Author: Trail Association

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Serious Brushwork on Everitt Hill

Last week, Hanne Meyers (fuels specialist at the USFS) informed us that a fire crew might be available to help with brushing on planned trails in the new Gateway System. Josh McNulty (also USFS) contacted us yesterday to say that a crew was ready. This morning, Alyssa Winkleman (Trail Labs) and I headed up to the Learning Zone (near the Nordic Center) to direct the Mesqueda 19 Crew of 24 workers on where the new trail will ascend Everitt Hill to a great overlook.

This well-equipped group tackled the mix of manzanita, snow brush, and fallen trees to open a corridor for the new trail. This is hard, dangerous work (heat, hornets, and chainsaws) that helps train these crews to cut fire lines, but translates to free brushwork for MSTA and Trail Labs as we continue construction of 10 miles of new trail in the Learning Zone. Thank you USFS and Mesqueda 19!!

Alyssa giving directions to the crew

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Kiosk Installation Party Thur, Aug 31 at 9 am

Recently, a volunteer crew dug holes at McBride and Ten Gallon for kiosk installation, but we ran into some large rocks at Ten Gallon that prevented us from finishing. So, Kyle from Trail Labs helped out with his excavator (see pics). Those rocks don’t look very big, but they’re impossible to pull out of a hole with shovels and rock bars.

We’re planning to install the first kiosk (out of five planned for the new Gateway System) at Ten Gallon this Thursday, August 31, at 9 am. Let’s meet at the Ten Gallon Trailhead: head up Everitt Memorial Hwy. When you pass McBride Campground, go 2.5 miles further and turn right on the short, paved apron which turns to a gravel road (I’ll leave an orange ribbon on a piece of rebar at that right turn). Travel about a quarter mile on that gravel road and it will open up into a large parking area at Ten Gallon. We’ll be at that spot.

I will have the kiosk steel posts, cement, and tools. Please bring 5 gallons of water if you can (to mix cement and clean up the tools). It will be fun…really!

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Don’t Kill The Old Guy on the Chainsaw Crew

This morning, four of us drove down a narrow, rutted access road below Ten Gallon to get close to Magma Trail, which is under construction.

I left my saw in the truck and carried fire extinguisher, first aid pack, shovel, gas, and oil. Bryson Schreder, Todd Whitney, and Michael McGill carried their saws, axes, packs, etc. We hiked down a long, steep hill with Nate and Kyle, Trail Labs’ excavator operators, then attacked the deadfall obstructing the trail corridor.

Bryson, Todd, and Mike did all the saw work, while I pretended to swamp the pieces, bravely giving suggestions on where to cut, and slowly falling behind as we climbed through the branches and logs. We were able to clear a very long segment so Kyle and Nate can continue building. The photos show how difficult the conditions were. Then we climbed back up the long, steep hill with all our equipment, this wheezing geezer trudging along in last place. I think the guys considered calling search and rescue to get me out.

Many thanks to this strong crew for spending a hard day pushing Gateway II construction forward! I’m now sitting at home gobbling down handfuls of Advil.

Also, I want to thank the crew that showed up about a month ago to dig holes for kiosks at the McBride and Ten Gallon Trailheads (Mark Telegin, Chris Williamson, Chad Lancour, Emma Wilcox, Neil Posson, Steve Diaz, and Paul Schwartz). We’ll be scheduling insertion of those kiosks soon.

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Temporary Closure of New Trails

We have placed closure signs on barricades at the top of two newly completed trails (Deadwood and the Muir’s Ascension connector below McBride Springs) and another trail (Magma, which starts at Ten Gallon) that is only partially finished. Why? Because the soils are very dry and powdery and haven’t had the chance to compact. Therefore, riding these trails will destroy the beautiful work that Trail Labs has done to create the ups, the downs, the turns, and the berms. On other trails in the Gateway System that are suffering from erosion and degradation, we’re also asking riders to be gentle in the dips and turns because of our local soils that become moon dust in summertime. This means slowing down on your descents so you don’t have to lock up your back brake in the turn and pulverize the tread . Please help us make Gateway sustainable. Slow Down and Ride, Don’t Slide!

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The Trail Challenge Can Be Cool

Need a break from the heat?   Try the Lake Siskiyou Loop Trail on the Mount Shasta Trail Challenge!   The seasonal bridges have just gone up after a wonderfully wet winter and it is now possible to hike or bike all the way around.   The trail is fairly well shaded but still gives great views of the lake and Mt Shasta.  The best part is you are never more than a minute from the waters edge. Click here for more information.

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Mount Eddy — A Great Trail Challenge Hike

One of the most strenuous, and most beautiful, trails on the 2023 Trail Challenge is Mount Eddy via Deadfall Lakes.   The last snow blocking the trail is gone and the road is clear.  Around 10 miles and 2200’+ of climbing so maybe work your way up to this one.  Incredible 360 degree views from a great summit are worth the hard work.

