Just an FYI. The “tunnels” with the windows are actually snow sheds and not tunnels. They were built to protect the tracks from avalanches.

I'm from Georgia and I cant get over the history out here . You guys are so lucky the mountains, desert and redwoods . So beautiful

I love your appeals towards decency!! My buddy Dustin from: Destination Adventure says Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time!! ✌😎

I’m reading Nothing Like It In The World by Stephen Ambrose. This book is about the building of the transcontinental railroad and your video gives me a better appreciation of the work done on this portion of the railroad. The graffiti is real a slap in the face to the workers who worked, lived and died in the area.

I grew up on Donner Lake, graduated Truckee HS in 85'..used to love hearing train at night during snowy winter nights. Used to ride dirt bikes up there too. Thanks!

Those tunnels weren’t in existence when the Coolies we’re digging out the right of way. Starting in the 1920s, those tunnels were added to increase the snow protection provided by preexisting wooden snow sheds. The most interesting spot on the hill is still under railroad control; Norden (demolished in the 80s) was a small company town with enclosed sidewalks and a covered turntable, so that when the snows would come it’d become an underground city and locomotive facility, earning it the nickname “Moletown”.

@markfrench8892

4 жыл бұрын

The Southern Pacific Railroad added a second mainline over the Sierra in the early 1900s to help in alleviating traffic problems on Donnor. These tunnels and snowsheds are what is left after the Union Pacific Railroad abandon the second mainline in the 1990s..

@jasonalperin9414

Жыл бұрын

It was Southern Pacific who actually abandoned the second line 1993,took it up,UP RR Considered restoring this part of the line,but lack of traffic hasn't justified such as of yet!

I'm a native Northern Californian and been coming to Truckee ever since I can remember but didn't know about these tunnels till a few years ago. If you don't want to hike up the China wall you can drive a little further up to the beginning of them and walk through the caves. And as someone else mentioned, the part you where in are snow sheds. I love the history, there's so much in just a small area. I plan to film a video walking through the caves tomorrow. I love the quality of your videos and you're an inspiration. Keep up the good work.

Hey Josh! Wanted to say thank you so much for this video and your channel. I'm a California native and I did not know about this place. Your drone footage is absolutely amazing, I look forward to every new video you post and watching your channel grow. I'm a big supporter of what you do!

I went through the tunnels coming back home from Tahoe over the summer. It was my first time seeing it and it was super cool. Definitely recommend anyone near there to go !

I went there alone at night twice once when there was snow and then in spring it was peaceful .

Great stuff , keep doing what you do .

I'm Chinese, definitely want to go to visit there, thanks for your video!

Thanks for the mini tour. I'll give it a thumb up.

9 years in Reno and I've never been there! But I have been up Castle Peak and Sierra Buttes. Both are super cool hikes!

@zwishtv2452

5 жыл бұрын

those are the topical spots to go when your new in town

We're actually filming an episode of our paranormal investigation series here!!

Just did this hike and it was badass. Flat land trail but lots of small rocks as it was old train tracks. You’ll need a flashlight, and good hiking boots. If you wear tennis shoes, your bottom feet will hurt.

Thanks for the info: I assumed they were still in use. Lord willing I still want to drive U.S. 40 in Ca. before I get much older. Sure is “scenic” I’ve driven much of US 40 back East in Oh, I’ll, Ind, etc. but nothing compares to “ our west”!

Josh, I don't think Graffiti sprayers are among your audience. But thanks for mentioning and thanks to you and Amy for so many lovely videos and explorations to places where sometimes I wouldn't dare to open the door into.

@californiathroughmylens

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment and I hope that no one that follows me does graffiti on natural places, but just wanted to make it clear in the video. Thanks for watching the videos and following along!

@ceologreen

4 жыл бұрын

California Through My Lens tunnels arent natural places they are man made, graffiti shows us that nothing in this world is truly permanent its also art and adds color and life to what would be just a tunnel. Those graffiti artists made that tunnel an art museum. Just cause its against the rules doesnt make it wrong. And if no one graffitid those poor buffers would have nothing to paint over and it would probably make their job more boring 😉

@pscgmail

4 жыл бұрын

@@ceologreen Where do you park your car? I would like to come make some new art on it...

@ceologreen

4 жыл бұрын

Paul Clark east oakland pull up

Come back here in the winter. Ice galore.

Lol did someone paint a wutang sign.

Truckee..Tunnelling and China wall .,,my great grandpa..😮

These showsheds were on track 1 of the orginal grade of the transcontinental route, there was a man the Southern Pacific (SP) hired from the L&N railroad out in the Mississippi region that only runs flat tracks by the river and doesn't really experience to much hills especially not mountains like these. He came in and started taking out double tracking over SP routes because the government taxes railroads more for double track then single track with long sidings so he did just that and it worked fine but them he went after the Hill (Donner Pass) and everyone tried to tell him it was a mistake because double tracking helps trains over the mountain so much but he didn't listen and SP took this section of the double track out in 1992. Over by the Donner Ski ranch is the old helper yard and the beginning of tunnel 6, the summit tunnel which crests the summit and was mined for 2 years by the Chinese. After that is tunnel 7 which is short because it once held a sunroof before it broke in and the cement it up. Between the China Wall and 7 is a random underpass which is actually the very first railroad underpass in the United States, used by the first Lincoln Highway. The China Walls were the first retaining walls and the rest of the concrete snowsheds are put in place in the 60s replacing wooden ones that always caught fire.

I know exactly where these are. I live fairly close to Truckee.

