July 31st and August 2nd a busy weekend in Mt. Shasta

If you’re in Mt. Shasta this weekend (July 31st and August 2nd) you’ll see that there is a lot going on. Cyclists will be coming to town for the Hill Climb and Summit Century rides, ShastaYama taiko performance will draw an evening crowd, and Saturday afternoon folks will head up to the Ski Park for the Jefferson Brew-fest. Whew.

Things get started Saturday when the Jefferson Brew-fest (from noon to 5pm) brings a celebration of local and regional microbrews. Local band the Fabulous Blackwells will be performing. Many local and regional breweries will be in attendance, some with specials brews. The Brew-fest is at the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, where the Coyote Grill will be serving food. The $20 entry fees goes to a local scholarship fund.

Saturday evening the air will be filled with music and pageantry at ShastaYama and the power of taiko drumming. See yesterday’s post for more about ShastaYama. If you’re in town this weekend, sitting on a picnic blanket in Shastice Park watching inspiring performances is the place to be.

Sunday morning hundreds of riders will take to the four routes of the Shasta Summit Century bike ride. For those who want an enjoyable, short ride through the hills and the Shasta Valley on the half metric (30 miles) or metric (60 mile) rides. The half metric is popular with families, and you’ll see young kids riding up the South Fork of the Sacramento River with their families. The longer rides are simply punishing. The Summit Century covers 100 miles and 10,500 feet of climbing on the route that climbs up the South Fork, up to Castle Lake and up Everitt Memorial to finish at the Old Ski Bowl. The Super Century challenges experienced riders with 139 miles and 16,500 feet of climbing.

It’s also a wonderful weekend for enjoying the outdoors. Wildflowers are blooming at the higher elevations, so a hike along the Pacific Crest Trail or a day at Castle Lake would be nice. Lake Siskiyou provides a cool place to hang out, rent a paddle boat from the Lake Siskiyou Resort, or a place for a nice walk along the lake trail. Whatever you choose to do – enjoy!

Enjoy the music and imagery of ShastaYama July 31st in Mt. Shasta

A group performance at 2009 ShastaYama

ShastaYama is a Mt. Shasta event full of grace, imagery, music and dance. Since its inception in 2005, ShastaYama as brought powerful music, inspired costumes and dance, along with a memorable community experience to Shastice Park in Mt. Shasta. With the mountain looming over the scene and the majesty of this traditional Japanese art, ShastaYama is a spectacle you won’t want to miss. The event is set for July 31st – gates open at 5pm and you’ll want to go early to pick your spot and be settled in for the 6pm show.

ShastaYama was created by Shasta Taiko, formed by Russel Baba and Jeanne Mercer. They will perform along with a number of other artists and groups, including their son, Masato Baba, who is a member of TaikoProject. Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble for San Francisco, musician and dancer Michelle Fujii, and Toru Watanabe and the members of Shasta Taiko all take part in this amazing evening.

In my first year at ShastaYama we joined in the festive group dance that opened the event as members from the crowd joined in with musicians and performers to set the mood for the evening. The event starts out in the sunshine and finishes well after dark, so you’ll want to bring warm clothes and a flashlight for navigating.  It’s all lawn seating, so bring your picnic blankets and lawn chairs and settle for an amazing evening.

To get a sense for the performance, go to the ShastaYama website to view the gallery and read about the event. Tickets are available in Mt. Shasta at Village Books and Soul Connections, in Yreka at the Chamber of Commerce and Bogbean Books and Music in Redding. You can also order by phone with your credit card by calling 800.926.4865 x 203.

Weekly Siskiyou Fun Facts: 2010-07-25

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Shasta Mini Donkeypalooza July 23rd – 25th: don’t miss it

Residents at When Lil' Donkeys Fly Ranch near Anderson, CA

The Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds in Yreka is hosting the Shasta Mini Donkeypalooza this weekend, July 23-25th. Donkeypalooza is going to be a hoot: mini donkeys will compete in a number of halter, carting and jumping events and be available for petting and snuggling (if you’re into it). The Beaver family of When Lil’ Donkeys Fly Ranch, outside of Anderson, is one of the event sponsors – you can see more lil’ donkey photos on their website.

