Gribblenation

This past week I took a day trip out to remote Madera County, California on Italian Bar Road (signed as Road 225) to the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge.  On the way to the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge I passed through the Geographic Center of California. Italian Bar Road is an approximately 16-mile highway which begins at North Fork and travels east/southeast over the San Joaquin River into Fresno County via the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge to Jose Basin Road.   Italian Bar Road is now signed as Road 225 and largely routed through Sierra National Forest. Italian Bar Road likely was constructed to ease access to Big Creek Hydroelectric Powerhouse #3 and #8.  Big Creek Powerhouse #8 was completed by 1921 followed Big Creek Powerhouse #3 in 1923.  Given the road access to both Powerhouses would have been from the Fresno County side of the San Joaquin River having a crossing via what is now the 1925 Italian Bar Bridge would have been a far more direct route.  During t...

Following completing the 18 miles of the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway on Forest Route 7/Baysore Road northeast from Forest Route 10 I turned south onto Forest Route 81/Minarets Road.  Part 3 of the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway covers Sierra National Forest Route 81/Forest Road 4S81 on Minarets Road southward 50 plus miles mostly along the San Joaquin River Canyon to North Fork.  This particular segment of the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway is interesting for several reasons; it largely is aligned along the San Joaquin River Canyon, has the best vistas along the entire Sierra Vista Scenic Byway and in a historical context likely would have been incorporated into the Minaret Summit Highway had it been built. As noted above Part 2 of the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway covers the segment of the route aligned on Forest Route 7 which is signed on Forest Road 5S07/Beasore Road. Sierra Vista Scenic Byway Part 2; a bumpy ride on Sierra National Forest Route 7 As noted in Part 2 the alignmen...