Not Been Weary Since


By Anne Wycoff

http://doollee.com/playwrightsW/wycoff-anne.html


  
... "Yet all my blood turned to wine, and I had not been weary since." John Muir's words rang in my head as I downloaded pictures from our vacation to Lake Siskiyou this year. With it's elevation of 14,162 feet, Mount Shasta makes a breathtaking backdrop for my sons beaming face. It seems odd to swim in the temporal waters of this translucent lake, as snow coats Mount Shasta, just a few thousand feet above our sun soaked bodies. Lake Siskiyou resort offers neat, well-kept single and group camp sites, full hook-ups for RVs and cabins for the wimpy. Turning forty this past year, I fall into the later category. The cabins range from 700 to 950 square feet. They are compact, yet clean, containing all the comforts of home. The 27 cabins are on the south side of the camp resort. Our private, yet generous deck gave us a tantalizing view of the snow-capped Mountain and quiet lake. The sand beach is a short walk on the forested trail from our cabin. There is water access all around the resort for those seeking privacy. Many people lounged around and fished in the quiet coves near the cabins. Renting a paddle boat for $15 an hour enabled my land-lover husband to spend some quality time with our kids. Paddle boats, large inner tubes and kayaks can be rented daily directly from the beach. Sail, ski and canoes are rented from the marina on the South-East shore of the campground.

We all know how quickly kids go through clothes and food, especially when we are on vacation. The "I can't find my underwear" and, "I'm hungries," started the third day of our vacation. The resort has a coin operated laundry room and convenience store open from 8 AM to 10PM. For kids of all ages, Lake Siskiyou staff show a PG movie every evening in the outdoor pavilion. Wear your warm clothes or bundle up together in a blanket for the movie, as temperatures can drop into the forties during the summer months. If your little ones attention span isn't captivated by movies such as Lion King or Shrek, a playground adjacent to the pavilion will enable you to simultaneously keep an eye on your movie buffs and active children.

The historical town of Mount Shasta is a ten minute drive from the resort. One of the big summer draws is the 4^Th of July Mountain Runners Race. The race consists of two courses: The five mile running race and the two mile, "fun run or walk.." Proceeds go to Mount Shasta and Breast Cancer charities. The downtown streets are closed off for an outdoor market and street fair. Food, friends and fun are available in the festive atmosphere. The city of Shasta revs up the runners with an enthusiastic MC, a tribute to our National Anthem and Taiko Drummers to, "Pump, you up." After the race, enjoy a complementary fruit plate, all the beverages you can drink and of course, the market. My family ate their way through the street fair as I ran the five mile course. Volunteers and city officials make the race fun with water stations and local entertainers along the way. To register for next year, you can visit the website, www.Mountshastarunners.com or call 530-926-4865.

It wouldn't be ^4th of July without fireworks and Mount Shasta produces a spectacular one-hour show. You can either view the fireworks from the resort or attend the show at the Mount Shasta Resort Golf Course. You may bring in a cooler, chairs and lawn toys. This event offers hot dogs and hamburgers for $3.99 including a soda and chips. Listen to the live band, and if you have any energy after the race, dance in your bare feet on the cool, manicured lawn.

Mount Shasta is known for its phenomenal views and caves. There are several hiking trails to the top of Mount Shasta. Some experienced hikers can make it to the summit in one day, starting at Bunny stump trail. While you are hiking around, don't forget to look in the neighboring town of McCloud and check out the falls. It was an easy ten mile walk(that can be broken up for novice hikers) and a great place for young children to explore. Ambitious hikers can walk the entire ten-mile loop and may discover some of the locals: Egrets, red-tailed trouts and salamanders. The trail starts at the lower falls picnic grounds. For those of you in a romantic mood, take a well-deserved rest from hiking on the Shasta sunset diner train. The stunning sunset ride treks around the mountain every evening from the McCloud depot.

Just around the corner from McCloud is one of the oldest fish hatcheries in California. We happened upon several new fish during the summer season. For a few quarters, the fish will practically jump into your hands as you toss food to them. The hatchery operates self guided-tours and a museum daily. For more information, call 530-926-2215. Of course, you can't visit Mount Shasta without stopping by the famous Shasta Caverns. A quick hike down a trail from the gift shop and you are on an adventure across the lake via a barge and a bus takes you up to the caves. My kids never tire of this tour as it is hands on for them and gets us all up close and personal to the formations. The guides will take you on a tour through the caves, discovered in 1930's. For more information, call 800-795-cave.

If the explorer in you craves more caves, cruise north to the town of Weed (off hwy 5)and visit Pluto and Shastina Lava cave(sometimes called the Barnum cave). We chanced upon them while out scouting the desert scenery for snakes and blue belly lizards. The caves were discovered in 1863 by Nelson Cash, retrieving his stray cattle. For more information on the two caves call the Goosenet Ranger Station, 530-398-4599. Heading south again on Highway five, you can reach the headwaters in Mount Shasta City Park. The headwaters shoot crystal clear water from their lava tubes. You can see the obsidian shine in the shallow waters of the headlands. The water comes from Big Spring of the McCloud river and is an invigorating sight.

One of our last stops was Mount Shasta Dam. Panoramic views of Mount Shasta and Lake Shasta give new meaning to the word, /awesome/. It offers four tours daily. Each tour takes an hour and presents breathtaking views of the three outpourings of the lake. For more information, call 530-275-4463. My pictures reflect what we grasped at the time: A great vacation and wonderful way to celebrate our nations birth. The photographs bring to my mind John Muir's wonderful words of one of our nations most beautiful places,

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.