Alfred A Hart 98 - Black Butte (Cisco) from the North - Building the railroad along a steep section of granite required a lot of blasting to create a roadbed. This photo appears to have captured the leading edge of the project as it worked its way toward Donner Summit. On the right side the rubble can be seen sliding down the mountain while on the left the slope is untouched.
Photo shot from along the Emigrant Trail at 39° 18.866'N 120° 33.406'W