On Friday, July 12,
we cut, drilled, and collated 100 birdhouses for the giveaway to be handled by Raven Tree store in Mt. Shasta. Thanks to all who participated, esp. Tom Ravizza for creating the model and templates and buying wood, and Kendra Bainbridge (of Raven Tree) for buying hardware and lunch.
Hike to Gray Rock Lakes — Saturday July 20, 2019
On Saturday, July 20th, the Mount Shasta Trail Association invites the public on a moderate 2.5 mile hike with a 600 foot elevation gain to Gray Rock Lakes above the south fork of the Sacramento River. While the trail is a bit of a scramble at times, the spectacular views and the pristine lakes make it well worth the effort. Four-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance are needed to get to the trailhead. We will be carpooling as there is limited parking.
The meeting time and place is 8:00 am at 111 Morgan Way in Mt Shasta, in front of the Best Western Tree House Motor Inn. Bring water, lunch, sun protection and if interested, a bathing suit for a refreshing swim. A hiking pole is recommended. We will return by 4 pm. For further questions call John Thomson at 530-926-4430.
Work on the Chalet Trail
On July 1, 11 volunteers dug, raked, and cleaned up the Chalet Trail segment of the Lake Siskiyou Trail. This is a gem of a trail
which you should walk if you haven’t. Park across from the resort tennis courts on W.A. Barr Rd. and drop into the trail on the north end of the parking lot near the pit toilet.
Mount Shasta Trail Challenge
This week’s 4th of July celebration is the kickoff of the Mount Shasta Trail Challenge — running through December 31st. If you weren’t able to pick up a passport at the Street Fair booth, you can go to their website and download a PDF of the passport. Here’s the link
A BIG DIFFERENCE IN CITY PARK
Over the past two years, there has been a big problem with transient encampments in the Mt. Shasta City Park, with hidden campsites and mounds of garbage, sleeping bags, clothing, tents, etc. Since Clean and Safe Mt. Shasta and the Trail Association joined forces with the Mt. Shasta Police Dept., thinning of overgrown brush and prohibiting overnight camping have made a big difference. Numerous encampments were removed, and when I rode my bike through the park on June 25, 2019, I couldn’t find a single encampment. This is how the trails looked on the west side of the river.
JH
10,000 acre Land Deal Along the Trinity Divide Benefits the Pacific Crest Trail
Just last week it was announced that over 10,000 acres of private timber industry lands have been purchased for addition to the Shasta-Trinity and Klamath National Forests. The land acquisition was spearheaded by our partners at the Pacific Crest Trail Association as these lands contain a 17-mile stretch of the National Scenic Trail that goes from Mexico to Canada. These parcels are literally in our backyard as they are scattered from Castle Crags to Scott Mountain and contain a diversity of landscapes, geology and plants.
Here’s some links for more information on this great event:
Big Cleanup in Weed on June 26
On Wed., June 26, at 9 am, the following groups are combining forces to clean up an illegal dump site/campground in Weed, just east and south of Grocery Outlet: Gear Up of Weed, the City of Weed, Clean and Safe Mt. Shasta, and the Mt. Shasta Trail Association. We already have commitment from Kelsea Ochs of Gear Up to bring about 20 kids and adults, and with 10-20 people from MSTA and Clean and Safe, we could have over 50 volunteers.
The City of Weed has agreed to provide 2 dump trucks and a flatbed, and pay dump fees.
Please reach out to friends in Weed, and anyone else concerned enough about trash to give up a couple hours in the morning. We’ll meet on the street between Grocery Outlet and Taco Bell. Bring gloves, water, boots and long pants. We’re working on getting drinks and snacks.
Ready to have some fun with garbage?
JH
MSTA Annual Meeting – Presentation Links
Thank you to all who joined us at last night’s MSTA Annual Meeting!
Links from the presentations:
- Mt Shasta Trail Challenge Facebook event (webpage coming soon)
- Gateway 2 public comments link (closes at midnight on June 10)
- Shasta Gravity Adventures
- Siskiyou Wanderers
- Siskiyou Land Trust Sisson Meadow enhancement survey
- Ryan Spitz California Untamed trailer
Spring Hill Trailhead Cleanup Completed
We had a very successful cleanup at the Spring Hill Trailhead yesterday (Sat., June 1) with about 22 volunteers, including about a dozen boy scouts and five or six of their leaders. We got going a bit after 8, and were done before 11 due to the great turnout.
Thanks to all who helped. 
JH
MT. SHASTA TRAIL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING ON JUNE 6
Please join the Mount Shasta Trail Association on Thursday June 6, 2019, at 6 pm, at the Weed Community Center for our annual meeting. Beer, wine and appetizers provided!
We’ll review the considerable progress made on the following important projects:
- The Gateway Phase 2 Trail proposal, a 45-mile addition to the existing 10.7 miles of the existing Gateway network on national forest lands.
- Work to create a safe trail to Mossbrae Falls (yes, it’s mind-bending to think this might happen).
- Numerous work parties to maintain trails and clean up messes left by those who can’t be named.
- Further expansion and improvement of the City Park to Downtown Greenway Trail.
- Changes to the Lake Siskiyou Trail: a defined trail has been completed through the campground, and future ideas for a permanent bridge over the delta are being considered.
There will be short presentations by several guests, including one on the new Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance and another on the upcoming Mount Shasta Trail Challenge & Celebration.
NOTE THE NEW LOCATION FOR THIS MEETING: this year we are gathering at the extremely new and nice Weed Community Center that is located at 161 East Lincoln Avenue, adjacent to Charles Byrd Park. From I-5, take Hwy 97 north about 1 mile to Lincoln Ave., turn right, go ¼ mile, and the community center is on your left.
Beer, wine, and appetizers will be served from 6 pm to 7 pm, with presentations from 7 pm to 8 pm.
If you miss it, we will eat all the food and drink the beer and wine meant for you.
Hope to see you there.
MSTA Board