Hume Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Hume Lake
image_lake = Hume Lake SNF.jpg
caption_lake =
location = Fresno County, California
coords = coord|36.7|N|118.9|W|type:waterbody_region:US-CA|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Tenmile Creek
outflow = Tenmile Creek
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = convert|87|acre|abbr=on
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|5240|ft|abbr=on
cities = Hume

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 meters. 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, run by a company at first called the Kings River Lumber Company (Johnston, 34). That company ceased production in 1917, due to a major fire. At the time the lake supplied water for the longest lumber flume ever created, running 54 miles (87 km) to Sanger, California. [ [http://www.nps.gov/seki/ggvc.htm National Park Service: Grant Grove] ] 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 a K-12 school that opened in 2006. It has about 50 students in all, making a very small close community. There are multiple Bible studies that the students participate in as well as social events. [ [http://humelakecharter.org/ Hume Lake Charter School] ]

Private Christian camp

Hume Lake is host to several summer camps [ [http://www.humelake.org Hume Lake Christian Camps] ] , 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 lake shore property, including the Hume Lake Hotel, store, service station, post office, 22 cottages, and 22 boats. [cite book |last=Phillips |first=Bob |authorlink= |title=God's Hand Over Hume |origyear=1986 |format=hardcover |publisher=Hume Lake Christian Camps ]

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 favorite 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, a snack shop, two coffee shops, the Frozen Sombrero (Mexican take out food), a post office, a gift shop, a recording studio, a large swimming pool, beach access with row boat and kayak rentals, several lodges, a security booth, and public washing machines.

References