Why we travel

Another post from Joanne –

I’m online this morning looking at ticket sales, hotel prices etc. for my summer trip to San Francisco to see the King Tut exhibit at the DeYoung Museum. After my winter trip to Egypt, I’m so excited!
A good friend who lives in the Bay Area asked, “Why ever are you coming HERE when you live in paradise! We work all year to come up to Mount Shasta.”
…and then I opened an email with a quote that explains it all:
Well known travel writer Pico Iyer suggests that we travel “…initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again – to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.”
We in Siskiyou County are proud and delighted to be a part of “slowing your time down” and helping you to “fall in love once more”.
Hope we’ll see you this summer.
Joanne Steele
Siskiyou County Tourism Director

Snow kiting – an exciting way to take to the snow!

I just saw this article at The Gear Junkie about snow kiting – he sounded pretty stoked on strapping a kite boarding chute onto himself while standing on skis, and I thought – hey, we’ve got that here! Kite Zombies – a homegrown Siskiyou County business that shares the passions of Bill and Anna Repetto – offers kiteboarding and snow kiting lessons and gear.

I have to say that I’ve never been kiteboarding or snow kiting, but I did have a fairly memorable series of paragliding events that ended in a truly enjoyable drift over the waters of Shasta Lake. I’ve got photos of my boots with the lake water below. In talking to Anna, kiteboarding sounds like a hoot. She’s a playboater, and she gets such a rush out of kiteboarding that I think they now spend more time hitting the lake than the play way.

Whether you’re interested in a winter or summer kiting experience, give Anna and Bill at Kite Zombies a call (800-969-6199) to learn about lessons.  I’m sure they’ll provide you with great information and super helpful lessons. They offer land, water and snow clinics, so you can learn at your own pace. You’ll also learn a lot about gear, so by the time you’ve finished your clinic you’ll be on your way to kiting on your own, where ever you live.

Enjoy Valentine’s Day with Sereni-tea’s honey tasting

Another post from Joanne Steele-

Plan a unique Valentine’s Day celebration in Mt. Shasta Country. The crisp winter weather might call for a day of skiing, but it  could also draw you to a cozy fire and the slower pace of a stroll through the shops and galleries of downtown Mt. Shasta.

When looking for pleasant lodging with the option of a fireplace you can choose the Mt. Shasta Ranch B&B which keeps a roaring, crackling fire in the huge stone fireplace in their cozy living room. The lodge at the Woodsman Hotel also features a large fireplace surrounded by comfortable couches as well as several private rooms with their own fireplaces. The Mount Shasta Resort has fireplaces in their luxurious one and two bedroom chalets.

For a unique way to celebrate the day, attend the honey tasting  at Sereni-tea (319 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd.) in Mt. Shasta. This European style tea shop run by Swiss-born Daniela Bose, features teas from around the world in a serene, contemporary setting. Tea lovers will find over 130 varieties of teas and infusions. The shop includes an inviting sitting room where customers are encouraged to enjoy a cup of the daily featured teas, or to sample a tea of their choice.

On Valentines Day from 1pm to 4pm, Carol Mowatt from Mowatt Apiaries will be featuring a variety of local honey to be tasted, including star thistle, purple vetch, clover and blackberry. Carol and her husband started keeping bees outside of Weed three years ago with three hives. Their operation has grown to over 400 hives producing different honey flavors depending upon the season and type of flowers in bloom. Bring your honey and bee questions. Carol is an expert on both.

In addition, Sereni-tea will be featuring the unique functional pottery of Corena Affleck.  Affleck’s  splendid tea mugs and pots will be on display and for sale through March. These compliment Sereni-tea’s extensive assortment of tea accessories from Europe, Japan, China and the US, chosen to enhance the experience of a great cup of tea.

No Valentine’s Day celebration is complete without a great meal at one of the many fine restaurants in southern Siskiyou. Café Maddalena in Dunsmuir will be featuring a special menu on Valentine’s Day evening chosen for the occasion by chef, Bret LaMott. Vivify in  Mt. Shasta will be offering a complete menu of Japanese favorites including sushi and tempura as well as a selection of western gourmet dishes.

A mid-winter Valentine’s getaway revives the spirit and encourages us to reconnect with the special people in our lives.  For more ideas and information go to www.VisitSiskiyou.org.

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Some beta -

Sereni-tea
319 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta
926-1688
www.sereni-tea.net

Shasta Ranch B&B
1008 W.A. Barr Rd., Mt. Shasta
926-3870
www.stayinshasta.com

The Woodsman Cabins & Lodge
1121 S. Mt. Shasta Blv, Mt. Shasta
530-926-3411

Mt. Shasta Resort
1000 Siskiyou Lake Blvd. Mt. Shasta
926-3030
www.mountshastaresort.com

Vivify
531 Chestnut St., Mt. Shasta
926-1345
www.vivifyshasta.com

Café Maddalena
5801 Sacramento Ave., Dunsmuir
235-2725
www.cafemaddalena.com

Siskiyou Ice Rinks plans to open Nov 22nd

Winter is on its way – in fact it’s been snowing on the mountain for days (raining in town, though). With a chill in the air, winter activities come to mind, and one of the first winter pastimes to open up is the ice rink. The Siskiyou Ice Rink in Mt. Shasta has set its opening date for November 22nd this year. This outdoor rink is the size of National Hockey League rinks and boasts a striking view of the snowcapped mountain.

The Siskiyou Ice Rink appeals to skaters of all ages, and offers lesson for those who would like to be out there gliding over the ice. Situated in Shastice Park, the rink has a great atmosphere for hanging out to watch the grand kids skate, or for trying the ice for the first time. Friendly instructors work with beginners to gain comfort and confidence on the ice as they share in the fun of this traditional winter activity. When you’re ready for a break from skating, the nearby sledding hill offers a playful change in winter snowplay.

The rink has several public skate times, mixed with practice times for the local hockey teams, that range from adult to pee wee teams. During public skate times (see below) the rink sells hot snacks and drinks, and provides a full line of rental skates. Friday and Saturday evening public skate times are a great time to take to the ice, with the chance of skating under a full moon.

Mt. Shasta’s Siskiyou Ice Rink is just one of a host of winter activities in the area. The Mt. Shasta Ski Park opens mid to late December, Dogsled Express gives sled dog rides throughout the winter, the Nordic center hosts an array of cross country skiing events and Snowman’s Hill draws crowds for the all-time favorite winter activity: sledding. If you’re visiting the Mt. Shasta area, you can find visitors information, along with tips for winter activities, at www.visitsiskiyou.org or by call the Mt. Shasta Visitors Bureau at 800-926-4865. For more information about the Siskiyou Ice Rink, visit www.msrec.org/icerink/ or call 530.926.2494.

Public skate times: Monday 10am to noon; Tuesday 10am to noon and 3pm to 5pm;
Thursday 3pm to 4:30pm; Friday 3pm to 9pm; Saturday 1:30pm to 9pm and Sunday 1:30pm to 5pm.

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.

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.