Here’s the February 2012 schedule for the Siskiyou Wanderers (reprinted with permission):

Feb 2: Kidder Creek Rd: We park near the Abbey, then head up this quiet road that follows Kidder Creek. It can be a little snowy there, so wear warm shoes. Just pack a snack, we’ll have lunch and a beer at Cold Stream Tavern. Yum!! AD: 6-8 miles THE: 3130′ AEG: 720′ PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 am.

Feb 9: Hay Stack: A short hike up a familiar butte with open views of the Shasta Valley – A great way to break those winter blues!! AD: 6 miles THE: 3450′ AEG: 800′ PMP: A-12/Hwy 97 T: 9:00 am.

Feb 16: Snow Day: We’ll ski and snowshoe wherever we didn’t last month. AD: 3-5 miles THE: 5000-6000′ AEG: 500-1000′ PMP: Mt Shasta Fish Hatchery T: 9:00 am.

Feb 23: Ball Mnt/Little Shasta Rd: We’ll hike the road up the Little Shasta River, past the historic Tailholt town marker. We’ve seen both elk and antelope in this area in the past. Bring your binoculars. AD: 6-7 miles THE: 3000 AEG: 500′ PMP: Montague Statue T: 9:00a

Legend to the Schedule:

AD: Approximate round trip distance.
THE: Trailhead elevation.
AEG: Approximate elevation gain.
PMP: Principal meeting place.
T: Meeting time at PMP.
DDT: Drive Distance to Trailhead

For More Details…

Visit the Siskiyou Wanderers website here.

And There’s Also the Siskiyou Meanderers

These folks hike most Fridays. For more information contact Benita and Neal Clark at 926-2424.

Here’s the January 2012 schedule for the Siskiyou Wanderers (reprinted with permission):

Jan 5: Shasta Wildlife Refuge: A favorite hike for many. If we stay on the roads near the lakes we should see many of the migratory birds that pass through our area. Let’s have lunch at the Dutchman afterward to celebrate the New Year. AD: 8 +/- miles THE: 2500′ AEG: minimal PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 am.

Jan 12: West Scar Face Rd: This year we’ll park where Hamlin Gulch Rd intersects Scar face and see if we can hike the gravel road to the summit to peer over onto East Scar Face Rd. AD: 8 – 10 miles THE: 2800′ AEG: 500′ PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 am.

Jan19: Snow Day: We’ll ski and snowshoe wherever we think the conditions are best; Bunny Flat, Sand Flat, Castle Lake?? AD: 3-5 miles THE: 5000-6000′ AEG: 500-100′ PMP: Mt Shasta Fish Hatchery T: 9:00 am

Jan 26: Colestin Rd: A pleasant rolling-road hike north-west of Hilt in the beautiful Cottonwood Creek Drainage, crossing over into Oregon. AD: 5-10 miles. THE: 2500′ AEG:minimal PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 a

Legend to the Schedule:

AD: Approximate round trip distance.
THE: Trailhead elevation.
AEG: Approximate elevation gain.
PMP: Principal meeting place.
T: Meeting time at PMP.
DDT: Drive Distance to Trailhead.

For More Details…

Visit the Siskiyou Wanderers website here.

And There’s Also the Siskiyou Meanderers

These folks hike most Fridays. For more information contact Benita and Neal Clark at 926-2424.

Here’s the December, 2011 schedule for the Siskiyou Wanderers (reprinted with permission):

Dec 1: Grass Lake: Come walk off your Thanksgiving gobble-gobble with your fellow Wanderer’s. We saw a herd of elk the last time we were here. It can be muddy in areas.
AD: 6-7 miles THE: 5080′ AEG: 350′ PMP: A12/Hwy97 T: 9:00 am.

Dec 8: Deadwood/French Creek: We’ve not done this hike since 2000. There wasn’t any description other than it’s a loop hike. Deadwood was once a thriving community the size of Yreka, although there is nothing there now. Al knows the way – and the history!
AD: xx miles THE: 1010′ AEG: xx00′ PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 am.

