That time Mark Twain set the Sierra on fire

An excursion to Lake Tahoe to stake a claim on a stand of timber, like so many of Twain’s plans, seemed like a good idea at the time.

But Twain discovered an important lesson about fire and the forest in one of the most detailed descriptions of a conflagration in the English language.

“Within half an hour all before us was a tossing, blinding tempest of flame!” he wrote. “It went surging up adjacent ridges — surmounted them and disappeared in the canyons beyond — burst into view upon higher and farther ridges, presently — shed a grander illumination abroad, and dove again — flamed out again, directly, higher and still higher up the mountain-side — threw out skirmishing parties of fire here and there, and sent them trailing their crimson spirals away among remote ramparts and ribs and gorges, till as far as the eye could reach the lofty mountain-fronts were webbed as it were with a tangled network of red lava streams.”

On May 20, The Sierra State Parks Foundation unveiled four new interpretative panels that tell the story of Mark Twain’s 1861 timber claim adventure and wildfire at Lake Tahoe, officials announced last week.

The panels are located at Gar Woods Grill and Pier in Carnelian Bay, Sandy Beach in Tahoe Vista and North Tahoe Beach in Kings Beach.

A private dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting was conducted by the foundation.

The panels tell the story of Twain’s quest to stake a timber claim at Lake Tahoe.

“These interpretative panels will connect visitors with the rich cultural and literary history the Lake Tahoe region holds,” said David Antonucci, Tahoe resident of 40 years and lead researcher of this project.

For more information:

— Go to https://sierranevadageotourism.org/

— Click the magnifying glass icon to search

— In search box that appears, type: Mark Twain Timber Claim Adventure Trail

— Select Mark Twain Timber Claim Adventure Trail

Mark Twain Timber Claim Adventure Trail description, locations and map appear.

The Sierra State Parks Foundation believes the Lake Tahoe and Truckee area California State Parks are unique treasures worthy of support.

“We fund projects and programming that connects people with our rich natural resources and cultural heritage,” Foundation representatives said. “Because of our work and advocacy, our valuable state parks will continue to be places of inspiration and education for generations to come.”

For more information, visit http://www.SierraStateParks.org.