beyondnature1980

The granite of the High Sierra holds more than just views; it holds ghosts of the 1800s. Just 4.5 miles past the Bailey Bridge junction at Trimmer Springs Road, the climb up Mill Flat Creek Road leads into the heart of pioneer territory.
​This was the domain of the Crabtree family, German pioneers who arrived during the chaos of the Gold Rush but found their true calling in the rugged Sierra soil. They were tough-as-nails ranchers who settled this drainage, driving cattle through the canyons where Davis Creek flows into Mill Flat.
​By the late 1800s, the quiet of their ranching life was replaced by the roar of the logging boom. These German settlers and their neighbors transformed the landscape, using ox-teams to haul timber that would eventually travel down the great flumes to the valley floor.
​We’re walking in the footsteps of giants today. The wilderness preserves their history; we just have to be quiet enough to listen.

​#SierraHistory #HighSierra #CrabtreeMeadow #BeyondNature1980 #LoggingHistory #MillFlatCreek

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5 6

5 days ago | [YT] | 66

beyondnature1980

It's time to learn to be in the outdoors, times are getting bad, prepare before it's needed learn to survive, bushcraft survivalist traits. Follow along with ‪@ATHOSOutdoorProspector‬​

#outdoors #prospector #survivalist #nature #AthosOutdoorProspector

6 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 12

beyondnature1980

Past the pavement on Trimmer Springs, the Kings River reveals Hermit’s Hole. Once the domain of Clarence Quigley, who lived in Fox Canyon for decades, this rugged landscape remains a testament to Sierra grit. Discover the legend and the wilderness on my YouTube channel, beyondnature1980. Adventure starts where the road ends.

The Hermit of Kings River: Exploring Hermit Hole | Sierra National Forest
https://youtu.be/OgfzDjFDISM

​#KingsRiver #SierraNationalForest #CaliforniaHistory #HermitHole #BeyondNature1980

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 60

beyondnature1980

I was just checking the behind-the-scenes analytics, and I realized we’ve officially crossed 350,000 total views on the channel!
​When I started beyondnature1980 back in November 2017, I just wanted to share the beauty and history of the Sierras. Seeing so many of you tag along for the hike, the history of Big Creek, and our campfire stories means the world to me.
​Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to the next 350k!

#youtubegrowth #youtubecreator #sierranationalforest #trimmerspringsroad #hiking #camping

Skip the Carousel

1 2

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 4

beyondnature1980

The Echoes of Big Creek: 24 Hours at Cats Head 🌲🥾🏞🏕🪓🪚
​There is a specific kind of silence you only find 4.4 miles past the Big Creek Bridge. As you climb away from the heat of Trimmer Springs Road, the air thins, the oaks give way to towering pines, and the ghosts of the 1920s Big Creek Hydroelectric Project seem to linger in the shadows of the canyon.
​My latest journey took me back to Cats Head, a rugged pocket of the Sierra National Forest perched near the confluence of Big Creek and Nutmeg Creek. This isn't just a place to pitch a tent; it’s a gateway to California’s "Hard Rock" history. Standing at the junction where the creeks meet, you can almost hear the echoes of the "Greatest Electric Project Ever Built." Back in the 1920s, these very drainages were the lifelines for thousands of laborers carving tunnels and dams out of solid granite to power a growing California.
​I spent 24 hours immersed in that history, watching the light shift across the steep canyon walls and listening to the rush of Nutmeg Creek. It’s a reminder that while the engineering of the past was monumental, the wilderness eventually reclaims its own.
​The full adventure is coming soon to ‪@beyondnature1980‬ Until then, enjoy these glimpses of the trail leading up to the site.

​#BeyondNature1980 #SierraNationalForest #BigCreekProject #HighSierra #DispersedCamping

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 17

beyondnature1980

The granite peaks stand as silent witnesses to a staggering feat of human ambition. In the early 1900s, European settlers and rugged laborers arrived with little more than iron and grit, carving massive tunnels through solid stone to harness the Big Creek’s power. This "Hard Rock" saga transformed a vertical wilderness into a powerhouse for the West.
​Perched at this dispersed camp above Huntington Lake Road, I’m walking the same ridgelines where pioneers once battled the elements. These photos of my setup are just the beginning of the journey into our rugged past.
​Join me as we track the ghosts of engineers and explorers who reshaped this landscape. Experience the full adventure on my channel, ‪@beyondnature1980‬ where the trail meets history.

​#BigCreekProject #HuntingtonLake #SierraNationalForest #Pioneers #beyondnature1980

Skip the Carousel

1 2

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 65

beyondnature1980

🌲🥾🏞🏕 ‪@beyondnature1980‬
Along Trimmer Springs Road, the spirit of the old Camp Sycamore still lingers where the Kings River meets the Sierra foothills. Once the heart of scouting for the Sequoia Council, these canyons echoed with the laughter of young explorers long before the Pine Flat Dam transformed the landscape.
​We walk these trails to honor Leonard Ray McIntyre (1939–2025), a man whose life served as a compass for many. During the 1980s and ’90s, Leonard led the scouts of the Reedley Ward, teaching them that nature is the greatest classroom. His legacy remains in every rustling sycamore.
​For the full story and a look at the historic site, check out my latest video: Old Boy-Scouts Camp Sycamore Campground⬇️
https://youtu.be/QaDwmi0Hagk?si=PeMKB...

​#beyondnature1980 #CampSycamore #KingsRiver #ScoutingHistory #InMemoriam

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 10