On the north side of the American, between Folsom Prison and the town of Folsom, is a ledge of solid granite called Slate Bar. The ledge permitted only what was called “crevice mining”… and mining was not as extensive as on other bars. In 1850 James Smith built a store on the bar. He built a sawmill the following year…  An unsuccessful attempt to quarry granite at the site was made by Griffith Griffiths in 1856” — The Lower American River: Prehistory to Parkway

I normally avoid this part of the river, mostly because it flows so fast and I can’t swim. The banks are steep and rocky; Folsom Prison sits on the south side of the river, so it’s well off-limits. But on this particular morning there was a cool breeze blowing and I had the spot all to myself. It was lovely to sit on a rock ledge and eat my breakfast bars before heading back toward home.

Dangerous waters