7 Overlooked Towns In California's Sierra Nevada Worth Visiting

Above, camping in Brown's Town Campground in Bishop in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's one thing that Californians should add to their "bucket list" of things to do, that is to explore the Sierra Nevada area of the state.

A lot of history can still be gleaned from exploring towns that thrived during the Gold Rush years. World Atlas has posted a list of seven of them. 

I have been to most of them, mainly through chapter events of E Clampus Vitus (of which I am a member) that sprung up during the Gold Rush in many of these towns.  

World Atlas begins their list with:

The Sierra Nevada stretches more than 400 miles and is home to dozens of small towns, three national parks, and numerous wilderness areas. Some of the towns are better known and more travelled than others, but those that are overlooked shine in their own right. You will find history, nature, culture, and recreation in each of them. If you truly want to experience the soul of California's Sierra Nevada, these seven towns deserve a spot on your travel list.

To read more, go here. 

Exploring California’s Highway 49 Historic Gold Rush Towns

Above, the Gold Rush town of Columbia. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Mother Lode country of California is an interesting place to visit. It is where the California Gold Rush started then, in turn, gave birth to the fraternal order I am a member of, the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.

It has been years since I last visited the region. With California's ridiculously high gasoline prices, it'll be years (if ever) that I will be back for a visit. We used to camp at Marble Quarry RV Park near the town of Columbia every Memorial Day weekend.

However, if high gas prices aren't a hinderance, visiting the Mother Lode is a great way to spend a vacation.

RV Travel has posted an article on exploring California's Highway 49 gold rush towns.

They begin it with:

California’s Gold Rush is one of the most captivating chapters in American history. Highway 49—aptly named for the “49ers” who flocked west in 1849—offers RVers an unparalleled opportunity to step back in time at one of the many Gold Rush towns.

Winding through the scenic Sierra Nevada foothills, this historic route is a treasure trove of charming towns, each brimming with stories, unique attractions, and natural beauty. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or simply seeking a memorable road trip, these Gold Rush towns deserve a spot on your RV travel itinerary.

 To read more, go here.

History and Legends of the Brotherhood of E Clampus Vitus

High Noon with Neal Cobb: The History and Legends of the Brotherhood of E Clampus Vitus

Summary: Neal Cobb is joined by Tim Pearce, who gives a presentation on the history of E Clampus Vitus.

Mini Gold Rush In California?

With winter over, the rivers and streams in California are flowing with volume that hasn't been seen in years.

Could the snowmelt loosen up gold in "them thar hills"?

As an article in NBC Los Angeles states, it depends upon who you ask.

They wrote:

Could California’s great snowmelt lead to the discovery of more gold?

It depends on who you ask.

After a series of winter storms, the state’s rivers and streams are flowing at rates not seen in years, leading many gold miners to believe there could be enough movement of boulders and sediment to loosen up gold deposits in the mountains.

The idea is leading to a miniature gold rush of sorts up and down the state.

To read more, go here. 

Mining.com: The Case For Silver

Above, JFK 1964 half dollars and Morgan dollars. Each has 90% silver. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Investment experts generally recommend diversifying one's investment portfolios, which also include investing in precious metals such as gold and silver. Most often, I've read that precious metals investing should be at 5% of one's portfolio.

Since gold is above $1,800 an ounce, silver is the logical alternative as it is more affordable at around $23 per ounce.

Above, a Gold Rush era gold prospector.

The current inflationary times (Bidenflation) is decimating the value of the U.S. dollar. 

Mining.com posted an article yesterday, "The Case For Silver".

They begin it with:

Silver, like gold, is a precious metal that offers investors protection during times of economic and political uncertainty. 

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, the flight to safety subsequently sent silver prices past the $26/oz mark, which was last seen in August, 2021.

This silver rally proved to be a flash in the pan, however. An aggressive interest rate hike campaign by the US Federal Reserve, along with a high US dollar, has kept the safe-haven metal in check.

Still, there are multiple reasons to believe that longer term, silver will rebound — possibly returning to levels last seen during the early 2021 Reddit-fueled silver frenzy.

Spot silver has already gained 20% over the last three months.

The potential forces behind silver’s next rally include: monetary demand, industrial demand, low inventories, physical market tightness, peak silver, and the gold-silver ratio.

To read more, go here. 

Memorial Day Camping To Top 2021 Numbers

Above, the main street of Columbia, California in the Mother Lode country in the 1980s. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the "old days", I would take the family up to the Mother Lode gold rush area of California for a Memorial Day weekend of camping in Columbia. We would stay each year at the Marble Quarry RV Park.

