Yreka graces the pages of Via Magazine’s May issue

Yreka is featured in the May ’09 issue of Via Magazine. According to the Siskiyou Daily News, “The two-page piece, by Peter Jaret, begins, “About the odd name. Some sources say it means ‘white mountain’ in the language of the Shasta Indians. Others think it arose from a misspelling of eureka. And then there’s the tale of a traveler passing through the booming California Gold Rush town who saw a canvas sign for a new bakery being hung and, reading if from behind and backward, mistook it for the name of the town. Yreka!”
The article gives a brief history of Yreka and features two photographs of West Miner Street and inside the Siskiyou County Museum. It also provides information on Yreka Gold Rush Day, set for June 20 this year, and in a section titled “If you’re going … ,” notes a number of area basics, attractions, shops, restaurants, hotels and coming events.”

Touring the Little Shasta Valley and Montague

We went for a long afternoon drive yesterday through the Little Shasta Valley, which lies well to the east of I-5. It’s secluded and full of cattle pastures and rolling hills. We headed out because my husband was in the mood for a drive and he wanted to photograph the Little Shasta Church. The Church is very well maintained and picturesque, and quite popular for wedding. We’ve got a very striking photo of it at home, and wanted to see what we could with our own cameras. We took Harry Cash Road up from A-12, because it’s so pretty (that’s where the Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms is located). We went through the old gate and walked the lawn at the church, shooting photos and admiring the curtains of spring rain (they weren’t falling on us at the time). Then we took a little side trip into Montague for snacks and drinks at the mini mart (you can gas up here too). Then we headed back out into the Little Shasta Valley. We did a loop past the Shasta Valley Wildlife Refuge, and we surprised at the amount of water in that area and the geese floating on the shallow pools. The loop out to Hart Road brought us back to Harry Cash Road, and so back to the Church. We stopped again.

Once we stopped at the Church we decided to head off onto some side roads, and what a wonderful afternoon that made for. We drove past the old Soule Ranch, with it’s glorious 120-year old Queen Ann Victorian that, while in need of refurbishment, just pulses with life. We stopped at the Historical Marker on the corner of Soule Lane to read about Tailholt, a town started in the 1880s that survived up into the 1930s. According to the marker, Tailholt had a post office, grist mill, saloon, blacksmith shop, race track, ball field and a few houses, until it disappeared. All you see know is an open pasture where the Soule’s cattle used to graze.

Then we wandered out Willow Creek Road, passing Table Rock, Solomons Temple and Temple Rock. The road took us up and down many hills, through a narrow drainage in these hills touched with the subtle green and pick of lower growing spring grasses and flowers. We simply enjoyed being out in the spring weather, seeing the new growth of spring and exploring roads we’d never been on. There weren’t any attractions to stop for, no tourist shops or interpretive signs, just wide open country that felt remote and protected. On our way out to Airport Road we stopped to take photos of a small heard of bison, and then later we saw antelope.

We headed north, thinking about going up to Hornbrook, but turned aside at Ager-Beswick Road, which goes out to Copco Lake. We saw the marker for the old stage stop that reads “All Roads Lead to Ager” and the old Ager Hotel. Again a very hilly, remote setting; although certainly more houses out here. We turned back after awhile, not wanting to drive all the way back to the lake. We passed Shasta View Vineyards, then stopped in Montague, thinking of dinner. The Corner Club was advertising fettucino alfredo as its dinner special, and that place is always good for a steak. We thought about visiting our friends at Shepherds Dream, where we got our super comfy wool comforter, but it was late in the evening, so we headed south back to Mt. Shasta.

For any of you yearning for a nice Sunday drive (no matter what day of the week it is), I highly recommend this drive. The country is beautiful and kinda lonesome, and there is something new to see over every hilltop. Keep your eyes in the fields and hills where you’ll all kinds of beauty (and maybe some buffalo). Take a map, if you’re not the sort to trust your sense of direction and luck. We found a northern California map that has all of the little side roads on it, although a Klamath National Forest map will help too. You can find suggestions for other scenic drives in the area at VisitSiskiyou.org. If you’re doing this drive in the summer, you can even contemplate taking a road over the hills and into Butte Valley for a longer adventure (be sure you’ve got a full tank of gas for this one). It’s a wonderful thing, driving around with no destination in mind, and something we’re lacking in our fast-paced world. Sunday drives are a thing of our childhood, and it was with child-like delight that we explored the Little Shasta Valley.

