Sierra Highway
El Camino Sierra
Route information
Length:	424 mi (682 km)
Major junctions
South end:	San Fernando Road in Los Angeles
	I-5 in Los Angeles SR 58 near Mojave US 395 near Inyokern US 6 in Bishop US 395 near Topaz Lake
North end:	US 50 / SR 89 in South Lake Tahoe[1]
Highway system
State highways in California List • Pre-1964 History • Unconstructed • Deleted • Freeway • Scenic

Sierra Highway or El Camino Sierra is a road in Southern California, United States. El Camino Sierra refers to the full length of a trail formed in the 19th century, rebuilt as highways in the early 20th century, that ran from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe following parts of modern State Route 14, U.S. Route 395 and State Route 89. Two portions of this road are currently signed as Sierra Highway. The first is an old alignment of SR 14/U.S. Route 6 from Los Angeles to Mojave. This road is also signed with the unusual designation of State Route 14U through the city of Santa Clarita. The second part signed as Sierra Highway is a portion of US 395 in Bishop.

Traversing the extremes of California, from the Mojave Desert to the Sierra Nevada, El Camino Sierra has been advertised to the world as a highway to showcase the natural beauty of California as far back as 1910. Though most of Sierra Highway was bypassed in the early 1970s with freeways, the road is still well known. The portion through the San Gabriel Mountains is noted as the primary filming location for the film Duel.

Route description[link]

Sierra Highway in Santa Clarita. Although Route 14 was moved to a freeway bypass years ago, this portion remains under state control in a state of bureaucratic limbo, signed as Route 14 "Un-relinquished"

El Camino Sierra connects Los Angeles with Lake Tahoe along the eastern edge of California, serving the counties of Los Angeles, Kern, Inyo, Mono, Alpine and El Dorado. The highway exists as a roadway now called Sierra Highway from Los Angeles to Mojave. North of Mojave, El Camino Sierra is better known by the numbered designations in current use. While traversing the state, the highway crosses several mountain passes. The highway crests the San Gabriel Mountains via Soledad Pass. While in the Sierra Nevada the highway crosses Sherwin Summit, Deadman Summit, Conway Summit, Devil's Gate Pass, Monitor Pass and Luther Pass.^[2]

Southern California[link]

Sierra Highway begins at Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road. This junction was historically the intersection of U.S. Route 99 and U.S. Route 6. It is located adjacent to the intersection of the replacement freeways, the Newhall Pass interchange of Interstate 5 and State Route 14.^[3]

The highway serves as one of the main thoroughfares of Santa Clarita. Through the city, Route 14 was moved to a freeway alignment in 1971; however, the process to decommission the old alignment of Route 14 is not complete. As a result, this portion is signed California State Route 14U, the U signifying "un-relinquished".^[4][5] While formal specifications for Route 14U are not published on Caltrans logs, SR 14U is at least 7.33 miles (11.80 km) long, as highway bridge maintenance logs list bridges related to SR 14U from postmile 24.28 (bridge carrying the new Route 14 over the old) north to postmile 31.61 (flyover ramp from Route 14 over 14U to a street named Via Princessa).^[4]

Sierra Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains

Sierra Highway, modern Route 14, and a main line of the Union Pacific Railroad all cross the San Gabriel Mountains, cresting the mountains at Soledad Pass (elevation 3,179 feet (969 m)). The three transportation arteries use different paths up the mountains, separating at Santa Clarita and converging near Acton. Sierra Highway uses Mint Canyon, the railroad uses Soledad Canyon and the modern Route 14 is a hybrid route using the ridges and side canyons between the two older routes.^[2] These canyons are formed by the Santa Clara River and its tributaries.

Upon exiting the mountains, Sierra Highway enters the Antelope Valley and serves as one of the main streets of Palmdale, Lancaster, and Rosamond. The highway runs parallel to the modern Route 14 and the railroad. Just shy of Mojave the freeway portion of Route 14 ends, and Sierra Highway shares the active routing of SR 14 passing through downtown Mojave.

