Highway 88 leads from Carson Valley through a steep canyon to Hope Valley, elevation 6,900 feet. The highway runs fairly close to the Washoe Indian trade route. The Washoe exchanged pine nuts and fish for goods the Miwok tribe brought from the other side of the Sierra. They camped along the river and Indian artifacts are still being discovered there today.
So, before adventurers like John Fremont "discovered" the way across the Sierra, Hope Valley was a gathering place. White settlers used the area to rest and repair wagon wheels after the grueling climb through the canyon.
The first recorded owner of land in Hope Valley was also interested in trade but of a different kind. John Allen bought 169 acres where Sorensen's is located in 1876. Since the Comstock Lode demanded timber, Allen profited from cutting the forests of tall pines on his property and sending them downstream on flumes. Lumber was milled at Cary's Mill, which is now called Woodfords. Most people at the time would not have considered living year round in Hope Valley because of the extreme weather in winter. Fluctuations in the timber market and weather challenges caused Allen to sell and repurchase the property several times. The property was in Andrew Beck's name when Martin Sorensen first came to the area.
At age 18, Martin Sorensen left Denmark to work for livestock ranchers in Carson Valley. Wool and mutton were valuable commodities to the miners and many Europeans, including the Basques and Scandinavians, came here to find jobs. In just nine years, Sorensen homesteaded property in Markleeville and then married Irene Rajah of Virginia City in 1902. The couple ran sheep in the Carson Valley in winter and herded them into Alpine County for spring and summer. It was a demanding life because sheep require constant attention. One of the Sorensens' five children remembers bringing lambs into the cabins to warm them during cold snaps. The wool market took dramatic ups and downs, making it a challenging profession. Still, the Sorensen's expanded their real estate by purchasing more land near Grover Hot Springs and the Beck property where they would build Sorensen's Resort.
The first cabin they built was to hold sheepherding supplies. With the coming of affordable autos and roads, the Sorensen's built small square cabins as informal rentals for those fishermen and friends who stopped by. In 1926 the resort became a true business with a gas station and store. Shortly thereafter, the Sorensens quit the sheep business and waited out the Depression. In the late 1940s and 1950s, Sorensen's Resort was a popular gathering spot. Indoor plumbing and electricity came to Hope Valley. There was a dance hall, a store which sold ice cream, and unlimited stories about fishing and local news.
Dr. Johan Hultin was the next owner of Sorensen's. His vision was to build a Norwegian style resort and offer both downhill and cross country skiing. It was an ambitious project for someone running a full time medical practice in San Francisco. There were many problems with developing his plans. The Norway House with its sod roof is the sole standing remainder of his dreams.
John and Patty Brissenden were honeymooning nearby when they spotted the small cabins for sale in Hope Valley. They had both accomplished creative community work in Santa Cruz, including jobs with California state legislators. The newlyweds saw the resort as an opportunity to build their life together and develop community at the same time. The Brissendens had no idea of the work necessary to restore and develop the property. Today the property is immaculate, each cabin is tastefully decorated and comfortable. There is a wonderful restaurant, classes in birding, fishing, photography, rafting and more, as well as a gift shop stacked high with books on the area and local souvenirs. The Brissendens hire local people and maintain a cozy atmosphere. Their reputation is now nation wide.
Fishing is still popular in Hope Valley and Sorensen's sponsors a national fishing program called Casting for Recovery. Cancer survivors spend a few days at Sorensen's, fishing, relaxing and sharing recovery. As John and I were discussing Casting for Recovery, an attractive woman with a fishing license around her neck walked out of her cabin. She seemed to be walking on air. When I asked her about her stay, she smiled and told me that it was "magical."
The Brissendens have battled against development and for protection of the natural resources in Hope Valley. The resort and the valley are treasures in Alpine County. One upcoming public event is a bluegrass concert at Sorensen's on June 10, from 1-6 pm. There is music, barbecue, and a beautiful setting - all for $10. For more information on the concert or other events, call (530) 694-2203.
Source: 'They Came Every Summer' by Arthur W. Ewart
