Hume Lake

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Hume Lake
Hume, Ca
Location	Fresno County, California
Coordinates	36.7N, 118.9W
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Tenmile Creek
Primary outflows	Tenmile Creek
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	87 acres (0.352 km²)
Surface elevation	approx 5,240 ft (1,585 m)
Settlements	Hume, CA

Hume Lake is an 87 acre (352,000 m²) lake in Sequoia National Forest, Fresno County, California, USA, adjacent to the unincorporated town of Hume, California. It is on Tenmile Creek, which flows into the Kings River. The elevation of the lake is 1,585 m. It is accessible from California Route 180, via Forest Service road 30, and is about 50 miles (80 km) east of Fresno, not far from the west entrance to Kings Canyon National Park.

The lake was formed in 1908 behind a multiple-arch dam, which was part of a large lumber operation, at first called the Kings River Lumber Company (Johnston, 34), which ceased production in 1917, due to a major fire. At the time the lake supplied water for the longest lumber flume ever created i.e. 54 miles (87 km) to Sanger, California ([1])([2]. Designed and built by James Carroll Goss, the flume was used by tourists for rides down from the Sierras in special boats designed with an open prow so that water would help keep the boats from flying off into the air. The murderous bandits Chris Evans and the Sontag brothers often hid out along the flume (Johnston, 38).

Hume Lake is the central feature of the Hume Lake Recreation Area. A large model of the lake and flume can be found in the Sanger Depot Museum. A history of the area is available: THEY FELLED THE REDWOODS by Hank Johnston, Stauffer Publishing, Fish Camp, Ca., 1996.

Hume Lake Charter School is home to the children of Hume. There are only about 50 students in all, which makes a very small, and very close community of friends. There are multiple bible studies that the students participate in as well as social events.

[edit] Private Christian camp

Hume Lake is host to several summer camps [3], winter camps,Outdoor education, and specialty conferences in Central California. In 1945, several Christian men came together in the valley town of Dinuba to discuss plans for a Christian Bible camp. On January 9, 1946, these men purchased 320 acres of lakeshore property, including the Hume Lake Hotel, store, service station, post office, 22 cottages, and 22 boats.

In the summer of 1946, 670 campers attended Hume Lake Conferences and were attended by 15 volunteer staff. Since that first summer of camping in 1946, more than 900,000 young people and adults have attended the camp for worship, religious studies, and recreation, at the multitude of chapels, assembly halls, and activity centers.

Activities at the camps include: swimming, boating, hiking, biking, paint balling, high ropes course, climbing wall, and a number of recreational games. A favorable activity is Kajabe Kan Kan. Situated in the western Sierra Nevada mountains, Hume Lake has picturesque scenery. Hume Lake also has lodges that guests can stay in as well as guest dining areas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Hume Lake also has a Dining Hall, Clothing Company, one snack shop, two coffee shops, a Frozen Sombrero(Mexican Food Take Out), Post Office, Gift Shop, recording studio, a large pool, beach with row boat and kayak rentals, lodges, security booth, and public washing machines.