This photograph was taken looking south at the north face of Mt. Shasta. Two glaciers were evident although you will not be able to see them in this small photograph.
We went to Mt. Shasta to meet up with my sisters and their families. An added bonus was that the summer music camp was occurring and the Summer String Summit concert was scheduled for 7/7/10. We stayed in a "cabin" at the Mt. Shasta Resort overlooking Lake Siskiyou. I have never seen so many stars in the sky. It was breath taking.
The first evening we were treated to a wonderful dinner of fish that Carol and Lee brought back from Alaska. There was Halibut and Salmon that Lee caught as well as Black Cod. The Black Cod is a real delicacy. It lives in 2000' deep water. Americans either don't know about it or haven't developed a taste for it so most of the fish are caught by Asian fisherman and taken back to Japan and China. Fortunately Lee scored some and graciously shared it with us. It was divine.
Later that evening we went to music camp where we got to see our nephew, Elliott, play the fiddle with a small jam session. At age 11, Elliott won his fourth California State Fiddle Championship earlier this year and after hearing him play is is easy to understand why. Because of Carol's intimate involvement in the camp we were able to attend that evening's camp concert. Several of the professional musicians played and it was a real treat.
Tuesday we awoke to delightful temperatures and crystal blue skies. It was time to take in some nature so we went on a hike at Castle Lake and head up to Heart Lake. Because of the very cool spring and early summer there were still lots of wild flowers to be seen and Heart Lake was still iced over. Tuesday was also Maybelle's 7th birthday so there was some celebrating that needed to happen. Unfortunately Lee had to leave that evening on a business trip.Castle Lake is a glacial lake (cirque lake or tarn) located in northern California along the eastern edge of the Klamath Mountains, in Siskiyou County, near the city of Mount Shasta. The outlet of the lake drains into Castle Lake Creek, and then into Lake Siskiyou; the lake is part of the headwaters of the Sacramento River. Nearly all of the lake's 47 acres (19 ha) are within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.[1] Trails lead from Castle Lake into the adjacent Castle Crags Wilderness Area, and on to Castle Crags State Park, including trails to Little Castle Lake and Heart Lake.[4] Fishing, camping, and hiking are also available at or near the lake. The lake and the surrounding area contain a wide variety of animals and plants including trout, bears, deer, otters, frogs, and osprey.[5] The area is also well-known[6] for early summer displays of flowers,[7] including Red Columbine (Aquilegia truncata), Fawn Lily (Erythronium sp.), and Shasta Pentstemon (Pentstemon laetus).
There we some steep inclines and ice fields to traverse before arriving at Heart Lake.
The hiking party with Mt. Shasta in the background. Carol is kneeling in the front. Immediately behind her is her daughter, Maybelle. Standing from left to right are Tim Morrissey, Clark Woodard, Doug, Scott Woodard and Nancy Woodard.Wednesday we went whitewater rafting on the Upper Sacramento River. I have to get the photos off Doug's camera so there will be a separate post.
Wednesday evening was the big concert. Carol was the event coordinator and she did a tremendous job. It was held in Weed, CA at the College of the Siskiyous. The event lasted over four hours and featured the professional musicians with some of their selected students. The grand finale included not only the professionals but the 90 kids attending the camp. We left feeling energized and in a sense of awe at the talent we had seen and heard.
Thursday was a fairly quiet day. Scott took Maybelle and Clark swimming and later bowling. Doug and Tim played golf. Nancy, Carol and I sort of hung out. Carol took us up the road to a lovely home that she and Lee are hoping to buy. Thursday night we were treated to a dramatic storm featuring magnificent clouds, several rainbows and even lightening. A storm of this magnitude is a rare event and all the residents of Mt. Shasta we in the streets to witness it.
Friday was a morning of hugs and farewells. Sorry there aren't more photos but we were so busy that I forgot to take them! Obviously a grand time was had by all. Nancy and her clan are heading to Lake Donner (near Lake Tahoe) for a family wedding. Carol and her crew are scheduled to leave for Alaska on Monday. Doug and I are tooling down the road for Carson City, NV.
Mt. Shasta is a very special place and I encourage you to get this on your bucket list as well as my previous recommendations. I will leave you with the following memorable comments/observations courtesy of Wikipedia.
Mount Shasta is not connected to any nearby mountain. It rises abruptly and stands nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 m) above the surrounding terrain. The mountain has attracted the attention of poets, authors, and presidents. Shasta was memorably described by the poet Joaquin Miller:
"Lonely as God, and white as a winter moon, Mount Shasta starts up sudden and solitary from the heart of the great black forests of Northern California."[7]
Naturalist and author John Muir said of Shasta: "When I first caught sight of it over the braided folds of the Sacramento Valley, I was fifty miles away and afoot, alone and weary. Yet all my blood turned to wine, and I have not been weary since."[8]
Theodore Roosevelt said: "I consider the evening twilight on Mt. Shasta one of the grandest sights I have ever witnessed.
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