,

Aspen Basque Carvings Treks Through Time

The Bear Yuba Land Trust, formerly the Nevada County Land Trust, offers a variety of great adventures through their Treks Through Time series.  This weekend Carrie Smith, a Forest Service Archaeologist, led a group of 12 people through an Aspen grove 20 minutes outside of Truckee that has a rare bit of history hidden in the woods.  The Basque sheep herders seasonally drove thousands of sheep to the high country for summer grazing in the early 1900’s through the 1950’s.  The carvings, which were done in the bark of the Aspen trees, include Basque language, symbols, names, dates and women, as the young herders were along for months at a time.  The treasure hunt through the trees is worth a visit, especially when the fall colors are in their peak.   

Directions: From Truckee, take HWY 89 North East towards Sierraville. Turn Left on the Jackson Meadows road. Take an immediate Right onto Treasure Mountain Road-Forest Rout 05. You will follow this road for approximately 1 mile, until you see a dirt turnoff on the left for parking. The Aspen grove will be across the road.