Cooler temperatures and smoke free skies makes it a great time to visit the beautiful Mt. Shasta area. Mt. Shasta is known for the unique cloud formations known as Lenticular Clouds. There's lot of mystery and intrigue about this clouds. Some say these clouds are known as fueling stations for the UFO's coming through. I took a drive over to the Medicine Lake Highlands Volcanic Area. I really love this area. It's known as the largest shield volcano in California. Wanna learn more...come on a tour! I took this picture back in 2015. One of my favorite spots located right in Mt. Shasta. Colors are just starting. It looks like October can be a great time to check it out! IT'S STILL A BIT SMOKEY BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING BETTER. THE HIGHER YOU GO, THE CLEARER IT GETS! My friend Steve Lewis and I took a hike on the north side of Mt. Shasta Saturday and found solitude, blue skies and fun conversation! We hiked up the ridge of this drainage noticing a lot of erosion and avalanche activity that happened in the past. This area is not well traveled making this adventure that more exciting. We hiked up to the top of this ridge for better views of the glacier. This glacier is known as the Hotlum Glacier. Hotlum is known to be the largest glacier in volume on Mt. Shasta. This glacier and 3 other glaciers on Mt. Shasta were named by John Wesley Powell, famous for leading the first party down the Colorado River. He was appointed as the 2nd Geological Director and at this time named the glaciers on Mt. Shasta. These include the Hotlum meaning Steep Rock, Bolam meaning Great, Wintu after the Wintun Tribe and Konwakiton meaning Muddy. Here's a close up on the lower icefalls on the Hotlum Glacier. The White Bark Pine is a common tree on Mt. Shasta above tree line. It grows up to around 9,000 ft. The seeds from the cones are an important food resource for the Clarks Nutcracker. They collect thousands of seeds and bury them for future stashes. WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT MT. SHASTA...BOOK A SEPTEMBER TOUR!
The new word is "Smokey"~75% of California is now under smoke. The best place to get out of the smoke... It has been very smokey for a while how. I find more blue skies up, up, up! The wildflowers on Mt. Shasta are still happening! Panther Springs is known to be on several sacred sites on Mt. Shasta. It has religious significance to the Wintu (Winnemun) Tribe and they continue to hold ceremonies there. For more information, check out my book, "Mount Shasta Guide to Fun". The lupines and rabbitbrush are very colorful in the Bunny Flat Meadows. Wanna get out of as much smoke as possible, come up here to Mt. Shasta!
This is a great time to explore and enjoy the wildflowers. There are many varieties. Here are a few in bloom right now! The Shasta Lily's latin name is known as Lilium washingtonianum. Lilium is the latin word for this genus, and washingtonianum is for Martha Washington. These grow all around the Mt. Shasta area. Naked Mariposa Lily's latin name is Calochortus nudus. It is endemic to Northern California and grows along the Sisson-Callahan Trail. Mt. Eddy Lupine it's latin name Lupinus lapidicola is a rare species of Lupine and endemic to California. It can be found in the Mt. Eddy area in the Klamath Mountain Range. Hyacinth Brodiaea also known as it's latin name Trileleia huacinthina like to grow in meadows. I saw these along Sisson-Callahan Trail. Beargrass known in latin as Xerophyllum tenax is a very interesting flower. Native peoples made the leaves into capes, baskets and hats. Lewis and Clark had Beargrass rain hats made for their crew. In spring, bears consume the softer, fleshy lease bases; hence the common name reference. Great Blazing Star known in latin as Mentzelia laevicaulis has a very vivacious look to it. It grows down the street where I live. This flower is definitely a gem to see. Many people travel a long ways to see these wildflowers!
There are many wildflowers blooming including the Crimson Columbine, Tiger Lily, Arnicas, Shooting Stars and many more. . Come a guided tour for the best viewing! Everitt Memorial Highway now open to the Old Ski Bowl.The mountain road is now open to the Old Ski Bowl. Lots of great hiking and exploring in this area. Come on Scenic Tours and learn more! Wildflower Update... When I saw this Western Azalea Bush so pink, I thought of the 4th of July. This is the most pink I've ever seen and it stood out! Come on a wildflower hike and learn about what is in bloom and the best places to view wildflowers. A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, infraorder, Anisoptera . Adult dragonflies are characterized by large, multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. There's lots of wildlife out there especially with the warmer temperatures. Please drive slowly and be on the lookout. MUSIC STREET FAIREveryone have a fun and safe 4th of July Week. I still have availability for tours. Give me a call 530-926-3250.
