Author: John Harch

I’ve been avoiding this for some time, but recently forced myself to walk behind the MS Library to check out the growth of weeds, bushes, trees, etc. It looks like a jungle, and a huge fire hazard (see photos). It’s been chosen as one of the top priorities by our “crazy old men” group of MSTA workers for a cleanup.

Please consider showing up on Saturday morning, Sept. 14, at 9 am to weed whack, cut, trim, rake, and generally thrash the area behind the library, extending toward Sisson Meadow.

This will be mostly light work. We’ll need weed whackers, hedge trimmers, clippers, loppers, and lots of people to rake up the slash into piles that can be burned when the cool, moist weather arrives.

To do this right, we’re gonna need about 20 volunteers, so start beating the bushes (no pun intended) for helpers. As usual, you don’t need to commit to any amount of time. Come and go as you wish; we’ll be grateful.

Thanks,
JH

PS: If you agree to come, I’ll bring whatever refreshments/snacks you want (just contact me with requests)! When I bring donuts, no one eats them, and then I have to snarf them all.

On Friday, July 12, we cut, drilled, and collated 100 birdhouses for the giveaway to be handled by Raven Tree store in Mt. Shasta. Thanks to all who participated, esp. Tom Ravizza for creating the model and templates and buying wood, and Kendra Bainbridge (of Raven Tree) for buying hardware and lunch.

On July 1, 11 volunteers dug, raked, and cleaned up the Chalet Trail segment of the Lake Siskiyou Trail. This is a gem of a trail which you should walk if you haven’t. Park across from the resort tennis courts on W.A. Barr Rd. and drop into the trail on the north end of the parking lot near the pit toilet.

Over the past two years, there has been a big problem with transient encampments in the Mt. Shasta City Park, with hidden campsites and mounds of garbage, sleeping bags, clothing, tents, etc. Since Clean and Safe Mt. Shasta and the Trail Association joined forces with the Mt. Shasta Police Dept., thinning of overgrown brush and prohibiting overnight camping have made a big difference. Numerous encampments were removed, and when I rode my bike through the park on June 25, 2019, I couldn’t find a single encampment. This is how the trails looked on the west side of the river.

JH

On Wed., June 26, at 9 am, the following groups are combining forces to clean up an illegal dump site/campground in Weed, just east and south of Grocery Outlet: Gear Up of Weed, the City of Weed, Clean and Safe Mt. Shasta, and the Mt. Shasta Trail Association. We already have commitment from Kelsea Ochs of Gear Up to bring about 20 kids and adults, and with 10-20 people from MSTA and Clean and Safe, we could have over 50 volunteers.

The City of Weed has agreed to provide 2 dump trucks and a flatbed, and pay dump fees.

Please reach out to friends in Weed, and anyone else concerned enough about trash to give up a couple hours in the morning. We’ll meet on the street between Grocery Outlet and Taco Bell. Bring gloves, water, boots and long pants. We’re working on getting drinks and snacks.

Ready to have some fun with garbage?

JH

We had a very successful cleanup at the Spring Hill Trailhead yesterday (Sat., June 1) with about 22 volunteers, including about a dozen boy scouts and five or six of their leaders. We got going a bit after 8, and were done before 11 due to the great turnout.

Thanks to all who helped.

JH

Please join the Mount Shasta Trail Association on Thursday June 6, 2019, at 6 pm, at the Weed Community Center for our annual meeting. Beer, wine and appetizers provided!

We’ll review the considerable progress made on the following important projects:

1. The Gateway Phase 2 Trail proposal, a 45-mile addition to the existing 10.7 miles of the existing Gateway network on national forest lands.
2. Work to create a safe trail to Mossbrae Falls (yes, it’s mind-bending to think this might happen).
3. Numerous work parties to maintain trails and clean up messes left by those who can’t be named.
4. Further expansion and improvement of the City Park to Downtown Greenway Trail.
5. Changes to the Lake Siskiyou Trail: a defined trail has been completed through the campground, and future ideas for a permanent bridge over the delta are being considered.

There will be short presentations by several guests, including one on the new Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance and another on the upcoming Mount Shasta Trail Challenge & Celebration.

NOTE THE NEW LOCATION FOR THIS MEETING: this year we are gathering at the extremely new and nice Weed Community Center that is located at 161 East Lincoln Avenue, adjacent to Charles Byrd Park. From I-5, take Hwy 97 north about 1 mile to Lincoln Ave., turn right, go ¼ mile, and the community center is on your left.

Beer, wine, and appetizers will be served from 6 pm to 7 pm, with presentations from 7 pm to 8 pm.

If you miss it, we will eat all the food and drink the beer and wine meant for you.

Hope to see you there.

MSTA Board

The US Forest Service is hosting a trail workshop on June 29 and 30. Click on this link to see details.Trail Stewardship Summit Flyer