Dec 15: Ney Falls: An easy hike to some pretty falls near Lake Siskiyou. Additional mileage can be achieved by continuing on up the logging roads or maybe someone will invite us over for an early Christmas feast (HINT – HINT)
AD: 3-6 miles THE: 3100′ AEG: 500′ PMP: Mt Shasta Fish Hatchery T:9:00 am.

Dec 22: Girard Ridge: A hike known for it’s wide variety of fungi up the PCT from Soda Creek. If conditions don’t look favorable for this northside hike, then we can go eastward and hike the McCloud River. Either way we’ll meet at the Fish Hatchery.
AD: 8+ miles THE:2100′ AEG: 2000′ PMP: Mt. Shasta Fish Hatchery T:9:00 am.

Dec 29: Quartz Hill/Oro Fino: An enjoyable road hike to Quartz Hill Lookout to see the New Year in.
AD: 4-5 miles THE: 2950′ AEG: 1300 PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00am

Legend to the Schedule:

AD: Approximate round trip distance.
THE: Trailhead elevation.
AEG: Approximate elevation gain.
PMP: Principal meeting place.
T: Meeting time at PMP.
DDT: Drive Distance to Trailhead.

And There’s Also the Siskiyou Meanderers

These folks hike most Fridays. For more information contact Benita and Neal Clark at 926-2424.

For those of you who are fans of birding, Butte Valley is a great place…

From the River Exchange…

The River Exchange is hiring a Project Director to manage the development of the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP) for the Upper Sacramento Region. Please see the attached job description for more details and pass along to anyone who you think may be interested in this position. You can also view the job posting information on our website at http://www.riverexchange.org/employment.html.

We will be accepting applications for the position through November 23rd, 2011 and hope to have completed the hiring process before the end of the year.

We also expect to be releasing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an IRWMP Facilitator later this week.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Daniel Olstein, Executive Director.

The annual Siskiyou Land Trust Dinner and Dance is on the evening of Thursday, November 10th. You will not want to miss this fun event so get out your calendar and mark this down right now!

When: Thursday, November 10th at 6:30 pm

Where: Mount Shasta City Park Upper Lodge

What: Siskiyou Land Trust Dinner and Disco Cowboy Dance; food by Oliveras; silent auction; raffle

Tickets: $45

Address: 522 Alma St, Mount Shasta, CA

To reserve your space: 530-926-2259

website: http://www.siskiyoulandtrust.org/

email: admin@siskiyoulandtrust.org

Here’s the November, 2011 schedule for the Siskiyou Wanderers (reprinted with permission):

Nov 3: Black Mountain: Al will lead us up this prominent mountain just south of the Klamath River. An excellent opportunity to work off Halloween candy calories! There will be some cross-county on our climb to the top. More fall colors???
AD: 4-5 miles THE: 3080′ AEG: 2000′ PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 am.

Nov 10: Scott Valley Bike Ride: Eastside Rd is an enjoyable ride – as long as there is no freezing fog like 2009! There are a couple of different ride options depending on the group and bikes. Those with out bikes can hike up one of the ‘gulch’ roads off Eastside or Kidder Creek Rd – many options! Afterward, let’s have lunch at the newly opened Cold Stream Tavern.
AD: 15-30 miles THE: 2750′ AEG: 400′ PMP: Ray’s Mkt, Ft Jones T: 9:00 am.

Nov 17: Butcher Hill: We’ll hike up through the old cemetery to the top of Butcher Hill for an overlook of Yreka. There is also the historical Chinese Cemetery across the street. Afterward we’ll gather at Richard & Sue’s house for a dessert social. Bring your favorite dessert to share.
AD: 5-6 miles THE: 2640′ AEG: 500′ PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 am.

Nov 24: Happy Thanksgiving!!

Legend to the Schedule:

AD: Approximate round trip distance.
THE: Trailhead elevation.
AEG: Approximate elevation gain.
PMP: Principal meeting place.
T: Meeting time at PMP.
DDT: Drive Distance to Trailhead.

And There’s Also the Siskiyou Meanderers

These folks hike most Fridays. For more information contact Benita and Neal Clark at 926-2424.

