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Road Trips May 2008 & 2009 Carson Scenic Byway - Peddler Hill

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Today, Peddler Hill is a nice vista point, offering a great view over Lower Bear Reservoir. But about 80 years ago, this was one of the most hair raising parts of the road.

With the advent of the automobile in 1911, the old wagon road that was here since the California Gold Rush was replaced by the Alpine State Highway. The narrow, windy road accommodated animals, wagons, and the first slow moving cars.

xxThis picture shows one of these first xxautomobiles at Peddler Hill. xxWe are not sure when it was taken, xxbut it must have been before the road xxwas widened in the mid 1930s.

As you can see, in the past, the road led right along the edge. Also, note that there is no lake in the picture taken in the 1930s. Lower Bear River Reservoir was not completed until 1951.

When the road was widened in the 1930s, it was also moved a little bit further away from the slope. The original road, as shown in the historic picture was at the left side of today's wall, pretty much where the picnic area is now. Eldorado National Forest has provided a detailed pdf version of this table, including the picture. Click here to see it.

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