Get to know Mt. Shasta’s spiritual community

For many people who come to Mt. Shasta there is the sense that something is different here. Some people strongly feel the presence of the mountain, connecting in a variety of ways. If you come seeking, there are spiritual guides, healers, musicians and artists who are in tune with the deeper energies of this place. One way to start to connect to that is through the activities at The Flying Lotus, which calls its self a “community activation center”. The Lotus is right in the middle of town, next to Berryvale Grocery. You can’t miss the bright colors and banners flying. The Lotus has a busy calendar of events – mixing performances with community co-op sales, dinner events and healing workshops (see their May list of events below). The center is also home to the Mt. Shasta City Dance Theater and The Flying Lotus Movement Center classes.

Another entry into Mt. Shasta’s more spiritual realms is offered by Shasta Vortex Adventures, which offers an array of outdoor guided tours and integrative health care. Its list of offerings include hiking, sacred site treks, guided vision quests, retreats, scenic bus tours, transformational massage, psychic hypnotherapy, soul retrieval and matrix energetics. It’s quite the selection.

Mt. Shasta is a magnet for spiritual seekers, and even if you’re not one, it’s interesting to learn about because it gives you a better feel for what makes this place special. You can peruse a list of Mt. Shasta’s alternative businesses and healers to give you an idea of what’s possible here. To get a better understanding of the spiritual happenings around Mt. Shasta, check out Mt. Shasta Magazine, Mt. Shasta’s locally produced spiritual community publication. You might even consider attending the Wesak Celebration (themed “Embracing Unconditional Love”), May 8-10th, where spiritual practitioners, healers and guides, vendors, musicians and speakers converge for this annual “spiritual family reunion”. If you’re interested, be sure to click through to the website because you have to buy tickets in advance.

There is plenty to see just walking the streets of Mt. Shasta. Village Books carries a bunch of spiritual books, several written by local authors. There are couple of crystal stores and other off beat shops. So get out there and explore.

May at The Flying Lotus
May 1 @ TBA Beltane Outdoor Community Ritual Theatre
May 3 @ Noon  Oceanic Breath Group
May 8 @ 7:30pm Alexa Sunshine Rose in Concert barefoot indie folk
May 9 @ TBA  Deonesea’s Birth Day Celebration
May 10 @ 1:30pm  Mother’s Day Ceremony please bring a fresh flower, poetry and music of the Mother
May 17 @ 9am  Healing Workshop with Andree and Juvy
May 17 @ 7pm  Qadim with Eliyahu Sills in Concert  middleastern www.QadimMusic.com
May 23 @ 5pm  East Indian Dinner Theatre call for ticket info 530-918-9342
May 24 @ 1pm  Trade Co-op  call 925-8018 to participate
May 29 @ 7:30pm  Beth White and The Secret Mission indiemysticfolk
May 31 @ 7pm  Eostar and Friends in Concert  inspirationalchantgroup

The Flying Lotus is located at 315 “A” S. Mt. Shasta Blvd. (upstairs). For info call (530) 926-0527 

H2O Manifesto on the stage in Yreka on May 8th

H20 Manifesto takes to the stage for another season, with a show at the Yreka Community Theater set for May 8th. Director, choreographer and dancer, Krista Miller brings the story of water issues of the West to the theater, telling the story of a family faced with the option of selling the family farm’s water rights to a water bottling plant. The production incorporates dance, music, art and theater, and always includes a discussion period after the performance. The play is co-written by Jason Gigliotti, and is said to be based on the story of a local, Shasta Valley family. It includes a musical score by GRAMMY nominee Gentle Thunder with additional composition by David Schanaker.

The show starts a 7:30pm at the Yreka Community Theater, located at 810 N. Oregon Street (near the high school). Tickets are $15 for adults, and can be purchased by calling 530.859.1309 or visiting Nature’s Kitchen, the Yreka Chamber of Commerce or at Village Books in Mt. Shasta.

Live music at Sengthongs & The Stage Door in May

If you’re going to be in the south Siskiyou towns of Mt. Shasta, Dunsmuir or McCloud in May, be sure to keep an eye out for the live entertainment opportunities offered by Sengthong’s Bluesky Room in Dunsmuir and The Stage Door in Mt. Shasta. Both are small, intimate venues that offer tasty dinners, and they are the night life in this area if you’re looking for live music. Plus, it’s great to support these little spots, where locals join you in dancing and grooving because we’ll really appreciate these resources.

On tap in May at Sengthongs:
May 2: Ron Hoopes & Freshfire Jazz Trio (a local band)
May 5: Yogoman Burning (Reggae,hip hop,classic soul and jazz)
May 9: Brothers of the Baladi (traditional Middle Eastern to international rock)
May 16: Five Eyed Hand & Blue Turtle Seduction (2 great dance bands)
May 22: Dave Amour Band (rock-n-blues)

At The Stage Door in May:
May 8 (8pm): Jason Connoly (acoustic singer/songwriter)
May 2 (8pm): Rock Creek Crossing (mighty bluegrass)
May 15 (8pm): Sacred Sound System with Germain.
May 22 (8pm): Dr. Sketchy’s burlesque life drawing party (wow, you’ve got to go check that out)
May 23 (8pm): Fat Sack o Bluegrass (do I need to say it?)
May 29 (8pm): Wild Blues Yonder (hot blues from Shasta County)
May 30 (8pm): Community open floor World Dance Night.

