D.L. Bliss State Park is really the gate way onto the Rubicon Trail. This part of it is on the western edge of Lake Tahoe as it meanders along Lake Tahoe's Coves all the way along cliffs has a reminiscent feeling that this is a scene cut right out of a pirate ship movie with crisp blue waters and a brilliant backdrop that takes your breath away.  

I did not do this location for the paranormal I did it for many reasons such as to share its rich history, beauty and to put the region into perspective to our viewers. We have done many expeditions in the region such as Cave Rock, Five Lakes in the Granite Chief Wilderness, Desolation Wilderness, Job's, Genoa, Maggie's Peaks, Slide Mountain, Mount Tallac, Eagle Falls & Vikingsholm Castle just to name a few.  

As some of you are aware we work allot with the ElDorado National Forest and we have taken you hundreds of miles through it these past few years. The Rubicon Trail and the shores of western Lake Tahoe grace this beautiful wilderness which is kind of in comparison the heartbeat of the sierras.  Its full of canyons, peaks, rivers, forest, wilderness areas, cliffs, creeks and is a well known area for Sasquatch to thrive in. 

The native people today called the Washoe but before were referred to as the aboriginal Wašiw were some of the first humans to inhabit this region known as the Lake Tahoe basin. I believe they were here just after the ice age when glaciers receded filling carved out basins with fresh water. These fresh waters were eventually teaming with life not just for the natives to fish in but the Tahoe drew in allot of wildlife which was ideal hunting grounds like the forest that takes you out to Emerald Point and across from it Eagle Point where at times you can spot a bald eagle nesting if your lucky. 

The Washoe lived a bit of a nomadic life where in the warmer months they would go up to the high sierras living on various lakes that we take our viewers to today. However in the cooler months they would go to the valleys below the high sierras where they would harvest pine nuts and where winters were less harsh. Lets put it this way in the 1800's snowfall average in this region probably was at 70' to 100'. This made it harder for humans to sustain themselves I mean even along the Rubicon Trail there is an area before you descend onto Emerald Peninsula that was an avalanche zone. 

The native Wašiw constructed bark houses similar to the Miwok tribes like we found out at Indian Grinding Rock many years ago during a retreat at an ancient village. Some of you might call them tee pees which is fine also but when I write my history to our viewers I kind of want to connect with all of you so we make sure were thorough in our research and field work. It would be great to ahve some of the local tribes shed some light into some of the local legends, lore and strangeness found within the sierras.  It appears that some of them have faded much like the art of basket making and speakers of an ancient Washoe language were nearly lost. Today its being revived along with drumming and dancing as far as the legends some may have been forgotten. The old traditions are being taught to preschoolers as it should in regards to some of the ancient practices. 

Culture and history to me are important this is why I spend time at the same places the ancients once thrived at. To be a part of it to feel the spirits and as you journey you try to imagine what life may have been like 10 thousand years ago. If you take away all the ports, towns and historic sites would have met that the view has technically not changed in thousands of years so in a sense while journeying along these cliffs puts things into perspective. So it truly is a fascinating place one can imagine what it must had been like to have been a native warrior to hunt with spears for deer or catch some of the monstrous fish that swim in this pristine lake. 

The Washoe have quite a few stories in relation to this area for example the massive tunnel you see is also where an ancient cave resides. This is a very sacred place to tribe often boaters report seeing the maiden standing in the entrance perhaps a spirit that is sacred in some sort of way no less this is not even the tip of the iceberg. You have tales of a lake monster Tessie which is said to be seen in Emerald Bay which a portion of this expedition does cover such a creature is thought to live in a deep underwater cave some believe it connects to Pyramid Lake. Not to far from where the maiden is seen was another cave where a giant lived that preyed on the natives who perhaps might go off alone. Then you have tales of the water babies which could cause death and illness. They were supposed creatures they came from the various lakes in the area including Tahoe. UFO evidence found on Slide Mountain NV and along the Flume Trail at Marlette Lake suggest that maybe the water babies were an alien race and maybe if you were to get to close to these ships it could cause severe radiation poisoning. 