Donkeypalooza begins Friday afternoon at 4pm with the in-hand trail classes, which test the donkey’s skill, intelligence and trust in the handler. The weekend competition schedule is packed, with classes all day Saturday and Sunday, going into the evening. Adults and children will handle donkeys for high point competitions. Handlers and animals will range from professional competitors to ranch owners.

Saturday’s classes begin at 8am and include showmanship, halter, in hand jumping, a versatility class, driving classes, and evening game classes like the hurry scurry. Sunday classes kick off at 9am with game driving classes. Competitors are expected to come from Washington to southern California, with handlers ranging from age 5 to 80.

Admission is free and this sounds like so much fun that you just can’t miss it. The stable are will be open for folks to stroll through to visit with the donkeys and their handlers. Food and beverage vendors will be onsite to keep you fed and watered.

The Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds are easy to find: use the southern most Yreka exit from I-5 and head east. You can see the fairgrounds from the freeway, and the the frontage road (Fairlane Road) takes you right to the entrance. The Donkeypalooza events will be held in Collier Pavilion, which is near the fair ground main gate. While you’re thinking about the fairgrounds, remember that the Siskiyou Golden Fair is coming up – August 11-15th.

McCloud’s Lumberjack Fiesta: a heritage celebration July 23rd-25th

axe throw at the McCloud Lumberjack Fiesta

If you’re in south Siskiyou County the weekend of July 24th & 25th you should head out to McCloud for the Lumberjack Fiesta. This is a three-day event that celebrates McCloud’s history of being a lumber mill town, back in the days when “Mother McCloud” (the mill) owned the whole town and anyone who lived there worked for the Mill. There are certain skills that are required to fall timber, and you can witness some of those in the competitions at the Lumberjack Fiesta – the junior axe throw is on Saturday, then on on Sunday the adults get going with the axe throw, double buck and choker setting. If you haven’t seen this kind of thing before, it’s worth checking it out.

While you’re in McCloud, be sure to take a look around. All of the buildings in the old part of town were built during the era of Mother McCloud. The old Mercantile Building is full of shops and a beautifully restored hotel upstairs where you can take a look around at the construction. Brown Dog Gallery and other downtown shops are also in old mill buildings, and you can really get a sense for what town looked like back in the day when Mother McCloud was alive and thriving.

Friday, July 23th

6pm: Little Miss Fiesta/Little Logger Contest
Vendor Booths open
Papa Anderson Memorial Softball Tournament Begins

7:30pm Wedding: come see who is tying the knot and have some fun
(Wedding time is subject to change by a few minutes.)

8pm Music: Geeia Dexter will be digitally mastering the tunes up til midnight

Saturday, July 24th

8am: Vendor Booths open
Papa Anderson Memorial Softball Tournament

11am Parade on Main Street— Grand Marshal is Mr. Sam Sarti
Come support the parade
Trophies Immediately Following at Hoo-Hoo Park

11:00am-3:00pm Head Start– for your lil’ one’s

12 pm Junior Axe Throw Sign-Ups
1pm Harold Benedict Memorial Horseshoe Tournament (singles)

1pm Junior Axe Throw Sign-Ups Competition starts

8pm Music: Geeia Dexter will be digitally mastering the tunes up til midnight

Sunday, July 25th

8am: Vendor Booths open
Papa Anderson Memorial Softball Tournament

11:00am-3:00pm Head Start– for your lil’ one’s

( times are subject to change )

11am Adult Amateur logging show sign up
Harold Benedict Memorial Horseshoe Tournament (doubles)

noon Adult Amateur logging show competition begins

1pm Watermelon eating contest

Powder Puff/Men’s/Business Person’s/Professional axe throwing, double buck,
single buck, jack and jill
jill and jill choker setting.

Dunk Tank / Power Jump is back this year / many other activities happening
all weekend

Everyone is invited to sign-up to participate in the Horseshoe Tournament,
Amateur Logging competition’s, and all kids are invited to participate in
kids events
There may be some times subject to change…..
For information call the McCloud Community Recreation Council at 530-964-2718

Weekly Siskiyou Fun Facts: 2010-07-18

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Jump on the rides at Weed Carnevale July 16-18th!

