Mount Shasta, CA - May 18 - Jun. 2, 2008

On May 18th we headed north from Redding in an attempt to escape the searing heat of the "Great West Coast Melt Down of 2008".  Our destination was the city of Mount Shasta situated on the west flank of the beautiful 14,179-foot dormant volcano of the same name.  We had reservations at the Mt. Shasta KOA on the north edge of town.  We had stayed at the KOA on several occasions over the years, but it appeared that the camp had fallen on hard times, so we decided to move our home to the Abrams Lake Mobile Home and RV Park.

Abrams Lake RV, located west of town, is primarily a mobile home park with several RV sites.  It doesn't have many amenities (a clean laundry and a club house with a tired pool table), but it is welcoming and well maintained (and much cheaper than the KOA).  The park is far enough from I-5 to escape the freeway noise, but close enough to Union Pacific to hear train whistles periodically.  There are plentiful walking opportunities on the rural roads, and it is within biking distance of town. 

When we arrived in Mount Shasta it was quite warm, but that soon changed.  The temperature dropped and it started raining - and snowing at the higher elevations.  In mid-May Mt. Shasta had snow showing in the crevices and shadows, but otherwise it was snow free.  When we left two weeks later the mountain was once again covered in snow. 

But we had come for the fishing, and a little rain was not going to stand in our way.  We visited Ted Fay's Fly Shop in Dunsmuir to talk fish, get information on stream conditions and advice about where to go and what to use.  Then, equipped with knowledge, flies and rods, we picked the clearest days and headed out.  We fished Hat Creek, and the McCloud, Pit and Sacramento Rivers.  The fish must have been hungry, or confused, because we did quite well. 

We also toured around the area, enjoying the beautiful, but harsh volcanic environment, and the gin clear streams, rivers, falls and lakes.  Due to the rain and the dropping snow level, hiking was quite limited.  However, we did get to walk a bit of the Pacific Crest Trail along the McCloud River.

According to several local communities' websites there were numerous events scheduled during our stay, but we couldn't find them.  For example, Dunsmuir boasted a British car rally and show.  So we went to check it out, but all we found were Union Jacks merrily fluttering from the lampposts as though England had just reclaimed her colony - but not a single MG, Jaguar, Bentley or Rolls.

Weed's calendar of events said there would be a 'grand opening' of a new art gallery - with a wine and cheese reception.  This event we did find, but we soon had the impression that the invitation didn't include out-of-towners.  A few crusty types eyed us suspiciously and not wanting to take it personally, we concluded it was a bit early for the tourist season.

We enjoyed our stay in this very beautiful of area, but it was time to move on.  So on June 3 we bid the beautiful, snow shrouded mountain and the State of California adieu, and headed north to Ashland, the art Mecca of southern Oregon.