OK, I'm hoping someone out there will recognize this story. I think I read it about 10 years ago. It was another apocalyptic story where most of mankind had been killed off (but I don't remember how). Anyway, a California man establishes a compound/fort in the California desert which slowly grows in size. It safes humanity. Later, as I recall, there was a sequel that was set many years after where the community had moved to central California. By this time the original man/savor is considered nothing but a myth until his bones and a notebook are found in a desert cave. Apparently he died from a snake bite. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Thanks.