Get your soak on –
Two very different resorts in the Mt. Shasta area offer visitors the opportunity to slip into a hot tub to soak away tensions and soak up the blissful feelings that come with a day of being pampered. In town, you’ll find the Sacred Mountain Retreat Spa where the sounds of the main street slip away when you come inside. Out north of Weed, at the foot of the Eddy Mountains, Stewart Mineral Springs exudes that woodsy feel that you get when you’re out in the wilderness. Choose one (or both!) and enjoy!
• Stewart Mineral Springs Resort sits on the banks of gurgling Parks Creek, where the sigh of the wind in the pines and cedars will mesmerize you. This quiet setting is home to the century old resort, where you can slide into an old cast iron tub for a mineral bath, then head to the sauna before your massage. If you’re bold, take a dip in the startlingly chill waters of the creek to cool off; try something different with a Native America sweat on weekends. The Resort’s restaurant and sandwich bar reopen in May, so if you’re coming before that time, bring your own food, or head into Mt. Shasta or Weed for dining options. 4617 Stewart Springs Road, Weed, 938.2222, www.stewartmineralsprings.com
• Sacred Mountain Retreat Spa in downtown Mt. Shasta offers a selection of massage therapy and body treatments for those in need of relaxation. The staff provides attentive care to give you the best experience as you move from sauna to foot and full body massage, be it Swedish, Lomi Lomi or hot stone, to a Whirlpool tub scented with lavender or sweets like vanilla or cloves on a cold day. After the soak you’ll delight in a sugar body polish or salt scrub before a final session in the sauna followed by a cleansing shower. It’s so blissful all you’ll want to do afterward is lounge around in a comfy bed in silky pajamas. 412B N. Mt. Shasta Blvd, 918.9229, www. www.mtshastamassageandspa.com
The Mythical State of Jefferson in far northern California is a land of vast wilderness, wild rivers, gold country, Native American culture and rural communities characterized by a spirit of independence. Visitors to this rugged region must come prepared, for once you depart from the civilization of the Interstate 5 corridor you enter a land of independence and individuality where you can explore the territory that was almost the nation’s 49th state back in 1941.
Residents of the handful of southern Oregon and northern California counties that comprised the Jefferson Territory made several bids for secession, beginning in the 1850s. The most viable attempt came in 1941 when Jeffersonians planned to inaugurate their own governor, an event covered by the San Francisco Chronicle, The Oregonian, and four Hollywood newsreel companies as well as Life and Time magazines. The “patriotic rebellion,” as activists called it, was based on frustrations with state governments over the lack of maintained roadways in a region rich with harvestable natural resources. The attack on Pearl Harbor four days after the inauguration ended the secession movement.
Nowadays the State of Jefferson, with its sweeping tracks of wilderness and remote river canyon villages, is less of a political movement and more a cultural entity loosely defined by the independent attitude held by its residents. Despite the failure to win political independence, the would-be state has gained recognition in the hearts of residents and in a growing number of visitors to the area. The “XX” of the Great Seal of the State of Jefferson that symbolized citizens’ feelings of being double-crossed by both state governments is seen along the Byway on signs, vehicles, t-shirts and hats.
If you’re planning on coming up to the northern reaches of Siskiyou County, it’s worth it to check out the history of the State of Jefferson – that way you can decide if you want to buy a t-shirt when you come across one. The towns of Happy Camp, Klamath River, Fort Jones and Etna are likely spots for picking up some memorabilia and getting a sense for the landscape and the state of mind of this mythical state.
To learn more about the State of Jefferson, visit the official website at www.jeffersonstate.com
April marks the beginning of group weekday evening rides with the Shasta Pedali. This group of die-hard cyclists rides all over Siskiyou County, with challenging hill climbs, long distance rides and shorter, rolling terrain rides.
The group evening rides, on Tuesday and Thursday, start in Mt. Shasta at 5:45pm and generally are short to mid distances that fit well into the evening hours. Over the weekends they plan long rides, like the Shasta Roubaix, on April 5th, in honor of the classic Paris to Roubaix race that takes place April 6th. A cross bike or mountain bike is recommended for this 45-60 mile ride on dirt roads, gravel roads, paved roads. It requires commitment and determination, as this is a rain or shine, no drop ride.
The group switches back to its road bikes on April 13th for the ‘Taxman catch me if you can ride’ – an 80 mile route with some serious climbing. If that sounds a bit intimidating, don’t fret – the Pedali usually has a shorter, less intense route scheduled as well.
If you’re into road riding, the Pedali is a great resource for learning about routes in Siskiyou County. Go to the Pedali website for a calendar of rides and events, brief route descriptions and membership info – oh, and don’t miss out on the bicycle poetry page!
Here in the mountains, spring is often a time for getting out for some pretty-hard core activities on our namesake mountain. It’s time to climb the mountain, and soak up the spring corn while ski mountaineering.
14,162′ Mount Shasta is host to two guide services that offer summit trips, skills clinics and ski/board mountaineering trips. Don’t be fooled by the occasional online trip report that refers to climbing Mount Shasta as a “hike”. It’s no hike – you’re going to be sucking wind for hours while kicking your crampons into the snowy slope as you follow your guide through the early morning darkness after your alpine start – which could be as early as 2am. You’ll be pushing your limits with the slope degree and climbing skills – this isn’t just hiking boots and a pack, you’ll be sporting hard plastic mountaineering boots, crampons, and an ice axe. Oh, by the way, you’re likely to burn around 10,000 calories on summit day. Sounds like more than a hike to me. That said, Shasta is a training mountain for those looking to climb 14ers and beyond.