Mutton Busting at the Pleasure Park – May 3rd

The Siskiyou County Mutton Busting Series kicks off next weekend at the 62nd Annual Pleasure Park Rodeo, starting at noon on Sunday, May 3rd just outside of Etna. This the the first of the local junior events that will lead to the championship contest that will be held at the Siskiyou Golden Fair on Saturday, August 15th. The junior events start the day, with the professional rodeo starting at 1:30pm with bareback bronc riding.

The pro rodeo brings cowboys from around he West for traditional events like saddle bronc, team roping, calf roping, bull riding, steer wrestling, girls barrel racing and girls breakaway roping. This is a long tradition in the Scott Valley and rodeo weekend is big fun.  Saturday evening is jackpot team roping, starting at 6pm, and you can watch for free. Sunday morning starts with the Jobs Daughters all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Masonic Hall in Etna from 6-11am. The parade starts at 10:30am, giving you plenty of time to watch, before heading out the rodeo grounds for the pre-rodeo at noon with kids calf riding and mutton busting. Events for local adults are saddle cow riding and junior steer riding.

First place mutton busting winners from the Scott Valley Pleasure Park Rodeo (May 3), the Montague Junior Rodeo (May 23-24), the Scott Valley Junior Rodeo (May 25), the Sheriff’s Posse (June 27) and the Scott Valley Pleasure Park Old Timers Rodeo (July 25) will compete at the championships at the Siskiyou Golden Fair Rodeo. Saddle cow riding winners will also advance to a championship to be held at the Fair in August. After an afternoon at the rodeo grounds you’re bound to be hungry, so sit down with the locals and the cowboys at the Annaul Ham Dinner at the Grange Hall out in Greenview. Or stop by the suggested Etna options described below.

This event is a hoot! And it’s a great excuse to head out to the Scott Valley, about 30 minutes drive west of I-5 from Yreka. Scott Valley is home to a lot of agricultural land – right now the alfalfa is being irrigated and it’s just beautiful over there (great for cyclists). The little towns of Fort Jones, Etna, Callahan and Greenview don’t see a lot of traffic from visitors – you’ve got to be willing to slow down, look around and talk to the locals if you’re really going to get a sense for the place.

You’ll want to stop at the Etna Brewery for lunch, then walk up the hill to Scott Valley Drug to savor a big, fat delicious ice cream sundae. You can also check out pizza or the Western Burger rodeo special at the Etna Deli on Main Street. Bob’s Ranch House, out towards the north end of town on Highway 3, is a favorite place to get a big dinner. Have a look around town, and if you’re an outdoor lover, start asking the locals where to hike, fish, horseback ride and backpack come summer. The Scott Valley is the jump off point for more backcountry trails than you’d care to count. With the Scott and Salmon Rivers nearby you’ll want to talk about swimming holes and spring rafting; with the Russian and Marble Mountain Wildernesses ringing the Valley you’ll want to talk about trails. Stop in at the Ranger Station in Fort Jones to hear about which trails melt out the earliest and high mountain lakes with the best fishing. Take this opportunity to plan, because seriously, you’ll want to do it all, and most of us just don’t have time for that.

Now, back to the May 3rd rodeo. The rodeo grounds are just out of town on Highway 3, if you ask around you’ll find it easy enough. You’ll notice there is another rodeo coming up at the Pleasure Park on July 25th – come on back for that one too! The Scott Valley Bluegrass Festival July 18th & 19th is a two-day, family-friendly event that is a great time in the Valley. This place is so beautiful it’s real easy to fall in love. You’ll wanna come back.

Earth Day festivals and entertainment – April 25th & 26th

There is plenty on the calendar this weekend, and the weather is swinging back to spring, so get out there and enjoy!

Sacramento River Spring Festival – Saturday in downtown Dunsmuir. Check out exhibits by local school kids, local artists, Fish and Game, Fish and Wildlife, Adopt a Tree and Go Batty, and lots more at this annual event put on by the Upper Sacramento River Exchange. Sacramento Ave and Pine Street will host this annual festival. It’s a great time to take a walk at Tauhindauli Park , the site of the Festival’s plant walk at 10am, or the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens. Brown Trout Cafe will be hosting a street BBQ from 11am-3pm and the Kids’ Factory will put on the Waterhed Operetta at 1pm. Head on back to Brown Trout from 3-8pm for a BBQ chicken dinner at live music after 5:30pm.

