The V-flumes in Verdi, Crystal Peak, Dog Creek and Prosser Creek areas were V-shaped “Go-Devils” constructed by lumbermen. V-Flumes ran for miles, winding down canyons and often shooting straight down steep slopes. No one knows where flume riding started – probably in ancient Roman aquaducts – which more closely resembled the box flumes with large volumes of water moving at slow speeds. This daring sport gained popularity in 1865 – 1895 starting out as log-riding and then becoming the more ‘refined’ sport of flume riding. And Truckee provided lots of entertainment (a plethora of bars, numerous brothels and one jail… all on Jibboom Street… in the late 1870’s).īut for the early loggers the most fun was the sport of flume riding. (Remember – many logging towns did not allow drinking.) The loggers would build small boats to fit the flume with which they could ride down to town. Loggers liked the flumes since it got them to town much faster for one of their few nights off. Including lunch or dinner only made the date that much more special. It was the fastest way to get them help.Ī very ‘trendy’ date night would include asking your date to walk with you along the flumes, especially at 100 feet above ground at the highest trestle points (which have no railing…but you are in a shallow flume), to show how much you cared for her and how bold and courageous you were. V-flumes were used to transport logs, lumber, working material and supplies but they were also used to transport people and for entertainment.Ī sick or injured person from the mountains would many times be placed in a “flume boat” and sent to the valley, sometimes alone and sometimes with family or friends in attendance, for medical treatment.
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