Office.

Mushers: Register for the race with the Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers organization. Checkin Friday March 9th 7-9 p.m. at Campelli's Pizza, Main St, Foresthill.

Need a place to stay. Check out Over The Rainbow Lodge, a very unique lodge close to the China Wall staging area. Great scenic location and amenities. Click HERE for Over The Rainbow Lodge information.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow Guest Rooms!

Check out the outstanding guest rooms at Somewhere Over The Rainbow, nice!

 Hunter's Room
Stunning views from all windows.
Decorated with predominately cool blue tones
Over sized comforter
Hand crafted pine queen bed and cabinets.
Oak roll top desk
Private entrance sliding glass door in bedroom opens to back deck and seating area.
Ground floor half-bath is "cozy comfortable" with marble floor and a stall shower
Overhead fan

Loft Bedroom
 Soft neutral tones
Hand crafted pine queen sized bed
Plush over sized comforter
Stunning views
Love seat
32 inch monitor for movie viewing
Folding privacy screen
Overhead Fan
Bath on 2nd floor is shared
Marble floor
Jacuzzi tub/shower

Neoclassic Room
 4 poster biedermeier bed and furniture
Over sized comforter
Turn of the century dressing table
Turkish carpet
Overhead Fan
Stunning views
Shared bath with Loft Bedroom
Marble Floor Jacuzzi tub/shower

Want to see pictures of the rooms, click HERE to go to Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Want a Secluded Retreat in the Tahoe National Forest?

For those of you who'd prefer to spend their holiday without the stress and noise of the hectic outside world, Somewhere Over the Rainbow Lodge in the Tahoe National Forest is a great destination. You can be pampered or you are welcome to take over the kitchen with your party and exercise your culinary skills.  Extremely private located in the heart of the Tahoe National Forest. Abundant nature surrounds us with stunning views from all windows.

As an added feature, you can bring your horse and access hundreds of miles of trails right outside our door.  Or just sit on the deck with a good book.
Any balance you desire is here, from a solitary vacation with respect given to your privacy or a festive setting in a beautiful location. 
I've spent a number of Christmas holidays traveling alone in Europe and have found amazing places that welcomed me as one of the family and made my stay very special. From the food to the conversation and in general, being yourelf and relaxing. 
     If you hike, stroll or ride on any level, snowshoe, ice skate, snow mobile, cross country skiing with or without out family or friends, we are a great destination, open year round.
Click HERE to check us out to discover a great way to spend a week or weekend in privacy. Over The Rainbow Lodge

Need a Great Retreat from Stress!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow Lodge was built using Cedar, Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine, and Black Oak, all milled from the property on which it lies. We offer a two-level lodge with 3 bedrooms, a spacious loft, 2.5 baths, a large open kitchen and a Great Room.

 The Great Room has vaulted cedar lap board ceilings that compliment the 18 foot windows overlooking more than 75 miles of sweeping forest-mountain views. The Loft offers a queen bed surrounded by a privacy screen, beyond which lies a bathroom equipped with a jacuzzi tub.

The second floor Guest Bedroom houses a four poster queen bed, and additional stunning views. The first floor Guest Bedroom is furnished with a Queen bed, while the Master Bedroom is accomodated with a California King that overlooks the jacuzzi just outside on the Master Deck.

The Master Bedroom also has a private bath and a private entrance to the back portion of the expansive wrap-around deck. We also offer a full kitchen with all the comforts of home right at your fingertips.

Get away from the stress of the city. Check out Somewhere Over the Rainbow Lodge nestled in the Sierra Foothills. Check us out:  http://www.thisismytownusa.com/somewhereovertherainbowlodg.php

Tevis Race Latest News!

Latest News
 Ride Director's Report
05 September 2011
.
The 56th annual Western States Trail Ride will run on an autumn day, which is unprecedented. I would like to discuss some things to consider as you prepare for your ride.

October 8 will present 2 fewer hours of daylight than you would have on a midsummer’s day. Your trail will have morning glowsticks most of the way to High Camp (about 13 miles out) as sunrise will occur at 7:06 bringing a breaking dawn at around 6:15. Our start is set for 5:15, and you may expect chilly predawn temperatures as low as the teens. The bridges on the way to Hiway 89 could be frosty, so they will be sanded for traction. We are going to ask that all riders cross the bridges at a walk for safety.

The trail has been adjusted to take out Bald Mt. and the Pucker Point loop after Robinson Flat. Riders will go down Road 43 instead. This trail change is intended to get the riders through the canyons in the daylight. The cutoff times will be 30 minutes earlier at each point from Last Chance to Francisco’s and 15 minutes earlier at Lower Quarry. The rider card has this year’s mileage and cutoff times updated for your reference. The official timed finish is at 5:15 under the banner in McCann Stadium. Riders will arrive at the finish by using the Pioneer Express trail which loops south around the skateboard park at the overlook. This trail turns left approximately100 yards short of the staging area and crosses under Pacific Avenue with a right turn along the railroad tracks, then back toward the north to the traditional railroad crossing at Pacific Avenue.

The top 20 horses will get a “place holder” finish card on the Pioneer Express trail on a wide gravel stretch before the Pacific Avenue undercrossing. After crossing the “place holder” finish line, riders will hold their order of finish in McCann Stadium.

The trail committee has been logging many hours of work widening, leveling, pruning and generally improving safety on our trail. You will be impressed.

October 8 falls on the third week of the 2011 deer season. We have posted signs cautioning hunters of the presence of horses and riders for the portion of the trail from Hodgson’s Cabin to Last Chance. It would be a good idea if riders planned to wear brightly colored clothing for added visibility.

The Western States Trail Ride has never been run in October before, and we will be sharing the fairgrounds with some pretty festive events; namely, The Music Fest, Octoberfest, and a gun show (scheduled for Sunday). Parking will be tight and our stabling will not be available until September 28. If you are traveling a great distance and need to arrive in the Auburn area before this date, please contact the Tevis office for assistance in locating stabling as we have some options available.

As you can see we have been planning for many eventualities to make the 56th Annual Western States Tevis Ride as memorable and incredible as ever. Keep training and check back to our website for any future updates.

Chuck Stalley