Art openings Nov 1st

We’ve got a handful of art shows opening this weekend, so get out there and get “kultcha’d“.

• In Yreka you’ll find Little Altars Everywhere at the Liberty Arts Gallery (108 W Miner St), where you’re encouraged to wear a Halloween costume to the opening, set for Friday night from 5-8pm. The show features cultural traditions from around the world expressed through images, alters and artifacts that guide the spirit and honor the dead.  Open Oct 28th-Nov 29th.

• In Dunsmuir, the Rostel Gallery (5743 Sacramento Ave) is opening Introduccion, a collaboration of international artists with by Black Boots Ink, on Saturday, Nov 1st from 7-9 pm. The photography exhibit features a mix of Californian and Mexican photographers working in the environs of Guadalajara in August, 2008, including local photographers Rika Noda, John Rickard, and James Gilmore.

• In Mt. Shasta, the Tim Corcoran Gallery (105 East Lake St) is hosting Chris Schneider’s Earth Angel Series. The opening is from 4-8pm on Saturday, Nov 1st. The collective show includes photography by Tim Corcoran, Schneider’s multi-media artwork and Julie Boettler’s sculpture and first bronze piece.

Sunset over Castle Lake – glorious!

The dog and I went up to Castle Lake yesterday evening (28 Oct 08) for sunset. It’s a short drive out of Mt. Shasta, you can get there from town in just about 15 minutes. The quick drive is worth it – the sunset over the lake, which sits in a steeply carved glacial bowl, is just lovely with the fall colors. There was a couple coming down from an afternoon hike to Heart Lake and a cyclist pedaling up for his view of the sunset. An added bonus – on the way down you get great views of Mount Shasta. Below are some photos to encourage you to make the drive. If you go up in early afternoon you can get some hiking in before coming back to the lake to enjoy the sunset.

This is one of those places where you can really slow down and take your time to enjoy the place. This time of year it’s very quiet at Castle Lake, since the summer visitors are gone. To the right of the lake a trail takes you along its shore where you can sit on a boulder and watch the surface of the water as it ripples and turns from molten to lead as the sun goes down through the notch in the mountains. To the left of the lake, over the outlet stream, a trail leads up above the lake, giving you the opportunity to look down on its waters and the colorful ring of trees and shrubs dressed in golds and reds as winter approaches. Which ever trail you take, or if you choose to stay close to the parking area, slow down and enjoy so you can take home more than photos.

Howling good times to support Siskiyou Sled Dog Race

Get your groove on at the “Dancing for the Dogs” contra dance November 15th in Mt. Shasta. This a “fun”draiser for the Siskiyou Sled Dog Race coming up January 22nd-25th. The contra dance and benefit auction will bring people together for a fun evening with contra caller Annie Kramer and the band Highly Paid Professionals.

Contra dancing is described as English Country dancing, similiar to square dancing, but set to Celtic-Irish acoustical music. Don’t worry if you don’t know the steps. Kramer will be walking you through the basic steps and moves in a half hour lesson from 7-7:30pm that evening. Then you’ll be all set burn up the dance floor to Irish jigs, reels and waltzs by the Highly Paid Professionals.

As a fundraiser for the Siskiyou Sled Dog Race, the evening will include a silent and live auction, along with desert, beverage (non-alcoholic) and root beer float sales.  Presale tickets are available at the Woodsman Hotel and Chamber of Commerce in Mt. Shasta, and at Scott Valley Bank offices in Yreka, Mt. Shasta, Weed, Etna and Fort Jones. Tickets will also be sold at the door – $10 for individuals, $15 for couples and $25 for families.

For more info check the Siskiyou Sled Dog Race website.

H2O Manifesto opens in Mt. Shasta Oct 16th

H2O Manifesto opens Oct. 16th, bringing to the stage a unique view of the issues surrounding water, its uses in water bottling facilities, and its effects on people and the environment. Krista Miller, renowned dancer and founder of the Mt. Shasta City Dance Theater, conceived the story that is communicated through drama, dance, music and lighting.  Miller’s story explores the challenges face by a farming family when they are offered big money to sell their water rights for bottling.