U.S. Route 395 and State Route 89[link]

Southbound US 395 cresting Deadman Summit with Mount Morrison in the distance

North of Mojave the alignments of State Routes 14 and 89, and U.S. Route 395 have not significantly changed since first paved, and are called El Camino Sierra. Significant portions have been upgraded to a divided highway; however, most of the upgrades used the same alignment as the old two lane road. The highway cuts across Red Rock Canyon State Park to follow a series of valleys along the crest of the Sierra Nevada. While traversing the Owens Valley, the Sierra Highway passes Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above the highway.^[2] As of 2009, the only other signed section of Sierra Highway is a portion of U.S. 395 past the separation with U.S. 6 in Bishop.^[6]

U.S. 395 was rebuilt on a new alignment on the ascent to Sherwin Summit and around Crowley Lake. Unlike the highway relocation in southern California, the old alignments have been renamed, now called Lower Rock Creek Road, Old Sherwin Grade, and Crowley Creek Road; not Sierra Highway.^[2] From here to Lake Tahoe, the highway crosses mountainous terrain inside the Sierra Nevada, giving the highway its name. While in the Sierra Nevada, the road passes by attractions such as Mammoth Mountain, Yosemite National Park and Mono Lake. El Camino Sierra separates from U.S. 395, just prior to the Nevada state line at Topaz Lake, following SR 89. This is the only portion of the route not used year-round, as Caltrans closes Route 89 over Monitor Pass during winter months.^[7] Motorists destined for Lake Tahoe during the winter closures can continue along US 395 into Nevada, and return to California via Nevada State Route 88 or Nevada State Route 207.^[2]

History[link]

El Camino Sierra[link]

The first recorded journey along what would become El Camino Sierra was by Jedediah Smith in 1826. The trail was in common use by prospectors passing through the area because of the California Gold Rush and Comstock Lode.^[8] While still mostly a dirt road, several people began promoting El Camino Sierra as a scenic route. In 1910, the Los Angeles Times announced that Governor Gillet had announced funding to construct a new road to connect El Camino Real with Yosemite National Park. When finished, a new "wonderful circuit" route would be complete and El Camino Sierra would become "one of the most beautiful scenic routes in the world."^[9] In 1912, the Southern Pacific Railroad published an article called "Two Mules and a Motorist" in which the author's trip down El Camino Sierra was detailed, promoting the trail as a scenic side trip, via pack mules, from its rail lines.^[10] In 1915, the California Teachers Association distributed a promotional book to the annual convention of the National Education Association. This book contained an article that sung the praises of this "soon-to-be-world-famous highway" called El Camino Sierra. While noting that it was still mostly an unimproved trail, the article assured the readers that county and state officials were working frantically to upgrade the route and, with the aid of convict labor, this would soon be a "boulevard the entire distance from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe." The article concluded by stating El Camino Sierra was "a highway with a hundred by-ways, each by-way with a hundred wonders". The article also implored the state legislature to extend El Camino Sierra to Truckee, Quincy and Susanville using a route similar to modern State Route 89, SR 70 returning to US 395.^[1]

By 1918, El Camino Sierra had been included in the Blue Book, an early road atlas of the United States.^[11] The Los Angeles Times declared El Camino Sierra complete on Feb 19, 1931, announcing that the portion from Mojave to Owens Valley was now paved, and would be dedicated the following Sunday.^[12]

Sierra Highway[link]

During the 1930s, two U.S. Highways, both formed in 1926, were extended into California using El Camino Sierra. The southern terminus of U.S. 395 was extended from Spokane, Washington to San Diego, using El Camino Sierra from near what is now Topaz Lake to Inyokern, by 1935. By 1937, U.S. Route 6 was extended from Colorado, mostly along the Midland Trail, to Long Beach using El Camino Sierra south of Bishop.^[13] As part of the 1964 state highway renumbering US 6 was truncated to Bishop, and the southern portion of Sierra Highway was renumbered SR 14.

