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Now that we have most of the signs installed on the new trails, we have to go back to the original Gateway Trails (so-called Gateway I) and make sure everything is properly signed. We need a couple helpers next Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 1 pm to place fiberglass markers and several steel posts. We’ll meet at the Gateway Trailhead on Everitt Mem. Hwy, open the green gate, and drive to the sites. Most of the work will involve no walking or short distances. There will be some digging and concrete work, but mainly pounding in the flat signs. Come for a half hour, come for an hour, or just come to criticize the work. Don’t miss it, campers.

Within the past week, our volunteers got after it again. A bunch of signs were installed around the top of Moon Doggie Trail and around the McBride Trailhead. 

Then, a couple days ago, Mike Backes and Mark Derby cleared the downed trees everyone has been reporting at the bottom of My Trail. Besides these two guys, I want to thank Eric Blomberg, Davis Bowden, Steve Eddy, and newest trail workers Paul Horton and his very eager, strong son Wyatt, who promises to return in the future to help us geezers do some of the heavy lifting. 

I just have to give a huge shout out to Davis Bowden and Katie LeBaron, who yesterday spent four hours (each) removing a huge, downed tree from the Tunnel Trail and clearing branches and brush elsewhere in Gateway I. Multiple people have reported this tree, but the rest of the chainsaw crew hasn’t been able to get to it (or didn’t have a saw big enough). This is an example of how many of our trail crew sneak out to do this hard work when no one notices, so the rest of us can enjoy the trails. Sorry about the blurred photos; Davis’s phone camera is dying, but you get the idea of the size of this beast.

Just want to report that the First Day Hike (part of a national program) was held in Castle Crags State Park yesterday. It was a joint effort by Rotary, the Mount Shasta Trail Association, and CC State Park. Rangers Blair and Alec guided 50 of us on a cool, sprinkly hike along the Flume Trail, stopping to discuss various features of the park and its history. There was a lot of water everywhere and we had a great time.

I’m also attaching a photo of a beautiful, moss-covered tree found along the River Trail (also in CC State Park, but across the river), taken a few days previously by me on a hike with family. Don’t forget CC State Park when considering your adventures.

On this day of giving back, please consider, if you are so inclined, donating to the Mount Shasta Trail Association. We’ve made great progress on construction of the Gateway Trail Expansion, but have about 14 miles left to build. We also have many miles of trail to maintain going forward. Thanks to so many who have worked on our trails and donated. 

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Thank You!

The Mount Shasta Trail Association is participating in Giving Tuesday on December 3rd, and early giving is now open, so you start giving back by visiting here !

This is an opportunity to donate and help the MTSA continue its vital work of stewardship and advocacy for more access to trails, trail building, and work to conserve the natural beauty of our area. Thanks to our community, we’ve been able to achieve so much, and we are excited to continue that work for generations to come. We’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you again to all those who’ve helped us along the way!

Several years ago, Tom Hesseldenz, along with MSTA and the MS Rotary, began an effort to build a launch ramp for kayaks, rafts, paddleboards, etc. Daunting challenges included selecting an optimal location, raising funds, engineering the project, convincing the County (which owns the property) to cooperate, and completing a very complex set of environmental permitting and compliance issues.

For a while, it looked like it would never happen. But Tom Hesseldenz, through sheer doggedness, hopefulness, persuasion, and donation of many hours of his amazing expertise, managed to raise the money and get the job done. Rotary was instrumental in supporting and financing much of the process. The work was completed about a week ago, and it looks terrific. It’s located just north and west of the bathroom in the parking lot just north of the Lake Siskiyou Dam. See attached photos.

Thanks to Mike Peters, Inc. for doing the heavy construction work at what I’m sure was a discounted rate, and to Joy Hall and other County employees for allowing this to go forward.

I want to reemphasize that this never would have happened without persistence and determination by Tom Hesseldenz, whose fingerprints are on many/most of the fine outdoor recreational projects in this county.

This Saturday, November 9, at 1 pm, we’re going to put in the last signs at the south end of the Learning Zone (well, OK, when we complete the north end of Huckleberry Loop, there will be a couple more). For this work day, we’ll meet at the Nordic Center parking lot, drive a short distance down Ski Park Hwy, then turn onto a somewhat rough road for about a half mile. When we park, we’ll install one “you are here” sign on a steel post in cement. Then we’ll grab 6 carsonite signposts and hike about a half mile into the forest and pound them in at another trail junction. We only need about two helpers, but if you want to see the new trails and have a nice hike, please join us. We like to have hecklers and critics as we work. I estimate about 1 hour of work, plus the hiking.

Eight of us showed up yesterday at the Nordic Center to place more signs in the Learning Zone. With John Thomson directing, we placed about 10 new fiberglass signs with trail names (mainly at trail intersections) and then dug holes and put “You Are Here” signs on steel posts using concrete. We had enough help that no one had to bust their butt. Big thanks to Dave Pfurr, Jules Unger (who carried the concrete), John Kelly, Bryson Adams, Emma Wilcox, and Jeff Shamansky! We have one more afternoon in the LZ and a batch of signs to place around Magma and Deadwood, then we’re about done with the signs under the Prop 68 Grant. AWESOME.