Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
younger, shorter cone on the western flank, called Shastina, has a crater about half a mile
wide.
The mountain and surrounding
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
(
www.fs.fed.us/r5/
shastatrinity
) are crisscrossed by trails and dotted with alpine lakes. It's easy to spend days
or weeks here, camping, hiking, river rafting, skiing, mountain-biking and boating.
The story of the first settlers here is a sadly familiar one: European fur trappers arrived
in the area in the 1820s, encountering several Native American tribes, including the
Shasta, Karuk, Klamath, Modoc, Wintu and Pit River people. By 1851, hordes of Gold
Rush miners had arrived and steamrolled the place, destroying the tribes' traditional life
and nearly causing their extinction. Later, the newly completed railroad began to import
workers and export timber for the booming lumber industry. And since Mt Shasta City
(called Sisson at the time) was the only non-dry town around, it became
the
bawdy, good-
time hangout for lumberjacks.
The lumberjacks have now been replaced by middle-aged mystics and outdoor-sports
enthusiasts. While the slopes have immediate appeal for explorers, spiritual seekers are at-
tracted to the peak's reported cosmic properties. In 1987, about 5000 believers from
around the world convened here for the Harmonic Convergence, a communal meditation
for peace. Reverence for the mountain is nothing new; for centuries Native Americans
have honored the mountain as sacred, considering it to be no less than the Great Spirit's
wigwam.
Many use Redding as a base since there are plenty of chain options along the highway,
but Mt Shasta City is the best balance of convenience, value and personality. For food,
there are satisfying restaurants at all the mountain towns, though consider having snacks
on hand in the car, as the winding drives from the woods to the lunch counter are time-
consuming.
Sights & Activities
The Mountain
You can drive almost the whole way up the mountain via the Everitt Memorial Hwy (Hwy
A10) and see exquisite views at any time of year. Simply head east on Lake St from down-
town Mt Shasta City, then turn left onto Washington Dr and keep going.
Bunny Flat
(6860ft), which has a trailhead for Horse Camp and the Avalanche Gulch summit route, is