Though during the 1970s most of Sierra Highway was bypassed by freeways and expressways, the old two lane road remained a famous roadway. In 1971, Steven Spielberg made his first feature length film, Duel, along Sierra Highway, near Acton. The movie is about an unseen truck driver that stalks and attempts to kill an innocent motorist trapped in the truck's game. The film prominently shows the desert portions of Sierra Highway.^[14] With the film's status, one of the trucks used in the movie is still on the road and in the process of being restored. The current owner has driven the truck along Sierra Highway for nostalgia, enjoying the terrified looks he receives from passing motorists who recognize it.^[15] Other movies have since been filmed in the vicinity, including scenes of The Terminator.^[16]

Major intersections[link]

County	Location	Mile[17]	Destinations	Notes
Los Angeles	Los Angeles	0.0	San Fernando Road, The Old Road	Continuation beyond I-5; former US 99
		0.1	I-5 north (Golden State Freeway) / SR 14 north (Antelope Valley Freeway) / Foothill Boulevard – Sacramento, Palmdale	Interchange; exit from I-5 south and SR 14 south only, entrance to I-5 north and SR 14 north only
	Santa Clarita	2.5	Newhall Avenue – Newhall, Saugus, Ventura	Former SR 126 west, San Fernando Road
		3.6	Placerita Canyon Road – Palmdale
			SR 14 south (Antelope Valley Freeway) – Los Angeles	Interchange
		5.0	Golden Valley Road
		6.3	Via Princessa
		7.3	Soledad Canyon Road
	Agua Dulce	18.8	Agua Dulce Canyon Road
		24.9	SR 14 (Antelope Valley Freeway) – Palmdale, Los Angeles	Interchange
	Acton	26.7	Crown Valley Road – Acton
		28.9	Santiago Road
		30.4	SR 14 (Antelope Valley Freeway) / Soledad Canyon Road – Palmdale, Los Angeles	Interchange
		32.5	SR 14 (Antelope Valley Freeway) / CR N3 (Angeles Forest Highway) to SR 2 (Angeles Crest Highway) – Palmdale, Los Angeles, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge	Interchange
		33.7	Pearblossom Highway – Littlerock, Victorville
	Palmdale	36.4	Avenue S
		37.9	SR 138 (Palmdale Boulevard) – Victorville, San Bernardino, Los Angeles
		39.5	Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P)	Serves LA/Palmdale Regional Airport
		41.6	Avenue N
		42.6	Columbia Way (Avenue M)
	Lancaster	43.6	Avenue L	Interchange
		44.6	Avenue K
		45.6	CR N5 (Avenue J)
		46.6	Avenue I
		47.7	Avenue H	Interchange; southbound entrance only; other access is via Avenue G-12 and 7th Street West
		48.7	Avenue G
		49.7	Avenue F
		51.8	SR 138 – Gorman
		54.8	Avenue A
Kern
	Rosamond	57.8	Rosamond Boulevard – Rosamond, Edwards AFB
		64.1	Backus Road
		67.3	SR 14 north / Silver Queen Road – Mojave
	Route continues along State Route 14

References[link]

External links[link]

• Floodgap Roadgap by Cameron Kaiser
• Camino Sierra by Lloyd L. Chambers; hosted by Ray Delea
• Roadside Heritage by ESICE

Sierra Hull
Background information
Born	(1991-09-27) September 27, 1991 (age 20)
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Rounder
Associated acts	Alison Krauss, Barry Bales, Ron Block, Chris Thile
Website	http://www.sierralhull.com Sierra Hull discography at MusicBrainz

Sierra Hull (born September 27, 1991) is an American bluegrass singer and mandolinist and guitarist.

Hull was signed to Rounder Records at the age of 13^[1] and released her debut album, Secrets, in 2008 at the age of 16. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart.^[2] Her second album, Daybreak, was released on March 8, 2011.^[3]

Biography[link]

Sierra Hull was born and raised in Byrdstown, Tennessee and attended Pickett County High School before accepting a Presidential Scholarship^[4] to study at the Berklee College of Music.

Hull began playing the mandolin at the age of eight and put out the album Angel Mountain at 10. Hull was soon playing jam sessions with other musicians in her family, and by 2001 she was entering local talent contests. Her parents, Stacy and Brenda, took her to numerous bluegrass festivals and it was during an International Bluegrass Music Association festival that she came to the attention of Rounder Records chief talent scout Ken Irwin.^[5] At age 11 she was mentored and befriended by Alison Krauss, herself once a child prodigy on the fiddle.^[6]

She has a brother, Cody, and is a distant cousin of former United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull.^[7] Hull has already received five International Bluegrass Music Association nominations in the past three years.