Casino Night in Weed – The Weed Rotary and Weed Revitalization Committee are putting on the annual Western Casino Night, beginning at 6:30pm in the Weed Mercantile Mall. Craps, blackjack, bingo, roulette, and poker are on tap, and the $20 ticket includes food, a drink ticket and $100 in chips.

Earth Day Faire – Mt. Shasta City Park from noon to 5pm. Check out a number of informatioal booths and workshops, including a talk titiled “Industrial Hemp and its Benefits”, which starts at noon in the lower lodge. At 1pm Fish and Wildlife will give the “Klamath River 101″ presentation that discusses dam removal. At 4pm a nature walk will explore the Park and its plant life.

Check out a full line up live music this weekend – bands are playing Mt. Shasta and Dunsmuir.

Spring at Castle Crags State Park makes for great hiking

We went hiking Thursday at Castle Crags State Park - and man, was it gorgeous (in a very early spring kind of way). What gets me fired up is that the shooting stars bloom so early down there. We hiked the Flume Trail, which is actually outside of the main body of the Park, where there are some specific areas/soils where these flowers grow. The dogwood trees were just starting to bloom too, what a bonus!

Hiking in the Crags is great – there are so many different views and types of vegetation. The Flume Trail starts low – fairly close to Castle Creek – and climbs up to meet the Pacific Crest Trail on the south-facing side of the Park.  Flume Creek and the Dog Trail both lead to the PCT and all of these trails have spring runoff that creates small waterfalls this time of year. Mostly these are running through small canyons gorged through granite, so it’s really pretty, and quite rugged. Often times the granite gets covered in curtains of moss, and with what looks like elephant ear coming up (tall pink flowers right now) and ferns getting their fill of spring moisture, these narrow little canyons look nearly tropical. Then you’re back on the trail and walking through dry pine/manzanita forests, then it’s through a ghostly oak forest where leaves are barely thinking of making an appearance, then back to a sweet little drainage. It makes for good hiking.

The PCT is home to the area’s mostly popular spring waterfall, Burstarse Falls.  If you go, heed the name – Burstarse refers to falling on your butt on the water-slick granite. Really. It’s a ways out from the Dog Trail trailhead – over a hour of hiking believe (so pack a picnic, yum). When we were there on Thursday there was a 20 minute delay on the road to the trail head, and being impatient to get outdoors, we didn’t wait and opted for the Flume Trail. The road delay should be cleared up in a few days, I would think, so you should still be able to get out to Burstarse when it’s running high. We did get to enjoy the verdant canyon and falls made by Dump Creek (photos included).

Some of the trails in the main body of the Park are well known for the orchids that bloom around this time of year, so if you visit, ask the ranger about these beauties. You’ll find some orchids and wildflowers on the Rook Creek Trail, and good views of the Crags from the Dome Trail and Indian Springs Trail. There’s still snow up high, so if you’re planning on heading into the actual Crags (the rocks themselves), then check in at the office. You can also hike the short loop from the office (Indian Springs) for a quick outdoor outing. If you find yourself hungry and without fixins in your pack, stop at Ammirati’s – right by the park entrance – where they’ve got lots of snacks and ENORMOUS burritos (my favorite is Sofa Dad).

If you’re heading north on I-5 this Park is really a great place to stop. It’s just off the freeway, the hiking is great and the view of the Crags can satisify your yearnings for Yosemite (it’s got a similar look to it) for now. You’ll also catch stunning views of Mount Shasta as you drive north towards the towns of Dunsmuir and Mt. Shasta.

Alright, that’s enough reading. Now get outside and enjoy the spring whereever you are!

Jason Conley playing at the Stage Door May 8th, more music to come

We’re stoked that one of our favorite local musicians, Jason Conley, is coming back to the Stage Door in Mt. Shasta on May 8th. West Virginia born singer/songwriter Jason Conley will feature songs from his first solo album, The Postulant Thief, along with old favorites from his three albums as part of SlapShoeFly. Conley lives in Chico and tours the North State, coming back to the stronghold of support he’s formed in Mt. Shasta. Conley’s music is a blend of aching lyrics and booting slapping music – the source of the band SlapShoeFly’s name. His songs tell the tale of his life – sometimes hard and sometimes joyful – with the sounds of a long line of gospel musicians and back porch bluegrass players from his childhood echoing through his original works.

The show starts at 8pm, Friday, May 8th with a $5 cover. The Stage Door is located at 414 N. Mount Shasta Boulevard in Mt. Shasta. Call 926.1050 for info or to make dinner reservations.

We’ve got plenty of music lined up at local venues. To see what’s happening in the coming weeks, visit the Stage Door’s website and the big list of musical performances lined up for Sengthong’s in Dusnmuir.