Saturday morning, July 26th: things to do

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning here in Siskiyou County and it finally feels like summer has set in. Plenty of options for things to do this weekend –

cream tea at Ms. Lynn's Tea in Montague

My first pick for the weekend: heading out to the Montague Farmers Market Saturday morning. It’s at Railroad Park in downtown Montague from 9am to noon. I’m looking for fresh veggies, cheese, and maybe some buffalo meat. Other things to do in the Montague area: check out Shepherd’s Dream wool bed store, slow down for lunch at Ms. Lynn’s Tea, go to the Shasta Valley Wildlife Area or drive (or bike) through the Little Shasta Valley because it’s just so darn pretty. If you find yourself heading for Little Shasta then you might as well head up to the Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms to see if the lavender’s blooming yet in this odd summer.

If you’re in Yreka on Saturday, the Siskiyou County Museum is hosting Black Bart at 2pm for a first person presentation of the life and times of the infamous stage coach robber and his counterpart, nemesis, Wells Fargo detective, James Hume.

If you like water events, Saturday at 10 am the River Exchange is holding a Family Fun Event at the Lake Siskiyou Marina. From 10am to 3pm you can grab your paddle and kayak or canoe for a wet poker run. Paddle your craft to five stations around the lake to pick a card – best hand wins! Kayak and paddle board demos, prizes, BBQ and more. The fun starts at 10 am. $10 for adults, $6 children under 12, or $20 for a family. To register or for more information go to www.riverexchange.org or call 530-235-2012.

So there  are some suggestions for enjoying Siskiyou County this weekend.

Mark your calendar: Lavender Farms open June 12th

Fields of lavender with Mt. Shasta in the background

Yes, mark your calendar for the Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms season – June 12th thru July 18th – because it’s a short season and you don’t want to miss it. The heady scent of lavender and the low buzz of bees greets you as you walk into the rows of lavender, admiring the color around you. Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms is located on a slope above the Shasta Valley where the red soil provides stark contrast to the bring purple flowers. From up on the hillside you can look out of the valley where you have full view of Mt. Shasta as well as the Eddy Mountains. You can walk the straight rows or the arcs of the labyrinth or sit in the shade outside the villa-like farmstand that offers lavender lemonade.

When you go, plan to take your time. Some folks spend time with their camera working to capture the scene while others bring their paints for plein-air painting. You’ll want to make several excursions out into the lavender where you’ll see something new every time. There are tables with umbrellas half way out in the field, so you can stop for some shaded rest as you pick baskets of lavender stems. When you’re done touring the fields, be sure to browse the villa for lavender-inspired products and artwork.

The Little Shasta Church

The Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms is somewhat remote, nestled on the eastern side of the Shasta Valley. Pick up directions from the Farms’ website. On your way to the Farms you’ll be near the Little Shasta Valley (just north of the farm on Harry Cash Road). This is a great area for the Sunday drive of days past where you can see the old steepled church and drive through lush green farm land. Take a map of the area and spend the afternoon driving the back roads before heading back to town. There is plenty see out in the Little Shasta Valley, and you can learn more about it on this older post Touring the Little Shasta Valley and Montague.

Test your mountain climbing skills – Where is your Summit?

First time visitors to Mt. Shasta are drawn to the 14,179’ mountain that towers over the town, and while some are content to watch the mountain, others choose hiking and climbing adventures on the slopes of the popular mountaineering destination.

Whether you’re a first time climber, an experienced alpine enthusiast, or a family looking to enjoy the lower slopes, you can find an option to suit you. First time climbers should climb with a guide service. The popular beginners’ route, Avalanche Gulch, is often climbed in two days, with a base camp established at Lake Helen and a steep climb up to Red Banks that requires crampon and ice axe skills.

Shasta Mountain Guides (SMG) takes climbers all over the mountain, from beginner routes in Avy Gulch and the West Face to more difficult routes. Steep, exposed Casaval Ridge and the Hotlum Glacier, with big crevasses, seracs, and ice falls, prepare climbers for conditions on Mount Rainer or Denali.

Chris Carr, co-owner of SMG, said that most of their clients are first-time climbers and that Mt. Shasta is the perfect peak for newcomers to the sport. If you’re thinking of climbing the mountain, Carr recommends a diligent training routine to prepare for the physical demands of climbing.

Plenty of families climbing together, and Carr said, “for the adventurous family this is a great challenge and experience for them.” This year’s climbing season is likely to extend well into the summer. Carr said Avalanche Gulch should be good through July, if not longer, and the Hotlum-Bolam route will be ideal June through September.

“It’s going to be a great season. All of the routes that we climb and guide are in excellent condition,” Carr said.