“Miller and company, along with a talented group of actors and musicians have created a  balanced view of the subject. Although the spirit, sacredness and importance of water is praised through music and dance, the production is not an anti-bottling rant,” said Paul Boerger in the Mt. Shasta Herald this week. “Indeed, there is a compromise offered at the end that will surprise you. H2O Manifesto is an entertaining, original and balanced look at complex water issues that is definitely worth the price of a ticket.”

Following each performance, there will be a public forum with discussions on the issues led by professor of water resources law and policy Greg Weber.
H2O Manifesto runs at the Sisson Museum (1 N. Old Stage Rd) October 16-19th and 23-25th at 7:30 p.m., and the 19th and 26th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Village Books (advanced purchase is recommended). A Gala fundraiser and cast party will follow the matinee on the 26th; tickets for the gala are $30-$50. Visit www.siskiyouartscouncil.org/h2o, or call 530-859-1309 for more information.

Salmon fishing takes off in October

Fall salmon fishing is taking off on the Klamath River and getting attention in the press. Folks expect it to be a good fall and winter for fishing on the Klamath – take a look at what Crescent City’s The Daily Triplicate had to report about the fall Chinook run below Iron Gate Dam. So far fishing has been best from the dam down to around the Fish Hook Restaurant in Hornbrook. This is an area that’s fairly easy for beginners to fish from a drift boat, and has seen a number of boats on the water mid-month, when the fishing really started to pick up.

The fall Chinook fishing has a short window, and is usually best until the end of October. Guides and fishermen have been watching and waiting for the fish to come up river, and now that they’re moving, fisherman are coming to the Klamath. “It should be pretty dang good this year,” said guide Guy Ives, who you’ll sometimes find at The Tackle Shop in Yreka. “It’s going to be good, and it’s going to be crowded.”

If you’re intersted in fall salmon fishing on the Klamath River, check in with one of these fishing guides -
Seiad Valley Guide Service: (530)-496-3291 or  www.steelheadguides.com
SC Guide Service: (530) 905-0758 or  www.caldwellfishing.com
Yreka Tackle: (530) 841.1901 or  www.yrekatackle.com
Three Rivers Guide Service: (530) 925-7990 or  www.threeriversguideservice.com
Jack Trout Guide Service: (530) 926-4540  or www.jacktrout.com
Klamath River Outfitters: (530) 469-3349  or www.klamathriveroutfitters.com

Mytical State of Jefferson makes a comeback

Here in Northern California we are living in the mythical State of Jefferson – a dream of Southern Oregon and Northern California residents from years gone by that just won’t let go. The heyday for Jefferson was back in November of 1941 when the secession movement gained popularity and attention from major newspapers. Locals were blocking old Highway 99 to distribute info about the effort to become the 49th state and even went so far as to elect a governor of the State of Jefferson. Everything came to a halt with the attack on Pearl Harbor and the movement never regained the momentum and fever of 1941. You can read a full account of the story at the State of Jefferson website.

The idea of the State of Jefferson lives on with residents, and when traveling Siskiyou County you’ll  see the Double X seal. In Yreka, Scott Valley and Happy Camp keep an eye of for Jefferson t-shirts, hats and license plate frames for sale.

While the State of Jefferson lives on in the hearts and minds of its constituents, it does surface in the mainstream world. Siskiyoutopia recently reported on an article in the San Francisco Chronicle that is getting a lot of attention. You can read the story at SF Gate, and then head over to the State of Jefferson blog to keep up on the chatter.

For those of you not interested in the politics of the story, you can get to know the State of Jefferson as visitors. Take a look at the story “California’s State of Jefferson: Part Myth, Part Reality” that ran in RV Journal’s fall 2004 issue.

A plethora of pumpkins

If you’re looking for pumpkins, Hunter Orchards outside of Grenada certainly can hit the spot. John and Kirsten get creative when they order seeds, so you’ll find a wide variety of pumpkins – from bulging orange globes to petite, soft skinned dainties to alien-looking green and blue hued pumpkins. It’s fun just handling them and imagining the kinds of faces you’d carve into them.