Fossil Rock Glacier Geological AreaAsh Creek Butte part of the Klamath National Forest occupies a 300 acre site and is the remains of an ancient rock glacier. It sits in a north facing glacier carved bowl or cirque. Surprise Lake is a surprise and on the way to the top! Along the way...Ed Stuhl, for almost 50 years was a caretaker, steward of the mountain and an artist. He painted many of the wildflowers on Mt. Shasta. The Steer's head was extra special to Ed since it was uncommon to find. We saw quite a few of these on our hike. On the top...The top of Ash Creek Butte is 8,378 ft. with incredible views all around. There's a geo cache stashed up there for you geocachers. Heading back down..It was a wonderful day of hiking with old friends and meeting new friends. Thank you Steve Lewis for the great hike!
The Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens located in Dunsmuir's City Park was opened to the public in 1992. It offers a little bit for everyone. The Upper Sacramento River runs along side the park. The park offers world class fishing, photography, birding and picnicking. The gardens offers native and woodland plants, wildflowers and a mixed evergreen forest of oak, pine, fir, cedar tree, and my favorite Japanese Maple. There are many different varieties of ferns. This fern really caught my eye! The Western Azaleas are in full bloom right now around 2,500 ft. These are growing along the river and in the gardens. This is the fountain donated by Alexander Dunsmuir located at the entrance of the Botanical Gardens. I was happy to see that it has been filled with water and running. Next picture explains the history. The Dunsmuir Family have three generations of interesting history starting with Robert Dunsmuir, originally from Scotland. He came to British Columbia, and became the strong willed coal baron, railway tycoon and the richest man in British Columbia. His younger son Alexander who worked in the states, traveled though Dunsmuir often and fell in love with the town. To learn more about Dunsmuir, order my book, "Mount Shasta Guide to Fun". This time of year everything is very green, the wildflowers are vibrant and the waters are flowing. Learn more about the local wildflowers on a tour!
Weed is the melting pot of Siskiyou County. Back in the beginnings, Weed was known for its lumber industry and manufacturing facilities. Many Italian immigrants came at this time. In the 1920's many African-Americans migrated to Weed after their mill closed in Louisiana in 1922. In the 1980's, many immigrants from Mexico and Laos came to this area. As a result, Weed has a much more ethnically diverse population than Siskiyou County as a whole. The Father of WeedAbner Weed known as "the Father of Weed" arrived in Siskiyou County in 1889 with his family. He built and operated the first lumber mill in Weed, becoming one of the most prominent lumbermen in the area. In 1901 he set up a post office in town and Weed Station officially became Weed. In Abner's early years, he was a soldier during the civil war and also watched Robert Lee's surrender to President Grant. In Abner's later years he was a California State Senator in 1906 and spent two terms in the states legislation. September 9, 2001 the residents of Weed dedicated the Weed Centennial Plaza marking the town's 100 birthday, the plaza was built from bricks salvaged from Weed's old sawmill powerhouse. The Boles FireSeptember 15, 2014 Weed had a devastating fire sweep through the town burning over 158 structures in a very short period of time. Amazingly, no one was killed and the community came together like one big family. Weed was put on the map! Donations came in far and wide from all over the country. Today the town has recovered with new structures and a new sense of spirit! Two of the main churches that burned have been rebuilt. A lot of new houses have been rebuilt and still in progress. Weed High SchoolMy daytime job for the past 25 years has been a substitute teacher in Siskiyou County. It's given me the opportunity to know all the schools in South Siskiyou County. They all have their own uniqueness and specialities about them. What I love about Weed High School is the pride the students have. Their enthusiasm and participation in school events are lively and exciting! This tiny house project began at Weed High School in November of 2015. It was a two year project by the classes of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. Mr. Damon Zeller, the construction class teacher and his students put many hours of dedication, hardwork and pride into this amazing project. The Tiny House will be auctioned and will begin tomorrow May 19th and end on Friday May 26th. The