If learning to use crampons doesn’t appeal to you, explore lower elevations of the mountain by hiking. Day hiking from Bunny Flat to the Sierra Club cabin will take you into the tall trees and delicate landscapes of the sub-alpine forest. You can also hike to Hidden Valley, which Carr called “an incredible location to spend the day, and a reasonable hike in the summer from Horse Camp.”

Spring Warber Watching

Mt. Shasta Avalanche Advisories

The Bottom Line

Danger Rating for March 21, 2010 – Moderate – Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain features.  Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify features of concern. Most avalanche accidents occur during Moderate or Considerable avalanche danger.

Trend over next 4 days: The avalanche danger will fluctuate near its’ current level. Fluctuating winds and temperatures along with only a chance of light precipitation will keep snow stability near today’s level. Wind loaded areas will include southerly aspects on the upper mountain with strong NNW winds on Monday.

Mt. Shasta Ski Park has something for everyone

Looking for more adventure during your visit to Mt. Shasta? There are many other activities to partake in during your stay and visit to Mt. Shasta Ski Park in the nearby area!

This year the Mt. Shasta Ski Park has built incredible Terrain Park unique features including the Monster Tire, Mini Battleship, Wave Box, the Wallaphant, The Battleship and the Dragon. Come check out their ever growing and super impressive Terrain Park.

Event coming up:

• BIG-AIR COMPETITION – Saturday, February 20, 2010

• NIGHT RAIL JAM – Friday, March 26th, 2010

Mt. Shasta Nordic Center – a 30K network of trails winding through deep forest, and open meadows are available nearby for those looking for a picturesque and peaceful Nordic experience!

Mt. Shasta Snowmen (& Women) Hill Group – Not only can the young adults and youth go and carve the slopes, but so can the senior community. The Snowman Hill Group is a senior citizen activity group dedicated to the promotion of extended skiing, ski safety, and the well being of all skiers. Open to Men and Women of age 55 plus!

Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms open til July 19th!

Mom and I finally made the trip to the Mt. Shasta Lavender Farms on Saturday, and boy, what a treat – row upon row of brilliant lavender buzzing with happy bees, the scent filling the air and the mountain rising up over the Shasta Valley beyond. We went the in afternoon, when it was hot, but the lavender lemonade in the villa was quite refreshing. When we arrived the Farm was also buzzing with people – some where sitting at shaded tables outside the villa, others were set up in the rows with tripods and cameras in photographic bliss, while a few painters had staked out spots in the field where they were committing the scene to canvas. We saw folks walking the new Lavender Labyrinth, and wandering the rows looking for the perfect stems to take home. The farm is open for just one month a year – from mid June to mid July, when the public can come out and enjoy the setting and cut their own stems. You can get 100 stems for $3, as well as the many treats available in the villa. We came home with the lovely lavender-lemon cookies baked by Ms. Lynn’s Tea in Montague.

The farm is open daily from 9am to 4pm (try to go in the morning if it’s going to be a hot day). It’s located off Highway 97 – turn west onto A-12, then look for the signs. This year the farm is open until July 19th, so get out there while you can.

May 16th Tule Lake Migratory Bird Festival Features Family Fun!

Airboat rides through Tule Lake Marsh, wild bird banding, children’s wildlife activities and guided bus trips to local wildlife refuges are just a few of the free family events featured at the Tule Lake Migratory Bird Festival on May 16th.  The 8th annual Tule Lake Bird Festival will be held at the Klamath Basin Wildlife Refuges visitor center from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm.  The center is located 5 miles west of Tulelake, California on Hill Road.

As in previous years, free airboat tours of Tule lake Marsh are expected to be the most popular event at the festival.  Call early for reservations at (530) 667-2231. Other featured events include bird banding demonstrations, educational programs with live hawks and owls, children’s wildlife art instruction, bird mask making, and wildlife crafts and games.  The Klamath Blues Society will provide live music through the lunch hour.

Events requiring advanced reservations include:
?    Airboat rides through Tule Lake Marsh – Conducted between 10:00 and 2:30 at half hour intervals
?    Lower Klamath Refuge guided wildlife discovery bus tour – 9:30 to 11:30
?    Tule Lake Refuge historic CCC camp tours – 1:30 to 2:30 and 2:45 to 3:45
?    Tule Lake Walking Wetlands Tour with Refuge Manager Ron Cole 1:00 to 2:30.

Festival vendors will offer handmade crafts as well as variety of wildlife art and photography.  Snacks, drinks, and both breakfast and lunch entrees will be sold at a nominal cost.

Live entertainment will be provided before and after lunch.  For additional information on this event visit the web site www.fws.gov/klamathbasinrefuges, or call the Visitor Center at 530-667-2231.