I went out last year with my friend Maria and her then nearly 5-year-old daughter, Miranda. That little girl had us trooping all over the field, checking things out. Maria tended to go for the big pumpkins – you know how some people are about finding the biggest pumpkin. But Miranda, being a wee little person, liked the tiny, hand-held variety, and as she held each little globe she made up names and stories for them. She wasn’t excited about carving her little beauties, but she conceded that the bigger pumpkins could be for carving. Oh, the compromise.

For me, one of the best parts about going to Hunter’s is the farmstead store. We just had the first snow on the mountain of this fall, and the cool air pushed me even deeper into food preservation mode. I’m like a squirrel stuffing her cheeks with as many acorns as she can to ferret them away. John and Kirsten offer a number of kinds of apples – so you can choose from tart McIntoshes, sweet Galas, empire (a McIntosh/red delicious cross) and spartan (a tart McIntosh/pippin blend). I buy a bunch of apples to make homemade sauce, this year I’m thinking of going back for pears to can cinnamon pears in apple juice. I always get a bunch of winter squash (another area where you’ll find lots of variety) and if I’ve got any money leftover I buy decorative gourds as well.

While Hunter Orchard is great, it’s not the only place to pick a pumpkin in October. In McCloud every Saturday the Pumpkin Train goes chugging up into the hills to stop in the woods where a vast selection of pumpkins are laid out for kids to choose from. The train folks offer hot apple cider, hot chocolate and other concessions to keep you warm on these chilly days. The kids can play games at the depot before boarding the train, or you stand by to watch off loading passengers hugging their pumpkins.

There is still plenty of time to get to McCloud for the McCloud Railway’s Pumpkin Trains: Oct 18th and Oct 25th trains depart at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm (be sure to call for reservations as this is a very popular event). Once you’re through on the train, if you really want to load the kids up on goodies, head over to the McCloud Mercantile to the Sugar Pine Candy Shoppe and the White Mountain Soda Fountain. Yum!

McCloud River Railroad Pumpkin Train
The depot is located in downtown McCloud.
Call 800.733.2141 for reservations. $18 per adult, $12 per child under 12.

Just outside of Weed on Highway 97, Papa’s Pumpkin Patch offers another great opportunity for fall fun. They planted 1200 pumpkin plants this spring – so that’s alotta pumpkins! Papa’s has a big selection of pumpkins, and these cool, painted wooden feathers you can buy to stick into your pumpkin to make a pumpkin turkey. Indian corn and decorative gourds are also available. They’ve got a grassy lawn with a great view of the mountain where you can picnic while you visit, so bring a basket of treats and your camera for fall photo ops.

Papa’s Pumpkin Patch
Located 3.8 miles out of Weed on Hwy 97 at 4916 Solus Drive.
Call 530.938.2755 for info

Up in Yreka, you can board the Yreka Western Railroad’s Blue Goose steam train for a ride out into the farmland of the Shasta Valley for great views and pumpkin picking. The train stops out at the field where kids get to choose their favorite pumpkin from a wide selection. Trains leave the historic depot at 2pm on Saturday October 18th and 25th (reservations are required).

Yreka Western Railroad
Located east of Interstate 5, just off the central Yreka exit.
Call 800.973.5277  for info and reservations. $12 per person.

Uplifting films at Mt. Shasta Film Festival

Below is a dispatch from our friend Joanne Steele, who spent nearly 9 hours with her husband watching films Friday afternoon on the opening day of the Mt. Shasta International Film Festival (click the link to see what’s showing)- that’s today, October 10th. She’s right – if you’re here this weekend, get yourself in to see a film or two!

Here she is:

Friday, Oct 10th, 12: 55:  We’re settled into Theater 2 at the fifth annual Mt. Shasta International Film Festival, ready for a full weekend of films.  I’m already impressed by the organization in the theater. Volunteers are cleaning, directing, greeting, corralling and advising. Festival-goers are bustling in, some from as far away as Pennsylvania! A group of women from San Carlos came up for a weekend of good films! Redding and Sacramento are well represented. And lots of Siskiyou County folks are taking advantage of this great event.

