Category: Mount Shasta Area Trails

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.

One of the underrated gems of the Mt Shasta region is the Sisson Callahan Trail or SCT. Originally a series of prospector trails in the mid-1800s, in 1911 the Forest Service established a permanent trail along today’s route. The full length of the SCT runs from the Lake Siskiyou area into the Trinity Divide, cresting the shoulder of Mt Eddy and dropping into Deadfall Lakes basin, eventually meeting the famous PCT.

Partially owing to its remoteness and partially due to its consistent uphill grade, the SCT is quiet. This author took a hike there today and saw exactly 0 people along 8 miles of lower trail.

The trail follows the North Fork Sacramento river for its entire length, climbing to the very headwaters on the slopes of Mt Eddy. In total the climb is over 3,000′ elevation gain (or loss, depending on your perspective!) The latter makes this particularly popular with downhill MTB riders – try Shasta Gravity Adventures for a shuttle ride to the top!

Access is challenging, out a high-clearance forest road. But if you’re up for an adventure, the SCT is waiting for you! Check out our trail guide.

The Mount Shasta Trail Association is happy to announce that Lynda Hardy has joined its Board of Directors.

Lynda is a long time community leader and has lived and worked in Siskiyou County for 42 years.  Now happily retired, Lynda worked for 32 of those years teaching Elementary School in Mount Shasta and Dunsmuir. She was selected and worked as an Educational Science Consultant for the prestigious Lawrence Hall of Science based out of Berkeley, CA.

Lynda was one of the founding members of the Mountain Runners non-profit organization.  During her years volunteering for Mountain Runners, she worked as the co-director of many Fourth of July Races and Winter Triathlons.  She co-coordinated and grew the Fun Runs successfully and was active in its fundraising campaigns.

An avid skate and backcountry skier, Lynda also continues to hike and mountain bike our local trails.  Some of her other interests are sailing and painting.

For the most amazing views, join the Mt. Shasta Trail Association on a day hike to pristine Deadfall Lakes and to the top of Mt. Eddy slated for August 3rd.  This 10-mile round-trip hike starts out gently on the Pacific Crest Trail at the Parks Creek Trailhead to the multiple lakes and then becomes challenging as we gain 2,250 feet to the summit at 9,025 feet.

Mt. Eddy was formed between some 400 million years ago from peridotite, a volcanic form of serpentine.  This type of rock, ultramafic, is high in magnesium and low in calcium, and as such the soils derived from this material constitute a harsh growing medium for most plants.  Like with other serpentine areas, the result is that some plants adapt to the harsh conditions, taking advantage of the relative lack of competition, and evolve to become endemic to the site.  The iron contained in the rock rusts, giving it its reddish tint.  It is the highest mountain in the Trinity Divide — a sub-range of the Klamath Mountains — the highest point in Trinity County, and the highest mountain west of Interstate 5.  The mountain was named after Olive Paddock Eddy, the first woman to climb Mt. Shasta.  From this majestic peak we will be able to see Lassen Peak, Mt. McLoughlin, the Scott Mountains, the Eddy Range, Black Butte, Castle Crags Spire and of course Mt. Shasta towering over everything in sight.

Participants will meet 8 AM at 111 Morgan Way Mt Shasta, in front of the Best Western Tree House Motor Inn.  OR participants can meet the group at 8:30 at the I 5 Edgewood Rd exit on the west side of I-5.  Bring lunch, sun protection, a snack and water — and if interested — a bathing suit for a refreshing swim.  Hiking poles are recommended.  Expect to return by 6 PM.  For further questions call John Thomson at 530 926 4430.

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 Saturday, July 20th, the Mount Shasta Trail Association invites the public on a moderate 2.5 mile hike with a 600 foot elevation gain to Gray Rock Lakes above the south fork of the Sacramento River. While the trail is a bit of a scramble at times, the spectacular views and the pristine lakes make it well worth the effort. Four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance are needed to get to the trailhead. We will be carpooling as there is limited parking.

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.

This week’s 4th of July celebration is the kickoff of the Mount Shasta Trail Challenge — running through December 31st.  If you weren’t able to pick up a passport at the Street Fair booth, you can go to their website and download a PDF of the passport.  Here’s the link

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