Southwest Sierra #83 – Learning to Drive

I recently checked the mileage from The Golden Bear Mine Bunkhouse to Alleghany. Dad always said that it was “seven miles,” and he was correct. This doesn’t explain why we also said that it was “seven miles” from the Mott Cabin to Alleghany. The Mott is one mile closer. Maybe he liked the sound of “seven miles.”

Dad started teaching his kids to drive early. It started with us sitting on his lap and steering on the slow drive to Alleghany. It was a long seven miles before the Pliocene Ridge Section (aka Henness Pass) was paved. We must have been happier than any other county residents when that section of road got paved. It decreased our dirt road driving to Alleghany by about half. Dad continued to let us steer but at a much higher rate of speed on the pavement. This always made Mom nervous, and she let us know!

As soon as we were tall enough to reach the pedals, we got to drive on the dirt road. When I was twelve, I could reach the pedals, and I got to drive an old army jeep that had belonged to our neighbor Gary Arnold. It had been spraypainted bright yellow, but army green and rust showed through wherever it was scratched, which was all over. We didn’t own a top for it. It was strictly a summer-time vehicle. That jeep was sturdy, and it didn’t go very fast, which is why Dad let me drive it. Thanks to that jeep, I remember exactly where the old redwood water tank on Hell’s Half Acre road used to be. One summer day, Mom was driving into Alleghany down Hell’s Half Acre road (which is quite steep) when the brakes went out (that is what she said). Dad thought that it popped out of gear, and she panicked, because when he checked the brakes later, they were fine. Either way, the end result was that she stopped the jeep by aiming up the small dirt driveway to the water tank, and BAM! She smashed right into the tank. The tank sustained more damage than the jeep, and Mom was shaken but fine.

Alleghany School offered driver’s education classes, a thing of the past (to have it provided by the schools). Mr. Humble was the driver’s education teacher, and the school district owned a car that got passed from school to school, the “driver’s ed. car”. I don’t even remember what the car looked like. I also don’t remember why I got to take driver’s education in the 8th grade, but I did. Talk about things being different! Alleghany Star Route (now called Ridge Road) had a broken yellow line down the center all the way from Alleghany to Highway 49. Mr. Humble taught us to cross over that broken yellow line whenever we could see ahead to save wear and tear on our tires! Everybody cut the curves back then; it was the thing to do. Those of us who remember that broken yellow line (now two solid yellow lines) still might tend to cross over when we can see ahead. Now, mind you, if you are following a car, you cannot tell when the car in front of you can see ahead. I’ve heard relative “newcomers” lament about the crazy driving of certain “old timers”. I chuckle to myself at the memory of the broken yellow line. How do you explain something like that? Gotta save that tire tread!

The story above was typed on Sunday, November 10th, while David and I were out camping at Milton Lake. We had no cell coverage or contact with the outside world for three days. When we returned to civilization on the 11th, we got the horrible news that our Fire Chief, Chris Dorn, had died on Saturday the 9th. Normally, Pliocene Ridge CSD doesn’t hold training on holidays, but on Veteran’s Day, we met at our normal time to share and mourn together. North San Juan Fire Chief Jason Flores “Flo” and USFS Training Officer Graham Rice attended as well. I mentioned to Chris King, one of the firefighters, that I had already written this week’s article and that: “now it feels too light-hearted to use.” He encouraged me to use it anyway. I thanked him for that. It is a delicate balancing act, allowing ourselves to mourn while also carrying on. As first responders, we must carry on and be ready for anything at all our hours, day and night. Just as important, though, is finding the time and space to allow our feelings to surface. This morning (November 13th), the loss hit me hard when Kava, our dog, wanted to play. C. Dorn and Kava had a special relationship. He’d known her since she was a puppy and always got her roweled up no matter the time of day. He would always tell her that she was his second favorite dog (and point out that this was a big compliment because he had two dogs). Then I realized that there is a direct tie between my story above and recent events with Pliocene Ridge CSD, and the Chief would love me to share it.

On the week of October 21st, Chief Dorn drove Engine 7180 to Sierra College in Grass Valley for a firefighter endorsement driving class. Three firefighters attended the three-day class: Ethan Esch, Chris King, and Ryan McCoy. Chief was grinning from ear to ear and was so proud of you three for completing the class and for your commitment to protecting our communities. Thank you.

Our deepest, heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Dorn Family.