Trails and history of the Yuba River
By Laura Brown, laurab@theunion.com
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12:01 a.m. PT May 8, 2008
In his first book of trails in eight years, avid hiker, historian and archaeologist Hank Meals leads a well trodden dirt path into the heart of the South Yuba River watershed.
"The River: Hiking Trails and History of the South Fork of the Yuba River" is available in local book and outfitter stores.
Beginning at the low elevations of Bridgeport to the crest of Mt. Lola , Meals newest book includes hiking trails for every fitness level within a 310 square mile stretch of watershed.
"I really wanted to focus on the South Yuba - what it is and follow it up to where it originates," Meals said on a recent sunny morning standing above the green waters of the river at the Purdon Crossing bridge.
Meals books, Yuba Trails and Yuba Trails 2, are well-worn guides carried by many local hikers.
"This time it's way more comprehensive. Everything in here is re-written. I know more now. You learn more every time you inquire," Meals said.
In his traditional style, Meals tells the story of each place, using his knowledge of Native Americans and the role of Chinese, mining, logging, skiing and transportation history.
"Whatever trail you start at, you're immersed in history from the get go," Meals said.
Several things make the South Yuba River unique, Meals said. It's shaped by large volumes of hydraulic mining debris and is the birthplace of one of the earliest and most complex water and hydropower networks.
Transportation history is rich. For centuries, Native Americans traveled by foot throughout the foothills, immigrants streamed across the summit in covered wagons and engineers burrowed railroad tunnels through granite and paved new highways across rugged terrain.
Meals own history in the watershed began in 1969, when he moved to and camped out along the banks of the river at Edwards Crossing. During the early days, he found work anyway he could, planting trees or as a builder before landing a 12 year off and on job as an archaeologist for the Tahoe National Forest.
Nowadays, he hikes regularly, researches, writes, photographs and works on small contracted archaeology assignments. He's also working on a cook book with his wife, Carol Meals.
This month he will lead a trip to the river as part of the South Yuba River Citizens League new stewardship program.
On July 19, he will lead a hike with the Nevada County Land Trust from Missouri Bar to the town of Washington and another to Loney Lake in the Grouse Ridge area on Sept. 27.
"I'm trying to make history meaningful to people," Meals said.
A book signing for Hank Meals' new book will be held at 1 p.m. June 14 at the Bookseller in downtown Grass Valley.
To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231.
