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10,000 acre Land Deal Along the Trinity Divide Benefits the Pacific Crest Trail

Bull Lake

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:

PCTA

SF Chronicle

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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

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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

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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:

  1. 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.
  2. Work to create a safe trail to Mossbrae Falls (yes, it’s mind-bending to think this might happen).
  3. Numerous work parties to maintain trails and clean up messes left by those who can’t be named.
  4. Further expansion and improvement of the City Park to Downtown Greenway Trail.
  5. 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

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SPRING HILL TRAILHEAD CLEANUP

On Saturday, June 1, from 8 am to noon, we’ll be having a spruce up of the Spring Hill trailhead and parking lot areas. We’ll have tools, but if you want to bring something, a weed whacker or rake would work, along with gloves and water. It will be light work. Show up anytime.

I realize that this conflicts with the BikeShasta work day on the Sisson Callahan Trail, but it was the only day the Boy Scouts could do this, and I promised to schedule with them months ago. So, if weed whacking isn’t your thing, remember to show up for the BikeShasta work event.

Here is a photo of the weeds at Spring Hill on Tuesday, 5/21. They will be about a foot taller on the 1st, I bet.

JH

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Another Chainsaw Class

For those of you who missed the recent chainsaw certification class, and who are irrational enough to donate 3 days of your time, there’s a second chance. Josh McNulty of the USFS is conducting a class for firefighters on May 28, 29, and 30 from 9:30-3:30 and has graciously offered to include trail volunteers who wish to become more proficient with their saws. You do need to also obtain CPR training to get the certificate.

I can say that those of us who participated 10 days ago learned what we should have known about chainsaws years ago. It was fantastic, and free!

I should add that I will be offering a mini course at my house (soon) to try to impart what I learned, but I must admit that I am an unworthy neophyte who can only parrot the basics to others. Josh, Josiah, and Mark are the real experts, and they make it fun.

If you want to attend, call Josh at 925-1047, or email him at Joshua.mcnulty@usda.gov

Thanks.

JH

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Chainsaw Certification Class for Trail Volunteers Completed

Learning to chainsaw safely

On Thursday and Friday of this week, the Forest Service sponsored a free chainsaw certification class for trail volunteers. We learned an amazing number of important things (many of which we should have known before using chainsaws for years). Many thanks to Carolyn Napper and Becky Cooper for the administrative decision, and to Josh, Josiah, Mark, and Jennifer for helping with the dirty details and hands-on training.