SPRUCE-UPS FOR MS MEDIAN AND “TRIANGLE” ON SEPT 8 AND SEPT 22

We will be partnering with the MS Beautification Committee to trim, weed, and spruce up the median strip on Lake St. (Sat., Sept. 8 at 9 am) and the “Triangle” on N. MS Blvd., across from Point S Tire Co. (Sat., Sept. 22 at 9 am).

These are two highly visible areas that appear to most of our out-of-town visitors immediately on their arrival, so these efforts are important.

I will be out of town for Sept. 8, but there should be a good crew for that day. Hope some of you can show up for one or both mornings.

We expect that the work can be done in 1-2 hours if enough volunteers show.

JH

Hike to Deadfall Lakes and Mount Eddy — Saturday August 4, 2018

Cool, refreshing Deadfall Lakes

Once again, for the most amazing views, join the Mt. Shasta Trail Association on a day hike to pristine Deadfall Lakes and to the top of Mt. Eddy slated for Saturday, August 4th. This 10-mile round-trip hike starts out gently on the Pacific Crest Trail to the multiple lakes and then becomes challenging as we gain 2,250 feet to the summit at 9,025 feet.

Mt. Eddy was formed some 400 million years ago from peridotite, a volcanic form of serpentine. This type of rock, ultramafic, is high in magnesium and low in calcium, and as such the soils derived from this material constitute a harsh growing medium for most plants.

Like with other serpentine areas, the result is that some plants adapt to the harsh conditions, taking advantage of the relative lack of competition, and evolve to become endemic to the site. The iron contained in the rock rusts, giving it its reddish tint.

It is the highest mountain in the Eddys – a subrange of the Klamath Mountains – the highest point in Trinity County, and the highest mountain W of Interstate 5. The mountain was named after Olive Paddock Eddy, the first woman to climb Mt. Shasta.

From this majestic peak hikers will be able to see Lassen Peak, Mt. Mc Loughlin, the Scott Mountains, the Eddy Range, Black Butte, Castle Crags Spire and of course Mt. Shasta towering over everything in sight.

Participants will meet at 9 am at 111 Morgan Way, in front of the Best Western Tree House Motor Inn. Bring lunch plus snack and water and if interested, a bathing suit for a very refreshing swim. Hiking poles are recommended. Expect to return by 6 pm.

For questions call Joan Roemer at 530-925-9644.

Trail Town Celebration — Just a Few Days Away!

Banner on Mt. Shasta Blvd

On July 21st in downtown Mt. Shasta, we’ll be celebrating the launch of Mt. Shasta as an official Pacific Crest Trail Town!

One of the great things about the Pacific Crest Trail is the many wonderful towns it passes near–communities that offer rest and resupply to long-distance hikers on the trail, and provide access to not only the PCT but a variety of other trail-based outdoor recreation for the public. Come join MSTA and the Pacific Crest Trail Association on July 21 to celebrate this new PCT trail town and learn more about the PCT and other outdoor recreation opportunities near Mt. Shasta and in Siskiyou County. Events will include…

8:00 a.m.
A Guided Hike on the PCT

Experience the Pacific Crest Trail! Meet across from The Tree House Hotel on Morgan Way at 8 a.m. to carpool to a nearby trailhead for a short, easy hike along the PCT.

12 Noon to 9 p.m.
Activities and Booths
Family and Kid-Friendly!

  • Hiking Gear & Camping Demos
  • Crosscut Sawing
  • Pack Animal Demos
  • Leave No Trace Info
  • Local Trail Recreation Info
  • PCT Photo Booth
  • Prize Drawings
  • Food and Beverages for Sale
  • Much more!

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Live Music and Dancing

  • Wind Fields
  • Secret Society Handshake

All events are FREE and open to the public.

Trail Job at St. Barnabas Church

We’re going to have a few “work mornings” coming up to accomplish some trail maintenance while staying out of the heat.

On Tuesday morning, July 17, at 7:30, a few of us will meet in the St. Barnabas Church parking lot (Lassen Ave. west of the freeway and just west of Doctor’s Park) to trim out their trail.  We will mostly need weed whackers and a very few loppers/hand trimmers.

I have the MSTA push weed trimmer and two hand weed whackers, and Mark Telegin has a weed whacker, so if you can help for an hour, we’ll hand you a tool.

We aim to be done by 9:30 or 10.

Hope to see you.

JH

PS: If you have one of those little nets that go over your head, you might bring it because this morning when we scouted the job, there were some of those little black flies that buzz around your face.  You can get one of those nets at Solano’s for $3.