The carnival rides at night.

The 56th Annual Weed Carnevale is underway! Rides open at 3pm and live music begins at 5pm. Check out the schedule below and be sure to have some fun at the Carnevale this weekend!

Wednesday, July 14
6 p.m.    Parade line-up behind post office.
7 p.m.    Parade begins in Historic Downtown Weed (Main Street).
After parade    Community Awards at Centennial Plaza next to Weed City Hall.

Thursday, July 15
11 a.m.    Junior Bocce Ball Tournament.
Noon    Select food and vendor booths open.
2 p.m.    Carnival rides open until 10 p.m.
5 to 7 p.m.    Barbecue.
6 p.m.    Co-ed softball.
7:15 p.m.    Co-ed softball.
7 to 10 p.m.    Weed Arts Council’s 2nd Anniversary Brewgrass Celebration at the Weed Ale House.
10 p.m.    Rides, booths and park close.

Friday, July 16
Noon    Vendors open for business.
3 p.m.    Carnival midway rides open.
5 p.m. to midnight    Live entertainment. See schedule on page 9.
6 p.m.    Bocce Ball Tournament.
6 p.m.    Men’s Softball Tournament.
7:30 p.m.    Mt. Shasta Brewing Company tours. Meet in the Tasting Room.
Midnight    Rides, booths and park close.
Saturday, July 17
7 to 7:45 a.m.    Top of the State Race registration.
8 a.m.    Top of the State Race begins.
8 a.m.    Softball resumes.
8:30 to 11 a.m.    Kiwanis Club Breakfast.
9 a.m.    Bocce Ball resumes.
11 a.m.    Vendor booths open.
Noon    Carnival rides open.
Noon to midnight    Live entertainment. See schedule on page 9.
2 p.m.    Mt. Shasta Brewing Company tours. Meet in the Tasting Room.
3 p.m.    Weed Museum tour.
Midnight    Rides, booths and park Close.

Sunday, July 18
8 a.m.    Softball resumes.
9 a.m.    Bocce Ball resumes.
10 a.m.    Morning Worship Service by Pastor Jim Howe of Grace Presbyterian Church (bring lawn chair)
11 a.m.    Vendor and food booths open.
4 p.m.    Rides, booths and park close.

Summer birding at the Klamath Basin Wildlife Refuges

The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, in eastern Siskiyou County and southern Oregon, is a great place to see birds anytime of the year – when you visit will determine what you see. Refuge staff frequently update the list of recent sitings, which you can check on the refuge website. This time of year you can expect to see the fall shorebird migration peak through July, August and September and the arrival of the fall migration Western Sandpipers. White-fronted geese aren’t far behind as the fall migration begins in August and September. Behind the Refuge headquarters, just outside of Tulelake, Northern Orioles nesting in the trees are just one of the summer highlights.

There are many ways to search for birds and wildlife at the Refuge. This time of year the canoe trails on Tule Lake (you can rent canoes near the Upper Klamath refuge or bring your own) are open, as are the waterfowl photo blinds. The Tule Lake and Lower Klamath refuges in California have self-guided driving routes that will take you along lake shores and wet lands. Even driving down the highway you’ll see a plethora of bird life. The staff at Refuge headquarters can tell you where to go if you’re looking for a particular bird and tell you whats been happening with the many species of birds that use the Refuge lands. Across the street from headquarters you can walk a short interpretive trail through a wetlands area.

If you’re planning a visit, be sure to check in with Refuge staff for tips on what to see. If you can’t visit just yet, scan the seasonal wildlife calendar to determine if there is a species you want to plan a trip to see. The Refuges are home to a huge bald eagle population in the winter months that draws many visitors to the area.

Summiting Mount Shasta: A Video

Summiting Mount Shasta remains the goal of many would-be adventurers. Here, one person records their odyssey and created a nice video. Enjoy!

Summiting the Volcano, Mt. Shasta California from Ryan Commons on Vimeo.

Weekly Siskiyou Fun Facts: 2010-07-11

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