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Last week’s Mt. Shasta Herald newspaper featured two articles on trails on the front page of the February 14, 2018 edition.  Exciting stuff for us lovers of trails!

Both articles talk about Mount Shasta being designated a “trail town” by the Pacific Crest Trail Association.  The first article, by Tim Holt, talks further about actions being taking by the Ski Park for mountain bikers.  The second article, an opinion piece by Priscila Franco, discusses the growing demand for trail-based recreation and the economic benefits to our communities.  Here are links to the articles:

Mount Shasta_ a ‘Trail Town’

Trail Town program promotes hiking, could benefit economy

 

 

The Trail Association website contains a lot of great information, including descriptions of local trails.  MSTA has recently added a new page that covers the trails within or immediately adjacent to the City of Mt. Shasta and Weed.  Click here for that page.

This new page will lead you to descriptions of the following trails:

• Bear
• Elsa Rupp
• Spring Hill
• Box Canyon
• City Park to Downtown Greenway

If you wish to support, comment on, or condemn what is being proposed for the Gateway II expansion, here is the website:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53089

On the right side of the site, under Get Connected, choose Comment/Object on Project.

Of course, we’re hoping you will support it!

JH

I am happy to report that there were 13 truly bored and nutty people who had nothing better to do on a beautiful Saturday afternoon than clean up trash in the forest.  We got a tarped encampment out of Cascade Gulch (bit of a fun trek down the gully and back), the last of the wood and metal from the Shastice site, and about 1/3 of the massive junk pile just off Everitt Mem. Hwy just north of the Gateway trailhead.  By the way, the trailhead parking lot was full all afternoon!

Many thanks to Glenn Harvey, Tom Heilmann, Patrick Stalder, Mike McArron, Mike Daly, John Moreno, Perry Sims, Mark Foster, Tina Ure, Steve Scharpf, Todd Cory, and Bill Broeckel (who drove down from Yreka to help us).  The large group made short work of the mess.

When the transients are completely gone from the Everitt site (and they are removing some of their stuff), we’ll go back and finish the job.

JH

 

 

Glenn Harvey and I will be going back to the Shastice encampment to remove the last of the metal and lumber on Saturday at 2 pm.

This is not a big job, and the two of us could probably do it in about 2 hours.

So, if you have time and want to help, we’ll do it in a lot less than 2 hours.

We could use 1 or 2 additional wheelbarrows and some bungies/tie-downs, but just having an extra body or two will be great.

MEET AT 2 PM ON EVERITT MEMORIAL HWY WHERE THE RR TRACKS CROSS, JUST NORTH OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.

 

Additionally, Glenn has found a huge encampment further up the Everitt Mem. (five or six tents, with tarps).  He had sheriff and USFS up there yesterday, so maybe the campers will move on…

But you know we’ll have to go clean it up, and we’ll need volunteers.  We’ll let you know.

Thanks.

JH

Attached is the scoping letter for the Gateway Phase II project.  You can refer to it for information to write letters of support, needed before Feb. 22.

Also attached is the map of the proposed trails.  Note that our wonderful Gateway I (which is used by many of us) is in yellow, while the proposed trails are in green, blue, and black, referring to the difficulty level.

Thanks.

John Harch

MSTA Gateway 2 Scoping Letter

MSTA Gateway 2 Map

Please consider attending a “scoping” meeting on Monday, January 29, 2018, at 5 pm, at the Mt. Shasta City Park Upper Lodge to support the Gateway Phase 2 Trail Project.  The meeting is meant to provide public input to the project.

 

Gateway Phase II is a massive increase and upgrade to the existing Gateway I Trail system that is currently enjoyed by many locals and out-of-towners.  The project is a product of combined efforts by the US Forest Service, the Mt. Shasta Trail Association, and the Mt. Shasta Mt. Bike Association to add more than 38 miles of trail to the existing 10.7 miles.  Fundraising efforts by MSTA, MSMBA, Mt. Wheelers, Shasta Peddlers, and many others, along with a very generous grant from the McConnell Foundation have made this possible (although more funding will be necessary in the future).

 

At the meeting, you will see a presentation of the details of the proposed project, and it will amaze you.

We cannot overstate the importance of this trail plan to Mt. Shasta and South Siskiyou County.

Please come out in numbers to show your support, even if you drop by for the first 30-60 minutes.

 

Thank you.

Sincerely,

John Harch, MSTA