Gold Hills Sunrise

In the hills along the forks of the American River, the 1849 discovery of gold blazed the trail for westbound pioneers, who were willing to leave all behind to pursue treasure in California. Today, I overlook those hills to the north of Calaveras County from my sister’s home of 50 years, privileged to have lived in this beautiful state in its youth, before its societal and cultural evolution into the now late great Golden State.