Mount Shasta
May 15, 2013 10:32 AM
Mount Shasta, CA is a unique place. First of all, the mountain is magnificent. Having lived in Colorado, the land of 14'ers, you'd think that another 14'er wouldn't impress me, but it does. It's a beautiful snow-capped cone that reaches 14,179 feet, often topped by odd lenticular cloud formations. The town of Mount Shasta, lying just southwest of the base of the mountain, is at an altitude of about 3,500 feet. That means the mountain, standing alone, towers 10,000 feet above the city. In Colorado, most of the 14'ers start from a base of 7,000 feet or more, meaning the mountains don't look nearly as tall as Mount Shasta.
Second, the town of Mount Shasta is..., what should I say..., charming? It's a rustic old town that has obviously grown up with little planning or regulation. It's small enough to allow the residents to get to know one another but large enough to serve your basic needs. The people are a mix of artists, spiritualists, hippies, big-city retirees, and just plain folks. It's an odd mix, but it works. Bottom line: I like the place.
We're parked at the Lake Siskiyou Resort & Camp just west of the city of Mount Shasta. The lake is beautiful, made especially so by the mountain towering in the background. The RV parking sites are primitive but roomy and nice. Deer wander through the campsites and black bear raid the trash cans just about every night. It’s quiet and peaceful, a nice place to unwind. Unfortunately, the park is poorly maintained and managed. For example, although the rules clearly state that all dogs must be kept on leash and that the owner must pick up droppings, many, if not most, campsites have one or more dogs running loose, and dog droppings are scattered everywhere. It's a shame that poor management ruins so many great campgrounds. Nonetheless, we’ll stay here the next time we’re in the area.
But the main reason we're here isn't the park or the city or the mountain—it's because my two sisters are here. My niece Sharon moved here a number of years ago. Her Mom, Jean, came a few years later and my other sister, Jeannine, joined them about a year ago. I've been lucky enough to visit here four times in the past half-dozen years. It's important to me, as we three are the only remaining members of our immediate family. I'm sure it's pretty boring to Ann as we sit for hours remembering things from our shared pasts and catching up on things we've missed, but she tolerates it well.
Having been here several times, we know the area pretty well. One stop we always make is Dunsmuir. Dunsmuir is an old railroad town and still has an Amtrak stop. The layout of the town, perched on the side of a very steep hill, ensures that you get your daily exercise during your visit. There's really not much to see or do other than visit the Dunsmuir True Value Hardware store, full of all sorts of antiques scattered around the expected hardware, and the Dunsmuir Brewery Works, home to some fine beers. Regardless, it's a "feel-good" place that we always visit.
Another old town in the area that's worth a stop is McCloud. Unless you're a trout fisherman, there's little to do there except visit McCloud Mercantile and the McCloud General Store and Building Supply, but it’s the quiet peacefulness of the place that attracts us.
It's been great being in Mount Shasta and visiting with my sisters, but the pages of our calendar keep turning, so tomorrow we head north to Grants Pass, OR for a few days. See'ya there.
Alan
Second, the town of Mount Shasta is..., what should I say..., charming? It's a rustic old town that has obviously grown up with little planning or regulation. It's small enough to allow the residents to get to know one another but large enough to serve your basic needs. The people are a mix of artists, spiritualists, hippies, big-city retirees, and just plain folks. It's an odd mix, but it works. Bottom line: I like the place.
We're parked at the Lake Siskiyou Resort & Camp just west of the city of Mount Shasta. The lake is beautiful, made especially so by the mountain towering in the background. The RV parking sites are primitive but roomy and nice. Deer wander through the campsites and black bear raid the trash cans just about every night. It’s quiet and peaceful, a nice place to unwind. Unfortunately, the park is poorly maintained and managed. For example, although the rules clearly state that all dogs must be kept on leash and that the owner must pick up droppings, many, if not most, campsites have one or more dogs running loose, and dog droppings are scattered everywhere. It's a shame that poor management ruins so many great campgrounds. Nonetheless, we’ll stay here the next time we’re in the area.
But the main reason we're here isn't the park or the city or the mountain—it's because my two sisters are here. My niece Sharon moved here a number of years ago. Her Mom, Jean, came a few years later and my other sister, Jeannine, joined them about a year ago. I've been lucky enough to visit here four times in the past half-dozen years. It's important to me, as we three are the only remaining members of our immediate family. I'm sure it's pretty boring to Ann as we sit for hours remembering things from our shared pasts and catching up on things we've missed, but she tolerates it well.
Having been here several times, we know the area pretty well. One stop we always make is Dunsmuir. Dunsmuir is an old railroad town and still has an Amtrak stop. The layout of the town, perched on the side of a very steep hill, ensures that you get your daily exercise during your visit. There's really not much to see or do other than visit the Dunsmuir True Value Hardware store, full of all sorts of antiques scattered around the expected hardware, and the Dunsmuir Brewery Works, home to some fine beers. Regardless, it's a "feel-good" place that we always visit.
Another old town in the area that's worth a stop is McCloud. Unless you're a trout fisherman, there's little to do there except visit McCloud Mercantile and the McCloud General Store and Building Supply, but it’s the quiet peacefulness of the place that attracts us.
It's been great being in Mount Shasta and visiting with my sisters, but the pages of our calendar keep turning, so tomorrow we head north to Grants Pass, OR for a few days. See'ya there.
Alan
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