I'm surprised that an opportunity was lost to share with viewers the historic significance of the Donner Summit rail line and snowsheds ("tunnels") built during construction of the first transcontinental railroad. This was was the first railroad to connect east coast cities with California and the Bay Area during the mid-1800's. It's construction was considered a huge engineering marvel at the time. Donner Pass marked the highest point along the route. As one observer noted below, the snowsheds protected the all important east-west rail line from frequent avalanches in winter. Decades later the original snowsheds, built of huge wooden timbers, were replaced with reinforced concrete.

On top of my list. Would you know how many tunnels there?

Being from NY and having lived in Paris for 14 years I must say I've had enough (subway) train tunnels to last me a lifetime. After spending 2,5 hours on a broke down train under the Hudson River knowing the river is over your head and you are trapped is not my idea of fun. Your vids are great none the less but I go to CA for the Great Outdoors and you've given me lots of ideas. Keep up the good work.

@daisyfillyfore2969

2 жыл бұрын

There is plenty outdoor in truckee and tahoe

Great video. I’ve seen videos of people driving through these. Is that something that is still possible?

@SelaLucero

10 ай бұрын

Not unless you have dirt bikes.

Super Cool, never heard of this location, will go on the bucket list.

@californiathroughmylens

5 жыл бұрын

It's a fun spot to explore, really interesting history.

WOW!

Y'know, there's a HUGE difference between a tunnel and a snowshed. Trivially simple to distinguish. Lots more snowsheds than tunnels were built, originally of wood, replaced w/masonry (less flammable)..

Can you take bikes?

What the name of this song in the video I want to know please.

@liddlekiddle1962

3 жыл бұрын

In the Description, it states: Music: Lakey Inspired soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired

I went there today

Another awesome spot you featured. How many tunnels are there?

@californiathroughmylens

5 жыл бұрын

Honestly I am not sure. I haven't gone past that long one I featured. It takes a good 20 minutes at least to walk through it.

Nice

Pretty interesting thanks for exploring and sharing.

@californiathroughmylens

5 жыл бұрын

No problem

Thank you for adding the anti graffiti you tossed in there. It looks like crap on the walls. Some of it might be good but it's just the wrong place for it.

what is the name of this song at 0:14

@liddlekiddle1962

3 жыл бұрын

In the Description, it states: Music: Lakey Inspired soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired

Are you going show a tunnel?

Truckee & Donner are beautiful. 1 question. Were the train tracks inside the tunnels? Seems like a good way to get through the crazy snow. Please elaborate.

@theaveragerailfanner7447

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah. These were specially made tunnels called "snowsheds" to protect tracks from avalanches and excessive snow.

i lived in truckee my whole life and know very cool places to go that no one really knows hmu if you would like to know

@AidenHanken

4 жыл бұрын

Joe Mama i wanna know

@kendallwilson6654

4 жыл бұрын

Sir I’d like to know I’m from the south shore

Have you ever encountered “unsafe” situations up there? Is it safe to take the kids?

@marylou6247

3 жыл бұрын

I’ve hiked it and there are many people with their children, I didn’t once feel unsafe.

Nice video - would have been even better if you could have added a little more history context

I was scared for you going in there. How safe is it?

@californiathroughmylens

5 жыл бұрын

There were lots of people there on a Saturday morning so it wasn't scary, but I probably would not go in at night or without other people around.

@violetbf3773

5 жыл бұрын

@@californiathroughmylens oh!! Thank you for responding. And thank you for another great video 👍😊

can you bike threw with your light on

@californiathroughmylens

5 жыл бұрын

I am not sure about that, I haven't seen any mountain bikes in there myself and you would probably need to find a better way to access it then hiking the bike up.

@justinmoyers12

4 жыл бұрын

At Sugar Bowl Rd. and Donner Pass Rd. there is a dirt parking lot right at the entrance to the summit tunnel and you can ride through the tunnels from there. Definitely bring a light and try to go during the week when there's less people.

Nice con trails💉 ✈

Trying to keep graffiti off a plain wall in the cuts is like tryna keep white shoes clean in the mud. It’s pointless.

This is a pretty well known spot for graffiti writers

I saw the wu-tang W WU-TANG FOREVER LOL

i personally like how the grafitti looks... without the grafitti the tunells would just like gray and dull. it adds an interesting element and some of the grafitti looks to be quite high quality with decent drawings

Wth are they going to paint over it. That place is like a huge canvas

Great video but I don't think my claustrophobia could take it. And I like the graffiti. Too bad they want to paint it over.

Lol, um sir I started at the beginning and walked the entire tunnel don't cheat yourself and start in the middle. And I advise people go when it's cloudy and some showers it made our adventures that much better stomping around in puddles. I believe we hiked 4 miles 2 there 2 back... I do 100% recommend people wear the proper shoes we wore hiking boots and halfway back you could start to feel the rocks under your feet so I can only imagine how people with regular street shoes would feel... because it was no bueno... lots of opportunities to trip too so be careful of the loose rocks/gravel. I'd recommend when and if you bring a kid have them walk on the edges where it's smoother ground... also do NOT BRING YOUR DOGS unless you plan on doing a quick 15 minute walk the rocks are torture on their paws, be a responsible dog owner.

I have this for school and its actually cool. -_-

cute guy! ^_^

Ya ya ya cut it

I want to go solely to view the graffiti! It’s the best kind of art!

Instructions unclear we’re lost

Please ADD graffiti inside. No racism, hate, or anything too inappropriate. Do it INSIDE the tunnel.. then the Karen's won't care 🙏

That place is boring.

@SeanJAnimations

3 жыл бұрын

Good for you