 

THANK YOU, TIM CABITTO!

Last year, Glenn Harvey bought a used string trimmer for the MS Trail Association to help with big weed-eating jobs on the trails.
Unfortunately, the engine died recently.  Decisions had to be made whether to fix it or buy a new one.
Fortunately, Tim Cabitto of Cabitto’s Small Engine Repair said the machine was  a good one, and that a new engine would allow us to use the trimmer for years to come.  He also donated his labor to diagnose, order parts, and replace the engine.  It now works like a charm.
Thanks again, Tim.

JH

Hike to Seven Lakes Basin — Saturday July 14, 2018

The Mount Shasta Trail Association invites the public to join them on a spectacular hike along the Pacific Crest Trail ridge overlooking the pristine lakes of Seven Lakes Basin as well as Mumbo Basin.  The hike is scheduled for Saturday, July 14th. The hike will go from above Gumboot Lake to Echo Lake and Helen Lake.

This gentle to moderate 6-mile roundtrip walk has superb long-range vistas in all directions. Participants will be able to see panoramas of the Trinity Alps, Trinity Divide, Mt. Shasta, Mt. Eddy, Lassen Peak, Magee Peak, Burney Mountain as well as the granite cliffs of the Castle Crags.

Meeting place is 111 Morgan Way, the street in front of the Best Western Treehouse in Mt Shasta.  Meet at 9:00 am where participants will form carpools. Bring lunch and water, sun protection and a bathing suit for a refreshing swim. Expect to be back by 3:00 pm.

For more information, call Joan Roemer at 926-0647.

View from the PCT

Trail Town Celebration — Saturday July 21, 2018

https://www.pcta.org/

On July 21st in downtown Mt. Shasta, we’ll be celebrating the launch of Mt. Shasta as an official Pacific Crest Trail Town!

One of the great things about the Pacific Crest Trail is the many wonderful towns it passes near–communities that offer rest and resupply to long-distance hikers on the trail, and provide access to not only the PCT but a variety of other trail-based outdoor recreation for the public. Come join MSTA and the Pacific Crest Trail Association on July 21 to celebrate this new PCT trail town and learn more about the PCT and other outdoor recreation opportunities near Mt. Shasta and in Siskiyou County. Events will include…

8:00 a.m.
A Guided Hike on the PCT

Experience the Pacific Crest Trail! Meet across from The Tree House Hotel on Morgan Way at 8 a.m. to carpool to a nearby trailhead for a short, easy hike along the PCT.

12 Noon to 9 p.m.
Activities and Booths
Family and Kid-Friendly!

  • Hiking Gear & Camping Demos
  • Crosscut Sawing
  • Pack Animal Demos
  • Leave No Trace Info
  • Local Trail Recreation Info
  • PCT Photo Booth
  • Prize Drawings
  • Food and Beverages for Sale
  • Much more!

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Live Music and Dancing

  • Wind Fields
  • Secret Society Handshake

All events are FREE and open to the public.

SUCCESSFUL CLEANUP IN MT. SHASTA!

Thirty-nine volunteers (perhaps more) showed up from MSTA, Clean and Safe MS, and the Weed Elementary Gear Up Summer Program to clean up Old Stage Road, Abrams Lake Road, and Spring Hill Road today.  The kids worked their tails off on a rather warm morning, including dragging some heavy tires and other trash up a steep embankment.  Oh, yeah, the adults worked hard, too.

Four pickup truck loads were taken to the dump.

Thanks to everyone who helped, and to Glenn Harvey for organizing.  And Mark Telegin is back from injured reserve (along with Glenn) and he started hours before anyone else to clean up a long section of Old Stage Rd. himself.

JH

WHAT YOU’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!

Yes, on Monday, June 25, at 9:30 am, we’re meeting at the Fish Hatchery in Mt. Shasta (intersection of Lake St. and N. Old Stage Rd.) to organize a cleanup of N. Old Stage Rd., Abrams Lake Rd., and Spring Hill Rd.

Clean and Safe Mt. Shasta and the Mt. Shasta Trail Association will be joined by around 20 students and advisors from the Weed Elementary Gear Up Summer Program to spruce up our streets.

Let’s see if we can match that large group with at least 20 people from our two organizations.  It would be exciting to see about 40 people come out for this event.

The time had been posted as 10 am, but we’ve changed it to 9:30 to beat the heat.

Bring gloves, water, hats, and a snack.  We’ll provide trash bags and some trash pickup sticks.

DON’T MISS IT!

JH