Author: Trail Association

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Trail Challenge Begins May 1st

The Mount Shasta Trail Challenge begins today, May 1st. You can download your passport here.

While out there on the trails you can make a difference by contributing to and learning about our area.

In addition to the Trail Challenge, the MSTA will begin Stewardship drawings. This is our way to thank and acknowledge all our volunteers. Each time a stewardship activity is completed and reported, the Steward’s name will be added to our ongoing Stewardship drawings. The first drawing will be on May 14th and is sponsored by the Trail Association.

Examples of Stewardship Activities include:

1. Volunteer for a work day.

2. Remove litter.

3. Notice and describe new trail work.

4. Become an ambassador to our area by reading interpretive signage and sharing your knowledge with others.

5. Offer your special skill to MSTA, such as sharing your photos, helping with fundraisers, technology, grant writing etc.

6. Understand and share historical uses and impacts, both positive and negative.

7.Identify geologic features.

8. Identify native plants.

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2021 Trail Challenge Page — New and Improved!

After posting a link to our 2021 Trail Challenge webpage yesterday, I was reminded by Board Director John Thomson that he had already worked up a much improved version.

The updated page has good information on the trails in this year’s Challenge, how to submit your trails, the stewardship component of the Challenge, social media, and links to trail descriptions. These links take you to Trail Guides that include trail maps, directions to trailheads, trail details, and more. No changes to the passport, so if you’ve already downloaded it, you’re good to go. You can get to the webpage by clicking here.

Hikers taking the Challenge
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Get Ready for the 2021 Trail Challenge!

This year’s trail challenge will run from May 1 to October 1.

Welcome to the 3rd annual Mount Shasta Trail Challenge.  We want to share the beauty of our area with those who are inspired to get out and enjoy the vast trail system surrounding the mountain we call home. We are working hard on the trails to be included in the Challenge. Also, we are looking into how to reward those that take up the Challenge.

Stay tuned!

Taking the Challenge will put a smile on your face
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Forest Service Virtual Town Hall — Wednesday March 3, 2021

South Fork Sacramento Public Safety and Forest Restoration Project – VIRTUAL Public Meeting: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Forest Service will provide an overview of possible opportunities and challenges for improving public safety and reducing wildfire risks in the South Fork Sacramento watershed above Lake Siskiyou.

To participate: click on the Join live event link. For those that want to join by telephone, the number is listed below as well.

Microsoft Teams Join live event: https://tinyurl.com/southforksacramento

+1 323-886-7051 United States, Los Angeles (Toll)
Conference ID: 413 700 194#

The Forest Service has been collecting data on this area and doing fire modeling to better understand current conditions. We invite you all to hear about the current conditions and to meet our team of specialists. We hope to continue this open forum and once weather conditions improve we will conduct field trips to the area.

South Fork Sacramento River View
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Financial Outlook for 2021

Last year was a very strong year for the Mount Shasta Trail Association, with a gain over the year in our unrestricted funds balance, even with many substantial projects undertaken.  Restricted funds delegated to specific projects also increased.  Significant advances were made on the Gateway Trail Reroute, the extension of the Gateway Trail, the Mossbrae Falls Trail, and the reroute of the Heart Lake Trail.  Contributions from individuals and businesses totaled more than $63,000, and grants and dedicated funds yielded another $215,000.  Out of pocket we spent on programs $231,000, and only $21,000 on administration.

For next year our project expenses will increase substantially as we ramp up the expansion of the Gateway Trail network.  Mossbrae Falls alone may require more than all of last year’s program expenses.  Grant awards we have received will allow us to accomplish so much!  Our special thanks to the McConnell Foundation, the Friesen Foundation, the Kyle Neath Charitable Fund, the Nancy Driscoll Foundation, the National Forest Foundation, not to mention the State of California, Natural Resources  Prop 68 Grant for $1,115,000 for Gateway.

Of course, with your ongoing support the sky’s the limit, or least 14,692’, or 14,179’, or 4,321.8m, or 4317m.  Well, you get the idea—we’re going places.  Come along!

Trail lovers strategizing 2021 projects.
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Do You Love Us?

Well, we love you and we love building and maintaining trails in the Mt. Shasta area! Help us keep doing this amazing work by donating on Giving Tuesday. Donations from Giving Tuesday keep us going! You can set up an early donation or wait until December 1st to join the fun. Here’s a video of a typical volunteer work event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Z3d2jzB7w&feature=youtu.be

For more information and to donate, here’s the link to our North State Giving Tuesday page: https://www.northstategives.org/mountshastatrailassociation

Thank You!

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Support MSTA on Giving Tuesday December 1st!

Please spread the word!

With your support, the Mount Shasta Trail Association has an opportunity to fix some steep, eroding segments of the trail from Castle Lake to Heart Lake—and to reorganize the maze of trails below Heart Lake into one clear pathway. But we have to act right now, before the land ownership changes. 

You can preschedule your donation starting now or on Giving Tuesday December 1st at northstategives.org/mountshastatrailassociation or mail your donation to PO Box 36, Mt. Shasta, CA 96067. 

View of Castle Lake — Photography © Mike Hupp @dawnpatrolimages
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Shasta-Trinity NF Closure Order Lifted — With Some Exceptions

The temporary closure of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest has been lifted as of 8 a.m. on Saturday the 19th. Therefore, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest is OPEN for public entry, with some exceptions. Many other national forests in California remained closed.

Specifically, the Shasta McCloud Management Unit established a forest closure order prohibiting dispersed camping in certain areas on the Unit. These areas are open to day use. The two areas are: South Fork Zone and a Mount Shasta Zone. This is in effect until October 31st. Additionally, the Bunny Flat gate will remain closed for the remainder of the season, which includes no camping in Panther Meadows Campground (area behind the gate is open to day use). The gates on Castle Lake Road and just above McBride Springs CG on the Everitt Memorial Highway will be opened on Monday when the County is able to do so. That’s when day use sites above these gates will re-open

All fire restrictions are still in effect. Therefore, no campfires, no propane grills, no ignitions of any sort – this includes in developed campgrounds.

Here are links to a news release, the closure order and map identified the areas closed to dispersed camping.

View of Gateway Trail expansion area