You may or may not agree with me that is okay but it is important to implement and incorporate our own finds as well as theories into the field work we do. This expedition is designed to give you a perspective on the area but historically its relevant to. Between 1848 to about 1862 it was said the Washoe tribes spread as far as 10,000 square miles with Tahoe being the epicenter for them since during the warmer seasons they would gather. However during the gold and silver rushed came to the area which in turn so did the mines. They built dwellings and these camps eventually became towns. Sadly there land was taken and I get it that today some Washoe seem to have bitterness for the white man. From what I understand the natives descendants of the tribe are now attempting to reclaim some of their land. Just north of D.L Bliss Sate park is the Meek's Bay resort campground and concession are ran by the Washoe. Today even though most of the land is lost or was taken I think that when it comes to Tahoe or even the sierras it should be shared. Its to beautiful for us not to share all of us should respect all history that includes these ancient grounds we are sharing with you. 

The Bliss family heirs owned much of this region prior to 1929 which they donated to the California State Park System in 1929 no less quite generous because today we can share it with our viewers for the world to enjoy. D.L. Bliss was a railroad owner, banker and pioneering lumberman in the 1800's. His wealth all came from within the Lake Tahoe basin at least most of it did. Later in 1953 a Fannette Island, Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm were sold to the state by Harvey West a Placerville California lumberman. This expanded the state park area to over 2,000 acres along the western shore with beautiful views of the Carson Range of Nevada. 

From Rubicon Point its said if you stand on the cliffs you can see 100' down into the depths that is how clear Tahoe truly is. So keep in mind when you are viewing this addition on our site you will see that Tahoe carries many hues of different blues to even greens. So technically out of the many hikes in this region this by far is one of the most gorgeous of them to do full of birds, scenic overlooks and a bay carved out by the forces of nature. Both the mountains had risen to the east and west this location resides at about 6'200 east of the main sierra crest then to the north volcanoes erupted for example an excinct volcano can be seen called Mount Tallac resides to the south as you hike towards the bay. The glaciers carved out Emerald Bay where our journey would end on a peninsula where today old steam ferry's like the Tahoe Queen or hot air balloons can be seen hovering in the skies. There is some sort of magic in the air and whether that is the lore or its history its very alluring. 

For example along the western portion of the Rubicon Trail is an Underwater Park all the way from Rubicon Point to Emerald Point for scuba divers. The trail followers this park the water is actually quite deep in certain areas which is why some believe Tessie is able to hide so well. But what is not hidden is the history that resides in the depths of the park found in the 1930's by archaeologist who found this ancient site to have bedrock mortars, eight lake vessels that sunk and six well known ship wrecks. It is quite strange that most of them sunk in this region of the lake then again some people might think I am crazy in believing that at the bottom of Tahoe is an underwater alien base which might explain the USO's and UFO's seen here near the northwestern portion of the Sierra Triangle. This area for scuba divers was the first of its kind becoming California's first shipwreck park. Some of the wooden cargo barges that sank were made of Ponderosa Pine native to the area are marked via buoy on the surface and marked with a monument.

The site known as Kirby's Emerald Bay Resort is the boat camp nearby has a skiff, kayak, wooden row boat, metal hourglass stern row boat and four smaller boats at the moorings. So even though on this addition of our site you see what is above the water try to keep in mind there is allot of history along the Southwestern shoreline of lake Tahoe. Today people use the Rubicon to hike perhaps even job while others might enjoy the sands of Lester Beach or take a swim in Calawee Cove. We decided instead to visit locations that our viewers could learn about such as the Rubicon Point Lighthouse standing at 6,300' above sea level making it the highest elevated American lighthouse above sea level. 

In 1913 the lighthouse along with its buoys was a request by the Lake Tahoe Protective Association and a J.J. Bodilsen directed the project by 1916 to be built under the workmanship of the U.S. Coastguard. They had a keeper who was paid $180 dollars a year. The keeper or caretaker was responsible for recharging the light and tending to the lighthouse. If that meant shipping out or receiving supplies it would require the keeper to make trips each night out into the darkness of the choppy frigid waters of Lake Tahoe. This way the keeper could observe it although it was seen from anywhere on the lake the light only gave off about 70 candle light power which is today's average flashlight. 

Since at the time there were no year around residents living on the shores of Tahoe to inspect the light it was short lived. While official sources state that the light was in commission till 1919 some of the locals reported that the tower stayed lit into the 1920's to 30's. While some state that the light surely was put out in 1921 while a new light would be constructed at a nearby place called Sugar Pine Point.  You also have to understand that the light was powered by two 300 gallon acetylene powered tanks. Everyday the fuel would be brought up to Emerald Point where then a mule with a wagon would traverse a few miles up the old Rubicon trail and to the lighthouse. The lighthouse is in peril its currently awaiting restoration as in 1997 it was added to the Lighthouse Digest/Doomsday List.  So in theory it was difficult to maintain but also a very costly venue. 