According to Jenny with the Festival, there are still tickets available. Jeffery Winters deserves high scores for selecting topnotch films, so every empty seat is a missed opportunity! If it’s still the weekend and you are a tank of gas away from Mt. Shasta, come on up (or down).

Right now I’m sitting next to 12 year old Dominic who directed a short that will be showing tomorrow (Saturday) morning. I’m told that he is so talented, his film compares well with everything else showing this weekend. I love the idea that festivals give independent filmmakers an opportunity to screen high quality offerings, AND if gives film junkies like me the chance to see a full range of the creative potential of the medium.
Lights out – more later…

We saw “Validation” and “A Man Named Pearl”, both a real shot in the arm on a day when the financial world is literally falling apart. Fortuitous that the Film Fest is on a weekend when we all need reassurance that all is really well with the greater world. People like Pearl Fryar are still creating beauty, the Daughters of Wisdom are still hold the spiritual space for all of us, and Desmond Tutu is still out there teaching us about forgiveness.

Tomorrow and Sunday I’ll be seeing more films – funny stories, sad stories and scary stories, and after a full weekend of being reminded through exceptional films of how well the world really works, I’ll be better prepared as will all attendees, to face what Monday has to hand us.

A quick swing by the refreshment stand for a LARGE popcorn to last into the evening, and back into the theater…
Happy Weekend.
Joanne Steele

time for a sense of place

My husband and I just returned from our honeymoon at Yosemite, where we had the usual “fast food” Yosemite experiences: sharing the tunnel view point with a crowd of people, mixing with the swarming crowds and families at Glacier Point, waiting in line in the Valley for everything – food, restrooms, visitors info. We also had the joy of finding a part of the Valley all to ourselves. By accident we ended up on the horse trail going out to Tenaya Canyon and Mirror Lake (which was totally dry this time of year) where the only other people we saw were in a horse party that passed quickly. For the rest of the hour and a half hike we had the place to ourselves. We soaked up the quiet, stopped to run our hands over boulders, paused to talk about the color of the leaves or the quality of the fall light. The horse poop really didn’t bother us that much. Occasionally we could see the main, paved trail across the canyon where there were bikes, hikers and photographers. Even though the main trail wasn’t that crowded it sure was nice to be in our own little world; it gave us the opportunity to really appreciate the setting we were in and to enjoy it in our very own way. We weren’t rushed by the flow of traffic, we didn’t hurry away from a spot as others approached, we didn’t hear conversations or camera shutters. It was glorious!

When we got home to Mount Shasta one of the first things I did was to go for a walk in Sisson Meadows (right in town) and sit on the bench to just watch the clouds swirling around the mountain that had recently been dusted with snow. It was quiet, I was the only one there on a week day afternoon, I got to enjoy it in my own way. I took my time, waiting for a view of the mountain to open up so I could see the new snow.

These two experiences got me thinking that one of the really great things about Siskiyou County is the nearly limitless opportunities to get time outdoors to yourself. You can step off a hiking trail to sit on a ridgeline or a rock where you can view lakes, rivers and mountains. You can find solitary places around our lake shores and in our forests and meadows. You can stop to smell the wildflowers for as long as you want, because usually there isn’t someone right behind you on the trail. You really get to enjoy the sense of place, to let it soak into you to provide a rich experience that we often don’t get at these “fast food” style outdoor destinations. It’s hard to really sit with the beauty of a place where there are tour buses divesting crowds in the parking lot behind you.

If you’re considering a fall trip to Siskiyou County, I urge you to search out this kind of moment for yourself and your family. It will be easy to find. Choose your spot along lakes, rivers, in view of the mountain or broad rural valleys and just sit: put words to the qualities of the fall light, marvel at the sugar coat of snow on Mount Shasta, let yourself breath in the crisp air. Take time to get a sense of the place. We hurry through so much of our lives, this is my call to you to take pause, to take time for yourselves.

Enjoy.