That was before the crowds got bigger and traffic worse on the highways and I was much younger as well.

Since then, I have chosen to stay at home and leave the driving to others. 

It looks like, despite high fuel costs, more people will be hitting the road this year for Memorial Day weekend camping.

According to RV Travel:

Kampgrounds of America’s North American Camping Report for April is predicting there will be 22.2 million households camping over Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30) and the recently completed Canadian Victoria Day weekend (May 21-23) combined. That’s a 5.4% increase over the same holiday weekends in 2021.

In addition to more campers (40% versus 39% in 2021) saying they plan to camp for the long weekend, many suggest they will add additional days to their camping plans. Three-in-10 say they will stay an additional day or two before or after the long weekend, a slight increase from 2021 (6%). The numbers in the monthly report include all campers, not just campers at KOA parks.

To read more, go here. 

CSULB Kowtows To Political Correctness

Following the 2016 election, the administration of California State University, Long Beach (my alma mater) allowed a post-election protest. That's okay, but then they posted a video of it on their Facebook page. If that's the image they wanted to convey, that's fine, too. Only they won't get any more monetary contributions from me. Since this and other idiotic decisions made by the CSULB administration, I ended any and all contributions to the university and alumni association.

They've stopped calling me for contributions since I told them off.

Now, they've made another idiotic decision

From Patch.com:

LONG BEACH, CA – The statue of the Cal State Long Beach mascot Prospector Pete will soon be removed in order to disassociate the university from California's gold rush and its impact on native Americans, says Cal State Long Beach President Jane Close Conoley. 

A timeline is yet to be determined, but the statue will be transplanted to a future alumni center, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported. 

The Prospector Pete image reflected Founding President Pete Peterson's common references to having struck the gold of education by establishing Long Beach State College, Conoley told the newspaper in an Email. 

"President Peterson was absolutely correct; education is precious." But, Conoley said, as the university's diversity grew and more voices were heard, "we came to know that the 1849 California gold rush was a time in history when the indigenous peoples of California endured subjugation, violence and threats of genocide." 

In September 2017, Cal State Long Beach's Associated Students Inc. started working on a resolution that passed in March to move or relocate the statue. It acknowledges the campus's location of being placed on Tongva Tribe land, whose inhabitants are said to have been enslaved by settlers to build missions in the greater Los Angeles area.

My comments about the article at Patch.com:

It is getting so that history is not being honored or even discussed these days. Here we have another example of political correctness run amok. History should be discussed, be it good or bad. Decisions by CSULB in recent years has made me decide to discontinue making donations to the school or alumni association (I am of the CSULB class of 1979). This country is going crazy. The statue should be left alone and kept where it is.

They're painting with a broad brush the implication that all of the 49ers in the Mother Lode abused the Indians there. Perhaps a small minority did, but does that justify tarring all those who went for find gold?

Notice the university's seal at top. There's a pick and shovel on it to signify the 49ers. Looks like they'll have to change that, too.

The cost of removing/moving the statue is a waste of taxpayers' money. President Jane Close Conoley is sure no Stephen Horn (the president of CSULB during my time there).

Time-Life Books: "The Forty-Niners"

Above, the cover of "The Forty-Niners" volume.

Back in the 1970s, Time-Life Books published different series of book sets. One of which was The Old West. There were 27 volumes in the series.

According to Wikipedia:

The Old West is a series of books about the fundamental founding of the American Old West, published by Time-Life Books from 1973 through 1980. Each book focused on a different topic, such as cowboys, American Indians, gamblers and gunfighters.

The book set was rather handsomely done with covers in simulated leather.

Another topic of focus was "The Forty-Niners", which covered the California Gold Rush. It was published in 1974.

The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus was given a mention on page 140:

Any afficionado of the old west or ECV should pick up this set should they happen to find it at a used bookstore, eBay, Amazon or yard sale.

Matuca's "Columbia Reunion" In 1984

Above, the main street of Columbia. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the first Clamper events Glenn Thornhill and I attended after joining E Clampus Vitus was to attend the "Columbia Reunion" in Columbia, California put on by the Matuca Chapter in May 1984.

It was my first foray into the Mother Lode country of California and Glenn and I enjoyed the scenery of the area. We took the winding Highway 49 to Columbia.

Columbia is a Gold Rush-era town that has been restored as a tourist attraction.

According to Wikipedia:

Columbia is a town located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, in Tuolumne County, California, United States. It was founded as a boomtown in 1850 when gold was found in the vicinity, and was known as the "Gem of the Southern Mines." 

