Mount Shasta Trail Association
Inspire • Create • Conserve
Today, about 20 volunteers gathered off Hwy 89 to clean up some illegal dump sites. This energetic group, aided by three dump trailers (thanks to Sean Doyle, Buzz Knight, and Ruth Altes) removed tons of garbage in 40 minutes. Refuse removal has turned into a sport! One photo shows a volunteer who’s having so much fun she appears to be dancing.
See you next time.
This past week, two work events happened that improved our little city. On Wed., April 22, over 20 people showed up to pick up garbage (yes, there’s nothing like removing trash to get these folks excited). The group searched every nook and cranny on N. MS Blvd. from Alma to the freeway, then along Spring Hill Rd. to the dump, and on Abrams Lake to the Graffiti Bridge. Six pickup loads of junk were taken to the dump. We were such good social distancers!
On Sat., April 25, about 20 determined people showed up to assist Terez Maniatis (of Native Grounds Nursery) and the Beautification Committee of MS in weeding, raking, and cleaning the median strip on Lake St. We’ll look back on the attached photo and laugh about wearing masks while working, but it’s the responsible thing to do.
Thanks to everyone!
Stuck in your house because of Covid-19? No problem. Let’s get out and clean up Mt. Shasta.
The Mt. Shasta Trail Association and Clean and Safe Mt. Shasta are having a socially distant Earth Day cleanup on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at 9 am. We’ll meet at the corner of Alma St. and N. Mt. Shasta Blvd. Anyone approaching closer than 6 ft. will be slapped with a gloved 2X4.
We’ll split into groups of one (or more if you bring family members) and spread out heading north on Mt. Shasta Blvd. and Spring Hill Rd. We plan to clean up all the way to the dump. Dump fees will be covered, so don’t worry about gathering a big load of garbage.
This will be more fun than when the hogs ate my brother.
For questions, call John Harch at 859-2454.
In recent years, the MSTA has spent Earth Day in Castle Crags State Park clearing trails, thinning brush, rebuilding the theatre in the campground, etc. It is usually a big event, with 30 or 40 volunteers from a variety of communities.
This year we’ve had to cancel the event due to social distancing requirements. But Mark Telegin, ever the eager workhorse, suggested we have “Earth Day on your own.” He wants to encourage everyone to get out on their favorite trails, trim encroaching brush, rake leaves or pine needles, and pick up trash. Or, just look for problems, take pictures, and report it to MSTA so we can get crews out there when it’s safe to be together again.
You should know that the USFS has closed their public lands to all volunteer work (for the same reason), so those are the areas to take photos and make reports (unless you just can’t stop yourself from picking up that discarded beer can!).
Attached is a photo of two Marks (Telegin and Foster) working in Castle Crags State Park last year, where a major thinning/cleanup was done.
Keep up the muscle-powered recreation!
The Mount Shasta Trail Association (MSTA), in partnership with the Forest Service and Bike Shasta, is pleased to announce work has begun on the expansion of the Gateway Trail network.
This project, located on national forest system lands administered by the Shasta McCloud Management Unit, will add 46.5 miles of multi-use non-motorized trail to the existing Gateway trails. While the final trails will be open to hikers, equestrians, trail runners and bikers, the primary use is expected to be mountain biking. Thus, the trails are being located, designed and built, meeting USFS trail standards, with mountain biking in mind.
District Ranger Carolyn Napper approved the project on October 18, 2019, after a thorough review of all applicable environmental requirements and the Forest Plan for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Funding the planning effort came from a variety of partners and grantors, including BikeShasta, the McConnell Foundation, the Mountain Wheelers, and the Mount Shasta Trail Association – truly a project with the community pulling together!
On-the-ground trail construction under direction from the Forest Service is being coordinated by the MSTA and Trail Labs, CO., a small business owned by internationally-known trail designer Andrew Pellkofer. The initial work is the clearing of vegetation from the trail construction corridor, making way for future building of the trail itself. On-the-ground construction of the trails by Trail Labs, CO. is expected to begin later this year. Trail Labs has hired local labor to conduct these activities. Completion of the project is expected to take 4-5 years.
At this time, work is proceeding with strict COVID-19 safety precautions. While the post-COVID-19 future is unclear, the Mt. Shasta Trail Association, Bike Shasta and the Forest Service are pleased to share this good news with the community. Construction of the Gateway Trails will be a major contribution to outdoor recreation around Mt. Shasta. As we move forward on this project, we expect that it will contribute significantly to Mt. Shasta City’s reputation as a hub for muscle-powered and trail-based recreation. When things get back to normal, these fantastic trails will be there for everyone’s enjoyment.
The Mount Shasta Trail Association has postponed the annual meeting until further notice. In order to complete the 2019 Trail Challenge event and maintain social distancing, we decided to draw the special prize winner today. We would like to congratulate Katy Ostrowski! The special prize this year is a $150 gift certificate for the Fifth Season.
The Mount Shasta Trail Association would still like to celebrate your accomplishment at our annual meeting. We will announce the date of the meeting in a few weeks.
If you are interested in participating in the 2020 Trail Challenge, the new passport will be available at the Siskiyou Science Festival in downtown Mount Shasta on May 16th. The passports will be distributed at MSTA orienteering booth.
Hope to see you out on the trails!
The need to close some of the Gateway Trails for public safety during thinning operations begins on Wednesday February 12th. Below is a map of the closure area.
For more information, the Forest Service news release can be found here.
The USFS has asked us to post a notice about temporary closures of the Lollipop Trail and the first section of the Gateway Trail due to logging in the area. The closure will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 12, and possibly extend to Feb. 17, 2020.
Also, please do not remove the orange flagging in the area. Mt. Shasta Trail Association volunteers have spent many hours flagging trails so that the loggers don’t obliterate them.
For further information and maps, please refer to the Shasta Trinity National Forest Facebook page or the Mt. Shasta Trail Association Facebook page.
Most of the Gateway II Trail Expansion has been reflagged, so that the trail construction crews can locate exactly the routes through the forest. This morning, a crew of three worked in the plantation area just north and east of the Gateway Trailhead, placing orange tape on trees and dense brush. Sometimes we were crashing through manzanita 8 ft. high. We hope to begin trail construction this spring. Get your bikes and shoes ready.
John Schuyler is shown gently placing a tape on one of his favorite trees.
Mike Hupp smiles because he placed two heavy rocks in John Harch’s backpack before starting the hike.