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For every monster BPA dam, 100 little ones plug little canyons made lush by the very rain they harness. TunnelRunner33 and I headed into the mountains to look for some long-forgotten hydro facilities.
Easy at first, the woodcutters' road deteriorated from faintly-striped asphalt to a faint trail thru hummocky forest. The way was garnished here and there with industrial relics; a bit of thick cable, pipes, a dessicated power pole.
A penstock to a generator further down once connected here. A decrepit platform above it holds a handwheel to open the valve.
Exhausted by the exuberant forest, we fell back to a generator at the head of a pleasant meadow that we'd visited on our way in.
Inside, we found a single pair of turbine and generator. Between them, an empty space; what machine might once have rested here?
We had a fine picnic on the roof of the building, savoring the beautiful wilderness setting. If somebody fixed this place up and listed it on airbnb; it'd be a hit.
[last edit 9/29/2015 11:11 PM by Ganesha - edited 1 times]
"The beauty of mediocrity is that anything can make you better." -Jeff Mallett |
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The alternator is missing all the windings in the rotor as well as the stator bearing bushings. Looks like all copper and brass parts were removed.
[last edit 9/14/2015 1:25 AM by Deuterium - edited 1 times]
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Posted by Deuterium
The alternator is missing all the windings in the rotor as well as the stator bearing bushings. Looks like all copper and brass parts were removed.
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Scrappers?
ALSO, AWESOME FIND GUYS! I'm so glad you found it!
You're not weird if you're not normal. |
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Nice find! Shocked to see so little graffiti here. Really liked the generator shot.
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Posted by Deuterium
The alternator is missing all the windings in the rotor as well as the stator bearing bushings. Looks like all copper and brass parts were removed.
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"The beauty of mediocrity is that anything can make you better." -Jeff Mallett |
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yeah. they got it good.
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you guys still didnt get to the other powerhouse eh... oh well next time...1.
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Posted by bbyman
you guys still didnt get to the other powerhouse eh... oh well next time...
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Haha thanks for the breadcrumb trail
You're not weird if you're not normal. |
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Im a bit of a valve nerd and couldnt help getting excited on number 6. The open gearing on those is hasnt been used in 30+ years. Considering its just water and low pressure they are probably iron so I'm surprised they are still in good condition. Looks like a good location.
[last edit 10/6/2015 12:11 PM by Peptic Ulcer - edited 1 times]
See More on Flickr!
https://www.flickr...tos/133983270@N06/
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Posted by JennyUE
Haha thanks for the breadcrumb trail
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I just want to see some recent pics... Been awhile since I was there
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Posted by bbyman
I just want to see some recent pics... Been awhile since I was there
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Do you have any historical photos when everything wasn't completely stripped of copper?
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Posted by Deuterium
Do you have any historical photos when everything wasn't completely stripped of copper?
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In the process of scanning fifty years of the local paper... Not a single one I've tried to dig up some from the town folk but no luck as of yet
I'll let ya know if i find anything...
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Inside, we found a single pair of turbine and generator. Between them, an empty space; what machine might once have rested here?
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This looks like an awesome explore and great excuse to wander the woods and chill at the river.
What's missing is a shaft bearing inboard and outboard of the generator. Also possibly missing between the generator and pelton wheel turbine, is the shaft coupling.
I'd guess that a plant that small might be putting out between 250kW and 500kW with only a single turbine and would have been built circa 1900.
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There are two sites at this location. A 2 MW and a 0.2MW site. I believe the one they found is the 200 kW site.
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This place was pretty neat. I was shocked at how thick the moss and vegetation was on the roof of the powerhouse. At the dam there was a wooden pipe about three feet across which was wide open, with a tiny trickle of water coming out of it. I considered crawling up it, but decided against it because I wasn't sure what to expect on the inside.
I still hope to return and check out the larger powerhouse, but I'm not sure when. As overgrown as the forest is, it would be a hell of a hike. I'm wondering if it is possible to access it by heading upstream from where the creek meets the nearby lake. The hillside might be too steep at that point, however.
1. Powerhouse Roof:
2. Mossy Chimney:
3. Gear Wheel
[last edit 11/8/2015 12:27 AM by TunnelRunner33 - edited 1 times]
If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire... Tunnelrunner33! |
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Nice find! Ive been eyeballing one of these for awhile and have been waiting to find time for a road trip.
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I don't want to dox this location, but the bridge across the waist-high creek has been torn out by CalPortland, and they've posted a bunch of No Trespassing signs. According to another explorer, security was also present at the nearby mill as they bought it too.
Sayonara?
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This looks great! I always love finding places that have hints of the original machinery used, even if it's decrepit and partly stripped by scrappers.
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Posted by Ganesha
For every monster BPA dam, 100 little ones plug little canyons made lush by the very rain they harness.
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Thanks for this tid bit. This is such a beautiful site that you've got me trying to find maps or details to try and track down my own locations such as this. Great photos and thanks for sharing!
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Oh nice find! It looks like a beautiful spot indeed.
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