After posting a link to our 2021 Trail Challenge webpage yesterday, I was reminded by Board Director John Thomson that he had already worked up a much improved version.
The updated page has good information on the trails in this year’s Challenge, how to submit your trails, the stewardship component of the Challenge, social media, and links to trail descriptions. These links take you to Trail Guides that include trail maps, directions to trailheads, trail details, and more. No changes to the passport, so if you’ve already downloaded it, you’re good to go. You can get to the webpage by clicking here.
Sorry for the inadequate and late communication about this work day. We have reconn’d the two sites we wanted to work on (Castle Lake to Heart Lake Trail and Gateway II near Bear Springs) and they both have too much snow to address. So, the best thing is to cancel this work day and look to the next scheduled date, which is Saturday, April 24. By then maybe we will have figured out what the heck we want to do. Thanks for your patience.
This year’s trail challenge will run from May 1 to October 1.
Welcome to the 3rd annual Mount Shasta Trail Challenge. We want to share the beauty of our area with those who are inspired to get out and enjoy the vast trail system surrounding the mountain we call home. We are working hard on the trails to be included in the Challenge. Also, we are looking into how to reward those that take up the Challenge.
Stay tuned!
Taking the Challenge will put a smile on your face
South Fork Sacramento Public Safety and Forest Restoration Project – VIRTUAL Public Meeting: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Forest Service will provide an overview of possible opportunities and challenges for improving public safety and reducing wildfire risks in the South Fork Sacramento watershed above Lake Siskiyou.
To participate: click on the Join live event link. For those that want to join by telephone, the number is listed below as well.
+1 323-886-7051 United States, Los Angeles (Toll) Conference ID: 413 700 194#
The Forest Service has been collecting data on this area and doing fire modeling to better understand current conditions. We invite you all to hear about the current conditions and to meet our team of specialists. We hope to continue this open forum and once weather conditions improve we will conduct field trips to the area.
Yesterday, we planted about 500 daffodils around the Spring Hill Trailhead. Many thanks to the 14 volunteers who showed up to help, including one very young, enthusiastic gardener. Since it’s so late in the season, the bulbs may not bloom this year. Opinions differed on this, so you’ll just have to visit the trail to see for yourself. We gave the balance of the bulbs to Lorie Saunders for the Beautification Committee to plant in the triangle and median strip for the city. Even though these non-native, ornamental flowers don’t help the pollinators or the soil or the little animals, they look pretty and thus cheer up the large animals who have been trapped inside for much of the pandemic.
OK, OK! I’m not smart enough to know that you shouldn’t plant non-native daffodils at the Gateway Trailhead or on USFS property. I’m a doctor, Jim, not a biologist. If I can ascertain the appropriateness of planting at the Spring Hill Trailhead (which most people seem to think is acceptable) we’ll do that at 1:30 tomorrow.
Early this afternoon, I got a call from Eva Moll at Mercy Hospice. They have leftover daffodils from their fundraiser that are starting to sprout. She asked if MSTA wanted some to plant at the Gateway Trailhead and I said, “Sure!”
Well, I picked them up and found that there are about 1000 of them. Yes, 1000. So I think we should plant some at Spring Hill and some at the Gateway Trailhead.
If you want to help, meet me at the Spring Hill Trail parking lot at 1:30 on Saturday, Feb. 27. We can put 8 or 10 in each hole we dig so we’ll get a big show of color. If we have 6-10 volunteers, we’ll split into two groups, with the second group going to Gateway. Shouldn’t take long and it’ll be fun. Who doesn’t like planting flowers? Well, maybe there’s someone.
Last year was a very strong year for the Mount Shasta Trail Association, with a gain over the year in our unrestricted funds balance, even with many substantial projects undertaken. Restricted funds delegated to specific projects also increased. Significant advances were made on the Gateway Trail Reroute, the extension of the Gateway Trail, the Mossbrae Falls Trail, and the reroute of the Heart Lake Trail. Contributions from individuals and businesses totaled more than $63,000, and grants and dedicated funds yielded another $215,000. Out of pocket we spent on programs $231,000, and only $21,000 on administration.
For next year our project expenses will increase substantially as we ramp up the expansion of the Gateway Trail network. Mossbrae Falls alone may require more than all of last year’s program expenses. Grant awards we have received will allow us to accomplish so much! Our special thanks to the McConnell Foundation, the Friesen Foundation, the Kyle Neath Charitable Fund, the Nancy Driscoll Foundation, the National Forest Foundation, not to mention the State of California, Natural Resources Prop 68 Grant for $1,115,000 for Gateway.
Of course, with your ongoing support the sky’s the limit, or least 14,692’, or 14,179’, or 4,321.8m, or 4317m. Well, you get the idea—we’re going places. Come along!