The town's historic central district is within the Columbia State Historic Park, which preserves the 19th century mining town features. The U.S. historic district is a National Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Above, at the Hall of Comparative Ovations. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Clamper event was a one-day event, but we stayed at a motel in nearby Jamestown.

Above, Glenn Thornhill (right) and Armand at the Hall of Comparative Ovations.

The event included a visit to the St. Charles Saloon in Columbia, along with initiation rights at the Hall of Comparative Ovations and a barbecue lunch. We also joined the other Clampers for adult beverages (Glenn and I both had put away quite a few drinks).

It was a fun trek.

Giving Some Exercise To The Generator and A/C

Above, The Beast at the Beaver (Utah) KOA in 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little while ago, I finished exercising the RV generator and running the air conditioner. I try to do it every month so that the generator and a/c are in good running shape.

There's one thing that would put a damper on a vacation in a desert or other places with high temperatures, that's having a generator or a "house" a/c that doesn't work. They should be run on a monthly basis.

All worked just fine during today's exercise.

The next planned big trip is to Idaho in August to experience the solar eclipse that will take place on August 21.

En route to Idaho, I am looking to a leisurely drive (no rush) through Nevada (with a likely overnight stop either in Las Vegas or Mesquite) and Utah (with a likely stop in Cedar City or Beaver).

I still haven't yet decided where I am going to go in the days after the eclipse. I could go west to visit Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, since I haven't been there since 1971 and from there to Lassen Volcanic National Park, since I haven't been there since 1968. Or, just head back down south into Utah to Bryce Canyon National Park or see a couple of national parks I haven't been to, such as Arches and Canyonlands.

One other possibility is to go into eastern Nevada to see Great Basin National Park since it is a prime spot for stargazing as there are no cities with light pollution for miles. I may purchase a new reflector telescope before heading out. I have an old refractor telescope, but it's not that powerful. We'll see.

Another idea is to wander around the northern areas of California's Gold Rush country (the land of E Clampus Vitus) after visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park. I have been around the southern areas of the Mother Lode (along Highway 49), but not the northern areas.

Since the eclipse will pass directly over Grand Teton National Park, I will avoid it and Yellowstone as there surely will be a lot of people at both parks and getting a campsite at either would be difficult.

Since I won't be in any kind of hurry on that trip, I may just make it a two-week trek. 

Clamper Stuff

I was going through my E Clampus Vitus (ECV) file and pulled up some items.  I've been a member of ECV since 1984 when I was initiated into the order through the New Helvetia Chapter in Sacramento.

What's E Clampus Vitus?


Here's a little bit of ECV history:

Back in the Gold Rush Days of the mid-nineteenth century literally thousands of mining camps and towns sprang up throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains and in neighboring territories that now comprise the western states. A new town would appear almost overnight at the mere rumor of a fresh strike. But as the gold or silver petered out the mines closed, claims were abandoned and most of the people moved on. What had been a thriving town was soon reduced to empty buildings and a few hardy souls struggling for existence. Today many tiny hamlets no bigger than a small dot on a seldom traveled back road map once boasted an area population of fifteen or twenty thousand at its peak. Stripping away the fictional glamour, one finds a picture that stands in stark contrast to the romantic Hollywood image. The miner’s life, whether working his own claim or in a larger operation, was rugged, dangerous, often short and, for many, a nomadic existence that took them from one area to another in search of riches. For all but a few their arduous labor produced scant reward. Entertainment was whatever they could make of whatever was at hand and a good prank or practical joke brought much needed relief from the serious business of just getting through the day. Not infrequently, their revelry consisted of exchanging gold dust for a raucous night at one of the many saloons or gambling halls and, whenever possible, at some unsuspecting person’s expense. 