When you reach Emerald Point which is a peninsula runs along the north edge of Emerald Bay you can also see Fannette Island.  This is the only island found in Tahoe.  The island does have some trees it rises a little over 150 above the bay and was called over a century ago Coquette, Baranoff, Dead Man's and Hermit's Island. Some have even referred to it as the Emerald Isle. A captain who went by the name of Dick Barter was also called the hermit of Emerald Bay lived here from 1863 and then on for about a decade. I find it a little creepy that he build his own wooden chapel and tomb above the high water line found on the island. What is even more scary is the fact that the captains boat was found wrecked just off Rubicon Point which is just south of the lighthouse you see in our gallery. His body was never recovered then again in the 1800's either was the many China men who were murdered and weighted down to the bottom of this lakes frigid depths.  Just as rumors of the mob a half of century or so ago are told that they use to use the lake for the disposal of bodies as well so history does repeat itself unfortunately. Things have a way of disappearing afterall the captains body was NEVER found so indeed the area has a bit of strangeness to it so try to keep that in mind as you browse this addition on our site. 

In 1929 Lora Knight had a stone tea house built on the island which to some may look like a castle build on Fannette Island. Fannette Island is its current name which probably came to be when Mrs Knight and her guest would take a boat to the island to have tea. This tea house had a fireplace, large oak table and even four oak chairs for the ladies. They came on over from Vikingsholm Castle which is fairly close to the island which today during a certain time of year access to the island is prohibited due to Canadian Geese nesting here. The tea house is a mere shell of its former glory due to vandals however with a castle on the south shore makes the two historically connected. 

Just as the region has some odd geological rock formations including Balancing Rock. Did you know in the late 1800's to early 1900's people would make the trip here just to have there photograph taken? The balancing rock is a massive granite formation that has a slender stone base that holds up a massive spherical 130 ton slab. It is precariously being held up by the base or a narrow joint plane. If you carefully study the base their is a horizontal crack seen about half way between this rock formation created by thousands of years of wind and rain erosion. Eventually enough erosion or a quake may cause the rock formation to breaking forming two pedestals so some day this will be gone and so we have decided to take you here so you can enjoy it even from afar. 

The island today in Emerald Bay may not have been effected by glacial activity since granite is one of the hardest rocks on planet Earth.  The Tahoe region is about 12 to 13 miles wide by 22 miles in length. Most of the photography of the lake you see here was taken near Rubicon Point descending all the way down to the coves and eventually Emerald Bay. The lake has more then 65 streams that feed into it while the Truckee River is the only outflow while the northern half of the river controls Tahoe's lake level with a small dam up near Tahoe City just to the north of D.L. Bliss State Park.

The area is known for its Sugar, Ponderosa and its Jeffrey Pines. Also found here is incense cedars which we did manage to find one tucked away near a cliff also Sierra Junipers and black Cottonwoods. Their are also black bears, mountain lions, chipmunks, deer and Steller Jay birds which we have some photos of in our nature album. Many other sorts of foliage grows here also such as willows, alders, quaking aspens, mountain dogwood's, bitter cherry and service berry. Now and then there are osprey's in the area and in the bay many ducks as well as geese can be enjoyed leisurely. During the warmer months you will see bleeding hearts, yellow monkey flowers and columbine wildflowers growing which we also have photos of in our nature album.  The area is full of edible foliage and berries also which the birds feed off of maybe even Sasquatch as a primate has longer intestines therefore could digest ceanothus, chinquapins, gooseberries, currants, huckleberries and manzanita's.

I have spent a considerable amount of time journeying in the Tahoe Basin. Little by little I bring you new locations because truly they are all connected. Some places might be stranger then others but overall there is allot of beauty, lore and history to take in. Our website goes beyond the paranormal as here we have a place with history that dates back thousands of years ago and offers so many avenues to our viewers and those that really want to delve deeper into one of the most beautiful locations in America to be honest with you. Everything is connected and just imagine that this is only a 2000 acres region we have covered which does not even touch the tip of the iceberg considering the ElDorado National Forest nearly is 800,000 acres thus we welcome you to enjoy a small taste of what is to come! It is allot to digest but the time and effort you put into something is what you will get out of this so in actuality if you gotten this far then you know what you will find throughout this special addition will be epic no matter what you decide to gander at. 

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