Mount Shasta Trail Association
Inspire • Create • Conserve
Just in case you were wondering what is happening, or not happening, with the Trail Association’s efforts to provide safe and legal access to these internationally renown falls, SFGate just published an article on the trials and tribulations of that effort. Check it out here:
It is obvious that US Forest Service fire crews have been working tirelessly to help stop these terrible fires that are threatening all of us. But it’s important to also give them credit for other work that has moved the Gateway Trail Project forward. Several weeks ago, USFS fire crews from Missouri and Colorado joined our local crew from McCloud to engage in fire training. As part of that, they were assigned to consolidate and cover existing slash piles on some newly constructed Gateway Trails, and then remove brush on another new trail (Community Zone segment 6). This work is slow, hot, and very difficult, but it’s essential to prepare the trail corridor for Trail Labs to begin the excavation. Without it, there are no new trails through the heavily overgrown forest sections. In addition, every hour of this work done by the USFS saves MSTA on construction costs. Shown are Nick and Orion as they chop up a brush pile so it can be covered and burned this winter. The second photo shows the wide corridor and huge piles in preparation for the next phase of construction.
Drum roll please . . . Congratulations to the Trail Challenge 2022 Treasure Hunt Grand Prize winner….Donna Larson!!
Trail Challenge Treasures Revealed
Treasure #1 The Madrone Tree on the Foundation Trail
Treasure #2 The car bodies on the Box Canyon Trail
Treasure #3 The small wooden bridge on the Lake Siskiyou Trail
Treasure #4 The old mining Flume on Flume Creek Trail
Treasure #5 The large anthracite rock on the Gateway Trail
Treasure #6 The heather at Panther Meadow Trail
Treasure #7 Upper Gumboot Lake Gumboot Trail
Treasure #8 The rock causeway on the Sisson Callahan Trail
Thanks to all that played and thanks for supporting the MSTA
Here’s an opportunity to give back to the land we love. On Saturday September 24th, the Forest Service is hosting a work event on the McCloud River loop. The 24th is National Public Lands Day, and the work will focus on sign installation and trail brushing. For more information, see the poster below.
Hello all you Mount Shasta Trail Association treasure hunters out there. Congratulations to those of you that have found some treasures, and a big congratulations to those of you that have found all of them!
This announcement is to let you know that it is not too late to continue hunting for treasures because each time you find a treasure your name will be added to the MSTA grand prize drawing, which will be on September 5th. At that time , we will reveal all the treasures and the grand prize winner. The last day to post treasures to our website will be September 4th.
Thanks for playing and thanks for supporting the Mount Shasta Trail Association.
Lynda Hardy
Below is a link to the press release that announces SORA’s (Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance’s) receipt of a $1.1 mil grant to dramatically increase the facilities at the Nordic Center and to build 5 miles of new trail in the Gateway Trail System. While this is an amazing benefit for all the back-country skiers and snowshoers, it also means that MSTA now has an additional five miles of trail construction funded.
The press release also shows the map of planned trails and how they fit together. Note that SORA’s grant will fund the key connector trails currently identified as BMZ-8, 9, 13, and 14 (seen in orange on the map, with arrows and labels). MSTA will soon be posting updates on other trails recently constructed in the system and those will be available on the Gateway Trail website, gatewaytrail.org
This is a big deal.
https://siskiyououtdooralliance.org/news/sora-awarded-11m-rpp-grant
To begin your search for the last trail treasure, start at the trail that connects Sisson to the Scott Valley. Follow the historic trail up the lower portion on the North “utensil” until you find a creek crossing. The boulder causeway is the last trail treasure.
Here are the rules of the hunt. Each time you locate a treasure, send us a photo or description of the treasure along with your contact information to: mtshastatrail@gmail.com. Then, your name will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize. In addition, the first person to locate each new treasure will receive their choice of a prize, and their name will be placed into the grand prize drawing. For example, if you find 5 treasures your name will be added five times to the grand prize drawing.
As the summer goes by quickly, we’re now at the penultimate MSTA Trail Challenge Treasure Hunt.
To begin your search for the seventh trail treasure, start at a high mountain lake that reminds you of sticky shoes. Continue past the campground and kiosk and cross a small rock dam. Hike a short distance around the lake until you find two large pines and a small circle of carnivorous plants. Trek up the trail for approximately 15- 20 minutes. You will the will find the smaller namesake of the lower lake. This is the trail treasure.
Here are the rules of the hunt. Each time you locate a treasure, send us a photo or description of the treasure along with your contact information to: mtshastatrail@gmail.com. Then, your name will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize. In addition, the first person to locate each new treasure will receive their choice of a prize, and their name will be placed into the grand prize drawing. For example, if you find 5 treasures your name will be added five times to the grand prize drawing.
If you’d like to have a say in the naming of the new Gateway Trails, go to this website created by Bike Shasta and vote. There are several options for each trail.
To begin your search for the sixth trail treasure, travel up the mountain looking for a the trailhead that is named for a large wild feline. The treasure will be found in a tract of moist low lying land. This plant is a favorite of the voles living there.
Here are the rules of the hunt. Each time you locate a treasure, send us a photo or description of the treasure along with your contact information to: mtshastatrail@gmail.com. Then, your name will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize. In addition, the first person to locate each new treasure will receive their choice of a prize, and their name will be placed into the grand prize drawing. For example, if you find 5 treasures your name will be added five times to the grand prize drawing.