Music career[link]

[edit] Secrets

Hull's debut album on Rounder Records, released in May 2008, was co-produced by Alison Krauss and Ron Block which follows a self-released CD Angel Mountain, in 2002. The production by Hull and Ron Block paid tribute and honored the tradition and style of bluegrass music. The album contained 3 original songs penned by Hull. She was just 15 when she recorded the album and released at just 16.

[edit] Daybreak

On her 2011 second release on Rounder Records, the 20-year-old has composed seven of the 12 songs and it was produced by Alison Krauss & Union Station bassist Barry Bales. The album features collaborations with Bryan Sutton on guitar and Randy Kohrs on dobro. Guest singers include Dan Tyminski, Shawn Lane and Ronnie Bowman.

The themes on Daybreak are largely relationship oriented and surround universal subjects like love won and lost.^[8]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Other singles[link]

Music videos[link]

References[link]

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (August 2011)

Ronald Franklin "Ron" Block (born July 30, 1964) is an American bluegrass and alternative country musician, mainly playing the banjo and the guitar, singing, and writing gospel music.

Biography[link]

Block was born in 1964 in Inglewood, California. He received his first guitar at 11. He first became interested in banjo at 13, after seeing Earl Scruggs play on television. His interest in guitars and singing grew after seeing The Stanley Brothers and Larry Sparks. He is best known for his participation in the Grammy Award winning band, Alison Krauss & Union Station.

For the past twenty years, Ron Block has been the spiritual touchstone of Alison Krauss and Union Station, contributing sterling musicianship on banjo, guitar, vocals, and songwriting.

Alison Krauss and Union Station have recorded 10 of Block’s songs since 1992, including There Is A Reason," "In The Palm of Your Hand," "Jesus Help Me To Stand," and "A Living Prayer, which received a 2006 Gospel Music Association Dove award. His songs have also been recorded and performed by Rhonda Vincent (“You’re In My Heart”), Randy Travis (“Which Way Will You Choose”), Dan Tyminski (“Be Assured,” “The One You Lean On,” and “It All Comes Down To You”), Michael W. Smith (“Loving You Eternally”), Rhonda Vincent (“You’re In My Heart”), the Cox Family, and the Forbes Family.

Block’s first solo album, Faraway Land (Rounder, 2001), met with great critical acclaim and raised the bar for Block as an artist for his Rounder Records follow-up, DoorWay. Boasting an all-star lineup featuring Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, Barry Bales, Adam Steffey, Stuart Duncan, Viktor Krauss, Suzanne and Sidney Cox, Andy Hubbard (Little Big Town) and Homer, Lisa, and Lori Forbes, among others. Billboard Magazine/All Music Guide says, “Ron Block is best known to bluegrass lovers as the banjo player with Union Station, Alison Krauss’ backing band. But he’s also an excellent singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and on his second solo album he expands his stylistic parameters to very winning effect…” Barnes and Noble: “His Union Station mates Jerry Douglas and Dan Tyminski may be better known, but Ron Block levels the playing field with his second solo album, an assertive exploration of his Christian faith…”

Ron has also produced The Forbes Family’s In the Shadow of Your Wings," a classic of contemporary bluegrass gospel, and co-produced and played on Sierra Hull’s debut recording, Secrets.

Block has also recorded with Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Fernando Ortega, Andrew Peterson, Susan Ashton, Vince Gill, the Cox Family, Clint Black, Dan Tyminski, Bill Frisell, Josh Turner, Billy Dean, Michael Johnson, Ronnie Bowman, Dailey and Vincent, Bradley Walker, Twila Paris, McBride and the Ride, and many other country, bluegrass, and Christian artists, and received an Album of the Year Grammy Award for his work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack.

Discography[link]

Quotation[link]

This section is a candidate to be copied to Wikiquote using the Transwiki process.

They (Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs) took the existing forms of music of the day, and radically innovated a new music form. So the spirit of that is happening today. It's taking the roots and turning it into a new thing that's uniquely your own.^[1]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official homepage
• Bio from AlisonKrauss.com
• CMT bio
• BanjoNews bio