You’ll drink in views while you’re pushing up Avalanche Gulch – spying Mount Lassen to the south and Mount McLaughlin to the north and the paltry line of the Eddy Mountains and the Trinity Alps to the west. To get to the summit you’ll have to push yourself up around the heart, through the Red Banks and up the final grade to the summit. You’ll exult your accomplishment and take some summit photos – then you’ll turn right around to get down before the snow gets too soft and rocks start to tumble down the gulch.
If all this info gets you stoked, check in with the guide services: Shasta Mountain Guides and Sierra Wilderness Seminars. You can also get acquainted with the mountain by visiting the Shasta Avalanche Center.
Dunsmuir is Siskiyou County’s art community. It’s a little funky, a little cool, and it’s putting on events in April for music lovers and aspiring artists.
• Sunday, April 13th the Window Box Bonsai Accents & Art Gallery will host a bonsai workshop with local bonsai expert Jim Scott. The workshop, from 9am to noon, will feature Shimpaku junipers – prized for Bonsai culture because of their fine textured foliage and patterned, swirling trunk and branches.
– Workshop attendees should bring chopsticks and bonsai tools, if possible. All supplies, a #3 tree, ceramic dish, and soils are included in the $60 price. Window Box Bonsai Accents & Art Gallery is located on Sacramento Ave. For more info contact Window Box at 235-0963 or find the bonsai page at www.snowcrest.net/windowboxnursery.
• April 18th – 20th the Rostel will be hosting a photography workshop, The Visual Narrative and Landscape as Portrait, with instructors Emilio Bañuelos and Elena Carrasco. The workshop is limited to 12 students, and pre-registration is necessary. For more info see the website at www.nrcpa.org
• On Saturday, April 26th, six galleries in the historic downtown district will hold receptions to celebrate their eclectic mix of art, gifts, re-purposed items, antiques and photography. The Boxcar Gallery, the Brown Trout Gallery & Café, the Window Box Bonsai Accents & Art Gallery, Ruddle Cottage, the Rostel Gallery and Amtrak Depot will be showing a variety of works.
While in Dunsmuir, be sure to come with an appetite, not only for art, but also for tasty food. Several outstanding restaurants and cafes will tempt your palate as you wander the downtown area: Sengthongs, Café Maddelena, Cornerstone Café and Brown Trout Café all offer wonderful selections. To learn more about Dunsmuir, go to www.visitsiskiyou.org.
Sunshine makes me want to hike. Fortunately I’m not alone in that pursuit. The Siskiyou Wanders is a dedicated group of hikers who hike every Thursday. Through the winter they’ve been skiing and snowshoeing, but now that we’re headed for spring they’ve got hikes on the calendar. Primarily the hikes scheduled in March are road hikes in low-lying areas. Get out and stretch your legs with this group. These folks are dog friendly, so bring your four-legged friend along too.
Coming up on Thursday, March 6th they’ll be exploring a private ranch between Gazelle and Callahan. Other March hikes will explore Sheep Rock, Hoy Road and Badger Mountain. Visit their website to view the calendar and get details on hike times and meeting places. http://rezanderson.mystarband.net/default.htm
To learn more about trails in the area, go to the Mt. Shasta Trail Association website at www.mtshastatrails.org
So far we’ve enjoyed bright blue skies in the early days of March, and these blue bird days make for great spring skiing. Here in the North State snow enthusiasts benefit from both the Mt. Shasta Ski Park and the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center.
Downhill skiers and riders can enjoy the slopes at the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, where March offers that last dazzling period of winter fun. It’s a great time to continue to build your skills and to bask in the sunlight while getting your kicks on the snow. A number of competitions and demos planned in March can introduce folks to new equipment as well as the community atmosphere of ski racing.
- The Fifth Season and Shasta BaseCamp will be hosting demos throughout March, so you can try out new gear.
- The Paul Gianera Memorial Race (March 8th & 9th), the Coyote Classic (March 14th, 15th & 16th) and the Over the Hill Classic (March 22nd) are all friendly events for kids, adults and seniors who want to try ski racing.
- Those who are at home in the terrain park, or excited to watch the feats of those who are, can check out the Rail Jam on March 21st.
Spring skiing and riding is great – remember to bring your ballcap and sunscreen and be prepared to catch some rays as you slide the slopes. The Ski Park’s final day of operation will be April 13th. To learn more about the Mt. Shasta Ski Park and its events, visit the website at www.skipark.com or call guest services at 530.926.8610.
If ski touring is more your style, head on up to the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center where you can click into cross country skis to tour the beautiful forest setting. The Nordic Center offers classic, skate, children’s skis and snowshoe rentals, as well as lessons on the weekends. The trails provide tantalizing glimpses of soaring Mount Shasta as you leave the base area, and as you ski on you’ll come upon striking full views of the mountain.
In March, the Nordic Center will host an Adaptive Ski Weekend on Saturday, March 8th for those with disabilities. Then coming up on March 22nd, the Nordic community will celebrate with the Ernie Woodfield Memorial Party Tour, described as “a party on (and off!) skis”, with food, entertainment, and raffle prizes.
To learn more about the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center, located on Ski Park Highway, visit their website at www.mtshastanordic.org.
Townie Activities | Visit Siskiyou Staff March 31, 2008 | 
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