Sierra Crossing - First Roads to CaliforniaA critical era in California's history and developmentthe building of the first roads over the Sierra Nevadais thoroughly and colorfully documented in Thomas Howard's fascinating book. During California's first two decades of statehood (1850 1870), the state was separated from the east coast by a sea journey of at least six weeks. Although Californians expected to be connected with the other states by railroad soon after the 1849 Gold Rush, almost