Tiny house will be on display Saturday the 19th at the Weed Rotary’s Hops & Vines event at Bel Air Park. Stop by and take a tour of our Tiny House. Videos, pictures and descriptions can be seen at http://www.weedhighschool.com/tinyhouse and the auction will be conducted at www.bidcal.com. The starting bid of $39,999.00 covers the cost of our materials and will be invested right back into the program so students can build our second tiny house. On a Personal Note...My landlords for fifteen years was Mort and Virginia Kaer and family. Who was Mort Kaer? There was first Mort Kaer Sr. born in Nebraska in 1902. He was a world famous athlete as a track star in the Olympics and a professional American football player. He was very well known in Weed. He was Weed's football coach from 1945-1972. He accumulated a record of 187-47-7 over 28 years in which he won 17 conference championships. Mort Kaer Jr., my landlord was following in his father's footsteps as a top notch athlete. He went to USC on a football scholarship, but hurt his knee and had to give up football. He went to Weed High School for a short time before transferring to Red Bluff where his family had property. He became a high school teacher and met his wife Virginia. They had four children who were also very athletic through their high school years. I would personally like to thank the Kaer's for renting me their cozy little house in Mt. Shasta and never raising my rent! Weed and the future Weed still has it's charm as being a small town. It has the last running lumber mill in South Siskiyou County. Driving through the town of Weed offers many attractions including the Weed Museum, Weed Souvenir Store and other fun stores, Mt. Shasta Brewery, coffee shops and the College of the Siskiyou. My book, "Mount Shasta Guide to Fun" has a tour of the Weed area or hire me as your personal tour guide. Enjoy Weed! Squaw Valley Creek Trail is a gentle hike mostly following the creek passing through pine and fir forest and many different wildflowers throughout the spring and summer season. Scarlet Fritillary also known as its scientific name Fritillary recurva. I only saw a couple of these. They bloom June through October. This small waterfall is 3 miles down the trail and a nice place to take photos. What I was really looking for was the beautiful cliffmaids Cliffmaids, Lewisia cotyledon, is a spectacular sight in early spring. This species in the Purslane family is geographically restricted to the mountains of northwestern California and adjacent Oregon. Umbrella plant or Indian-rhubarb grows thickly along the rocky shores shading the water beneath ad dark formations of basalt hem the stream and provide spectacular bluffs and obstacles to the water's flow. I'm not sure what wildflower this is. I'm still working on it. It may be in the arnica family. Thanks Rhonda at the Forest Service! Wild ginger also known as Asarum canadense grows along the creek. Wild ginger has some interesting ethnobotanical uses as well. Native Americans and early Euro-American settlers have used wild ginger as a spice. The root is harvested dried and then ground into a powder. Early settlers also cooked pieces of the root in sugar water for several days to obtain a ginger-flavored, candied root. This bear really had a berry ole time! It's that time of year with warmer temperatures and the wildlife waking up. Please pack in, pack out and respect the wildlife. Nature will thank you. Lake McCloud known as a reservoir is looking pretty full right now with its beautiful turquoise waters. This is the only lake in our area where jet boats are allowed and water skiing. It's also known for fishing, swimming and just having fun! Stalactites in McCloud! There are still a few mysteries left here. Wanna learn more...come on a scenic tour.
Seen from a far and a challenge to get too.This waterfall is a (kinda) hidden jewel in our area. Not only is this a strenuous hike but getting to it is a challenge too. Starting with a no trespassing sign and a locked gate, makes it a bit interesting. This beautiful waterfall is located in the Rainbow Ridge area in Mt. Shasta. The trail, mostly a very steep road goes to the falls. The last 1/4 is a little bit of a scramble with creek crossings. WILDFLOWERS COMING OUT!HERE ARE A FEW WILDFLOWERS AND SIGNS OF EARLY SUMMER SO FAR... I saw lots of these starting to come up. Larkspur is part of the Buttercup Family. It's scientific name Delphinium nuttallianum. I was hoping to see the yellow lady slippered orchid but a little too early yet. It looks this weeks weather will be warm temperatures, partly sunny, clouds, showers...sounds like Mt. Shasta!
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