Mount Shasta’s Whitney Falls is a major attraction for hikers on the north side of the mountain. Last month we featured Charley Williams’s video of Ash Creek Falls, and now we have his latest creation…

We’re finally making it happen with the Mount Shasta Gateway Trail folks!

Map of the project: click here.

And here’s our press release…

Mount Shasta, October 9, 2011. The Mt. Shasta Trail Association (MSTA) is pleased to announce that work has begun on the Gateway Trail project.  MSTA President Joe Wirth stated, “The Gateway Trail is an important piece of our overall vision for trails serving the community and its visitors.”

This project will result in the development of approximately 7 miles of shared-use non-motorized trails on National Forest System lands immediately east of the City of Mt. Shasta.  The trail network will be open to hikers, runners, mountain bikers and equestrians.  It is primarily being funded by a Federal Highway Administration Recreation Trails Program grant administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.  Additional efforts – in the form of labor, funding or materials – are being provided by the MSTA and the Shasta-McCloud Management Unit of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.  The Forest Service conducted an environmental analysis of the project earlier this year, giving the project the “green light.”

The ongoing work involves the clearing of vegetation and roughing in of a 36” to 48” trail tread by Trailscape, Inc., a contractor hired by the MSTA, plus additional labor is being provided by a Deadwood California Department of Corrections crew.  Specific segments of the existing “Tunnel Trails” will be incorporated into the overall trail network after reconstruction work remedies problems with drainage, alignment, and grade.

” I know that everyone will be excited about the new trail”, said Kai Allen, Recreation Manager for the Forest Service, ” but for safety and resource protection, the trail is closed, and we are asking that everyone be patient until it is completed. If construction goes as scheduled, the trails should be open for use as soon as next summer.  Prior to opening of the trails, a parking area with an information kiosk will be developed just off the Everett Memorial Highway.”

Besides MSTA and the Forest Service, conceptual planning for the trail included Mountain Runners and the City of Mt. Shasta.  The City has also recognized the importance of the Tunnel Trails in its City of Mount Shasta Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails Master Plan in 2009.  Many volunteer hours have already been contributed and there will be more opportunities for volunteers in the future.

Here’s the October, 2011 schedule for the Siskiyou Wanderers (reprinted with permission):

Oct 6: Wright Lakes/Big Meadow: We’ve not done this hike since 2004. This hike was a favorite of Kurt Doehlert, one of the founding Wanderer’s. Also, Al is going to shows us a very unique rock formation called a horst.
AD: 5 miles THE: 5900′ AEG: 1850′ PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 am.

Oct 13: Martin’s Dairy: We’ll be on the look out for fall colors as we walk this beautiful high meadow. After the hike come to Greg & Leslie’s for a potluck. Help us celebrate the completion of the rock pillar/cedar fencing that outlines our new backyard.
AD: 6 miles THE: 6000′ AEG: 500′ PMP: A-12/Hwy 97 T: 9:00 am.

Oct 20: Kelsey Creek/Maple Falls: Another chance to capture fall colors as we hike along Kelsey Creek to Maple Falls. Hiking sticks advised to help negotiate the trail if covered by leaves.
AD: 8 miles THE: 2500′ AEG: 1900′ PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 am

Oct 27: North Fork of the Salmon River: I’ve read that this is a beautiful hike, usually done in spring, but cut short due to stream crossings. Water flow should be low this time of year, but wear your water proof shoes just in case. If it’s not too late we’ll stop in at the Etna Brewery for a cold one afterward!
AD: 6-7 miles. THE: 2900′ AEG: 400′ PMP: Yreka Mall T: 9:00 am

Legend to the Schedule:

AD: Approximate round trip distance.
THE: Trailhead elevation.
AEG: Approximate elevation gain.
PMP: Principal meeting place.
T: Meeting time at PMP.
DDT: Drive Distance to Trailhead.

And There’s Also the Siskiyou Meanderers

These folks hike most Fridays. For more information contact Benita and Neal Clark at 926-2424.