Second Trail Challenge Stewardship Prize Winner

The Mount Shasta Trail Association is pleased to announce our second  stewardship prize winner, Caryn Johansen. She is a volunteer for MSTA’s trail work days.

Our second steward award is sponsored by Jane Cohn, Michael Zanger, Linda Freeman and Ken Goehring. They donated a copy of their book, Mount Shasta Wild Flowers A Field Guide.

Congratulations and thank you Caryn!

All prizes can be picked up at the Mount Shasta Visitors center.

Hike to Heart Lake — Sunday June 13, 2021

The Mount Shasta Trail Association invites the public to join us on one of the premier hikes of the region. We will walk 2.2 miles round trip above glacial sculpted Castle Lake to  Heart Lake. This little alpine pond shaped like a heart has shallow waters warmed by the sun. The pond leads to a small ledge and beyond to a plummeting valley that rises up to 14,162 ft. Mt Shasta. The views are eye popping and jaw dropping. This moderate sometimes strenuous hike with a 600 ft. elevation gain is well worth the effort.

An interesting note: the saddle above Castle Lake just before we head up to Heart Lake is in an area of the Indian battle with the U.S. Cavalry where Joaquin Miller, poet of the Sierras, was wounded by an arrow that pierced his throat in June of 1855. Miller was a dubious historian as the facts are in issue.

We will meet in front of the Best Western Treehouse in Mt Shasta, 111 Morgan Way, at 9 am. Carpooling is an option. As we will be outside, we can be safely socially distant. Bring lunch, water and if interested, a bathing suit for a refreshing swim. Hiking poles are recommended. Expect to return by 3 pm. For further questions, call Joan Roemer 530 925 9644.

Heart Lake (John Thomson)

Work on the Gateway Reroute this Saturday, May 29, at 9 am

We’ll be doing another work day on the Gateway Reroute this Saturday at 9 am. Meet at the Gateway Trailhead for a short drive and then a 15 minute walk to the work site. Alyssa Winkleman will be directing the work.

The next opportunity will be a big effort up at Castle Lake on June 5 (National Trails Day) to make further progress on the new trail to Heart Lake.

Spring Hill Trailhead Cleanup Wed, May 26 at 6 pm

We’ll be cutting weeds and cleaning up the Spring Hill Trailhead with the Boy Scouts on Wed., May 26 at 6 pm. This is an annual event that is a lot of fun. If you commit one hour, we’ll power through the job (the Boy Scouts and their dads did most of the work the last few years!). Bring weed whackers and rakes. See you there.

Gateway Reroute Work Day Completed

Yesterday, Sunday the 16th, we had 12 volunteers rake and remove roots from the Gateway Reroute Trail. The views were spectacular. We got nearly the whole thing done, but there remains a lower section of about 400 feet that will need to be brushed out and finished later. There are also three rocky sections that will require some careful jigsaw puzzling of rocks to create flat, solid trail. The rock work is fun and creative, so if you want to help with this, contact Alyssa Winkleman, who will be leading this effort in the next 2 weeks.

First Trail Challenge Stewardship Prize Winner

The Mount Shasta Trail Association is pleased to announce our first stewardship prize winner, Jessica Jorgensen. Jessica is an avid hiker and  member of The Siskiyou Wanderers (link). She is also a volunteer for MSTA’s trail work days.

Jessica won a $25  Mount Shasta Chamber of Commerce gift certificate that can be used at local businesses. This prize is sponsored by the MSTA.

Our second steward award is sponsored by Jane Cohn, Michael Zanger, Linda Freeman and Ken Goehring. They are donating a copy of their book, Mount Shasta Wild Flowers A Field Guide pictured below. Stay tuned for our second award drawing! All prizes can be picked up at the Mount Shasta Visitors center.

Saturday Trail Work Day Changed to Sunday, May 16

Due to the overwhelming interest in the chainsaw training course and the fact that a chunk of our regular trail workers will be attending that class, we have to change the trail work day to Sunday. Please meet at the Gateway Trailhead on Everitt Memorial Hwy at 9 am on Sunday, May 16. We’ll probably drive a short distance up the gravel road, park, and walk about 10 minutes to the Gateway Reroute for finish work on the trail that’s being worked on this week by Trail Labs Co.

You will be amazed by the views on the new reroute. We’ll work from 9:30 to about noon or so, but you can leave anytime you wish. We just want to see your smiling face on the trail.

Amazing work day on Bear Springs

Twenty-eight volunteers showed up to cut new trail on Bear Springs on Saturday! There were regulars, new people, and very eager teenagers. We created a long segment of trail. One more work day like this and we’ll connect down to the top of MX. Just look at the incredible, long line of workers. Thanks to MSTA, Bike Shasta, and Shasta Gravity Adventures for this fun day in the forest.

Direction Correction for Trail Work Tomorrow Morning

We’ll actually be working on the lower portion of the new Bear Springs Trail, so as you’re heading east on Old McCloud Rd., cross the RR tracks and go only about ¼ mile, then park on Old McCloud. The work site is about 150 yards north (left turn on the dirt road) so you can walk. Parking will be limited on the dirt road. Once you cross the RR tracks, it’ll be hard to miss the cars and people. We are still meeting at corner of S. Mt. Shasta Blvd. and Old McCloud at about 8:45 and driving together if you wish.

Let’s build some new trail!!

JH

Trail Work Day on Saturday, May 8 at 9 am

Join MSTA, Bike Shasta, Trail Labs Co, and Shasta Gravity Adventures for another work day on the Bear Springs segment of Gateway II on Saturday. Meet at corner of S Mt. Shasta Blvd and Old McCloud Rd at 8:50 for a caravan to the work site at 9. Or, from S Mt. Shasta Blvd, turn east on Old McCloud, go 2.5 miles and cross the RR tracks, continue 1.4 miles further, then take a left on Forest Road 40N76 (orange tape is tied to the brush there). Go straight about ¼ mile (slowly uphill), then when the road forks, stay right and go uphill. The meeting place is about ¼ mile ahead of that.

We had a great morning 2 weeks ago and got a huge section of trail buffed up. Come and make some new friends…it’s better than sitting on the couch eating donuts (although that IS pretty good, too).