This trail allows dogs as does every trail on this years challenge!!  Even Mt Shasta and Castle Crags have trails featured this year that allow dogs so if you hike with your dog, this is your year!   Feel free to post your dog hiking pictures here.

Note on some seasonal items.  The Deadfall Meadows trailhead is temporarily closed for some rehab so use the Parks Creek/PCT Trailhead.   It’s a little longer but less climbing!   Beware of bees on the summit and avoid them by staying away from clumps of flowers.

That water looks inviting!
Are we there yet?
Who cares about the view, we want treats!
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Check Out The Trail Challenge Swag!

This summer the Trail Association is again hosting a Trail Challenge to promote the beauty of the Mount Shasta area, encourage healthy exercise, and be environmentally sound stewards. This is our sixth year!

As an incentive to get you on the trail with feet, bike wheels, horse hooves or snowshoes (we recommend you wait for winter), the first 100 participants that complete at least 6 of the 12 featured trails are eligible for some of the swag pictured below, such as a stainless steel pint glass. For more information on the challenge, click here.

It all looks great!
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Trail Challenge 2023 Has Started!

Once again the Trail Association is sponsoring a trail challenge on our local trails.

For the passport and details on the 12 trails included in this year’s challenge, click here

Our goal is to provide inspiring outdoor experiences, advance appreciation of the beauty of the Mount Shasta area, and be environmentally sound stewards. 

Be one of the first 100 participants to complete at least 6 of the trails and earn a 2023 Trail Challenge stainless steel pint glass or choose from other cool swag. 

Whether a hiker, mountain biker, snowshoer, dog walker, trail runner, xc skier, or equestrian there is a truly special experience waiting for you in Siskiyou County.

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Thank You, Glenn Harvey!

Mount Shasta Trail Association Board Member Glenn Harvey and his wife Kathy Morter are moving to Pocatello, Idaho, to be closer to family. We will miss them both greatly!

Glenn and Kathy — community leaders

In 2012, Glenn Harvey and his wife Kathy Morter moved to Mt. Shasta from Pocatello, Idaho, where Glenn worked as a chemical engineer for a semiconductor company.  They transferred their Rotary membership to the Mt. Shasta Club, and after a year of remodeling their townhouse on Kingston Road near City Park, Glenn became active with the Mount Shasta Trail Association (MSTA) and Siskiyou Land Trust (SLT).  Joe Wirth invited Glenn to join the Greenway Consortium in 2016, a group created to extend a trail system from Spring Hill/City Park to downtown and eventually to Lake Siskiyou.  Rotary helped purchase and transfer land near their townhouse to the SLT, allowing additional trails to be built connecting City Park to Kingston Road.  Rotary also helped fund the raised boardwalks in the trail system.  In addition to working on the City Park trail system, Glenn and Mark Telegin volunteered at Castle Crags State Park maintaining trails and campgrounds as part of MSTA’s partnership with the State Park.  All of this volunteer work made Glenn a natural choice for addition to the MSTA Board of Directors in 2017.

While doing trail maintenance for MSTA, volunteers constantly encountered abandoned campsites, prompting creation of “Clean and Safe Mt. Shasta”, an effort involving the Forest Service, the Gateway Neighborhood Association, MSTA, and local law enforcement.  The Clean and Safe team continues today and has removed tons of trash every year form the Mt. Shasta area.  In 2018, Rotary obtained a $9K grant to build a community garden for the SLT, which was installed by volunteers under Glenn’s coordination.  As a Board member, Glenn also represented MSTA with the City’s 2021-22 Walk Bike Ride Mt. Shasta Mobility Plan, a transportation study that is part of the 2045 General Plan project.

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THANK YOU, DEBBIE DERBY

That’s Not A Trucker Hat!

Debbie Derby is retiring from the Mount Shasta Trail Association Board after 13 years of service, and boy will we miss her! Debbie was part of the formation of MSTA. In 1989, founder and then-president Tom Hesseldenz asked Debbie to attend meetings as a Forest Service representative because she was interested in the around-the-mountain trail. In 2010 District Ranger Priscila Franco asked Debbie to become involved as a board member. Debbie gladly became part of the MSTA team.

During her tenure on the board, she wore many hats, her favorite being the trucker hat! Debbie became secretary of the board in 2011 with coaching from lawyer and board member Barry Price. She turned out to be the best and most exacting secretary ever.

Over the years, she established a framework to chronicle MSTA’s many directions, ideas and projects. In addition, she helped in many other ways: she completed environmental studies for several trails, was a team captain for the Giving Tuesday fundraiser, contributed creative ideas and– probably many peoples’ favorite– brought treats to the trail crews. Debbie will be greatly missed, but her influence will continue to live on.