 By 1850 two fraternal organizations, the Masonic Lodge and the Odd Fellows (IOOF), were well established in California and virtually all men of influence were members of either or both of these orders. Both groups were viewed as very strict in nature with impressive badges of office and formal attire. In short, they provided little humor and certainly no relief from the arduous task of just staying alive. In 1851 a group of men at Mokelumne Hill, California, felt another fraternal organization, one much less serious of nature, was needed and The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, with an avowed dedication to the protection of "Widows and Orphans", came to life in the west. Originally, the order was a spoof or mockery of the well known fraternal orders. But it also recognized a certain absurdity that was so much a part of their lives and, indeed, had become something that was cherished whether viewed as an escape or just another thing that had to be endured. One can only imagine the difficulty in maintaining a serious expression as these Clampers carried on their satire by addressed each other with lofty sounding titles of "Noble Grand Humbug", "Clamps Vitrix", "Roisterous Iscutis", "Royal Gyascutis", "Grand Imperturbable Hangman". To further their mockery the members bedecked themselves with badges and self created awards fashioned from tin can lids. The latter became known as "wearing the tin". Rather than having a strict officialdom, all members were declared officers with none ranking higher than his fellow Clampers. Initiates, known as Poor Blind Candidates or PBCs, were subjected to a withering blast of humiliation and relieved of as much gold dust as possible which was promptly used to sustain the gathering at the saloon. The PBC was instantly transformed into a full fledged Clamper. Although there are no formal uniforms, Clampers today maintain a tradition of wearing red shirts at their functions as a remembrance of the red union suits of old. And most will be seen wearing a vest of some sort that is adorned with a multitude badges, pins and patches. There were no dues then and none are collected today. E Clampus Vitus is now and has been since its inception a "men only" organization.  [For more,  go here.]

Today, the order commemorates sites of historical significance with plaques and monuments. These usually are weekend-long activities involving camping out or one-day events.  Here's some I've attended:

Above, XNGH Glenn Thornhill (left) and Armand with the plaque commemorating the Ridge Route in Frazier Park, California. 

Above, the plaque dedication of the Redwood Grove at Canoga Park High School.

Above, (from left) XNGH Glenn Thornhill, XNGH Abe Hoffman and Armand at the "ghost" town of Amboy.

Generally, each plaque dedication or other Clamper activity includes a booklet (such as the one at left by Abe Hoffman) about the location that is being commemorated.










Other...

Colorful characters have been members of E Clampus Vitus over the years. Below right, the late artist Jerry Zorthian is entertained at one of his birthday parties by dancing nymphs.

Below, is an illustration (by yours truly) of the evolution of man, Clamper-style.

May Showers Bring June Flowers

"April showers bring May flowers" goes the old saying.

Well, I don't recall any showers in Los Angeles in April, but we are getting them in May. The rains started late last night (thank goodness they came after my shift ended) and are continuing as I write this.

The rains are supposed to taper off sometime today and, allegedly, another storm is expected to come in.

Today's rains are welcome, nonetheless. The brush in the hills have been drying out since the rains of the previous months. Also, those of us with allergies find the rains welcome as the moisture wets down airborne pollen and dust.

Rain in Los Angeles in May are infrequent, but it does occur. I remember back around 1989 a deluge hit California on Memorial Day weekend. We were camping up in Gold Rush country in Columbia, California when the rains hit. We were camping in a tent trailer and the rains drove us out of it and into a motel. Considering it was Memorial Day weekend, we were lucky to find a room.

It appears that "April showers" showed up a few weeks late.

Endorsement List

Above, Armand in Clamper garb at the Godzilla plaque in Los Angeles. Photo by Glenn Thornhill.

The official Mark Reed for Congress website now has yours truly included in his list of endorsements, that also includes a June posting from this blog.

I was amused that the campaign used my blog profile tag line of "Armand Vaquer, A.A., B.A., ECV..." All of those are true. I received my Associate in Arts degree at El Camino College and my Bachelor's of Arts degree at California State University, Long Beach.

ECV? What degree is that, you may ask?

ECV is not a degree, although those initiated should be given one (well, they do; they receive a certificate of membership). ECV stands for the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus. I became a member in 1984 through the New Helvetia Chapter in Sacramento.

E Clampus Vitus is currently a men's fraternal organization of people interested in California and western history. It began as a fraternal organization in the mining camps of the California Gold Rush in the Mother Lode. ECV initially was a burlesque of fraternal orders such as the Oddfellows and the Masons. ECV is also based on humor and hi-jinks. And drink. It is often descibed as a "historical drinking society" or a "drinking historical society." You can take your pick. Members included some celebrities such as Walter Huston, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, Gene Autry and President Ronald Reagan. ECV chapters are by county. For instance, my home chapter is Platrix No. 2 in Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange Counties. You may have seen commemorative plaques througout California and neighboring states erected by the Clampers. One was erected a few years ago in Los Angeles marking where Raymond Burr's scenes for Godzilla, King of the Monsters! were shot, now the location of the Frank del Olmo Elementary School.

Mark Reed is the Republican nominee for congress in the 27th Congressional District in California. He is up against "the hapless Brad Sherman." (As described by talk show host Rush Limbaugh.)