Oriel Lake

At a Holiday Party this past weekend, one of Kraig's co-workers mentioned a place called Oriel Lake. Kraig's co-worker had come across an old map. The map listed Oriel Lake, which no current maps have listed.

The story is- YEARS ago someone decided it'd be a great idea to build a lake in the foothills on public land near Sequoia National Park. They built bars and cabins and gave the whole thing a whirl but since very few people go to the desert in hopes to stay near a lake... the thing went belly up. Rather than tear down the little settlement, they took the beds and booze home, let the lake dry up and left the buildings where they stood.

Now you should know- I LOVE photography. Love it. And Oriel Lake sounds like a dream! For whatever reason I like taking photos of rustic things. Hmmm....

One of my goals while we're living here in California is to get out to Oriel Lake. I've heard that because the land is now public land and its not well maintained- the only way to get there is by dirt bike or four wheeler (or a few days of hiking/camping). This poses as my first problem as I have no dirtbike. I have no four wheeler. I have very little camping gear.

But here is what I DO have- My camera, a LOT of extra time, and a goal. I think I'll also need a hiking buddy in case any rattlesnakes get the best of me, but I think my fiance will be game.

I also have no old maps but this is fixable. I think step one will be to go to the second hand stores around town to find an old map. I know of several second hand or antique stores here and in the nearby towns. Once that part is done I'll figure out the dirt bike thing.