49.22 Northern California: What a week! An Introduction to the Shasta region (3 of 4) focusing upon Helen Lake on Mount Shasta.

It can't be possible to reach the top of that...Black Butte.
Apparently, there is a way.

Life is precious. After all, without it we have nothing, we are nothing—we don’t exist. However, with life, you’d expect to believe we have everything, just the opposite of non-existence. I don’t think that’s true. Rather, life is potential. With life, we have the potential to do, to build, to accomplish, to enjoy, to help and enrich others and ourselves…the list is endless. Perhaps the opposite of non-existence is potential rather than life itself. One more thing. Should life be mere existence—breathing, eating, sleeping—is it precious? However, the potential of life is truly precious. We have discovered (although we cannot say we live it) that it’s not what one has (life and things), it’s what one does with it (life). 

Castle Crags: Jen makes her own trail as she climbs the crags.

Of crags and ledges, reminiscent of the Grand Tetons.
and now, scenes from the Helen Lake hike: 

An early sighting after cresting a couple of big 'uns.
Mount Shasta is one of the most inhospitable mountains we've walked upon...but love it.
and even without its make-up (snow-covering), stunning.
In 2012, our youngest, Robbie, joined us. Quite a day! Note Red Banks covered in snow.
Jenni trudges over one of the steep crests.
Here he comes. Harsh landscape if ever there was. You should have been there. Why should we be the only ones to struggle?
You've gotta hand it to the kid.
The lone tent at base camp. What a surprise the fella must have had when he found out someone borrowed his sleeping bag and gas cylinder.
Looking down and across and totally absorbed.
In awe and inspired. 

Barren but rich? Heading up and high.
Guess who feels bad as Jen negotiates the tough and rough terrain. 

'Tiny Jen' sits after looking at the wall and calls for lunch. (Taken from Helen Lake. Follow the path toward the left to find 'Waldo').
Perspective as Jen shoots from the hip some distance away with many feet still to climb. (First time placing a mark on photo😢)
A last look on Mount Shasta as we return home.

Oops! Could not resist Red Banks again. The 'piece de resistance', Yves and Stephan.
              

We moved north ten days ago to a region that influenced us greatly some 13 years before. It’s unique but then again, many are. Shasta-Trinity National Forest and the towns within the region differ from typical places we frequent, especially in the American West. Much of the west comprises desert or semi-desert whereas this part, like coastal Oregon and its northern neighbor, Washington, has an abundance of tree-filled forests covering the land as well as housing high mountains, volcanoes and a sprinkling of gorgeous lakes. I remember on our first visit to these forests, I had to stop counting trees when I reached over 4 billion.

I don’t know whether the following makes sense or Goldilocks had too much influence over Jen and me. At times, the view from the road of these deep, thickly wooded forests gives one an eerie feeling when one projects oneself living inside them. Of course, the feeling passes once we hike, as we’re in the thick settings and worry more about catching our breath than any lurking spooks, not to mention the odd bear or two. Nevertheless, bear with us as we try to paint the scene of four hikes that were nothing short of spectacular this past week. To phrase them as hikes is an understatement; categorizing them as experiences may be more fitting. By the way, outside of summer, we still prefer the deserts.

We arrived in Weed, California on a Friday afternoon after another solid week of hiking from a base in Vacaville, where we discovered the incredible Berryessa Lake and hiked the surrounding mountains. Reaching and walking along the ridges with constant views of the amazing body of shimmering, blue and at times, turquoise water will leave a lasting impression. To phrase that correctly, the lake had in fact been discovered many years before; it was a personal discovery. Better to correct ourselves than leave the impression that we are trying to be self-important and remain foolish. 

On the Saturday we rested and by Sunday morning, we were ready to reach the summit of Mount Eddy. Earlier, we published a blog of pictures and text which dealt with the experience. Suffice to say, despite the poor weather in the latter stage of the climb, it set the tone for a fantastic week. The next day it rained which kept us indoors as ‘precious’ Jenni and Jeffrey are really babies. Fortunately, we had some important business to attend to for an upcoming trip and that occupied us for a good part of an inside day, something that does not occur much.

Tuesday, we visited Castle Crags, a unique area within the region, which proved to be exciting. The walk up accumulated some 2,500 feet including extras. However, the climbing on the rocks/crags beyond the endpoint was what made it special. The drop-offs were intimidating, the views spectacular as we took in what appeared to be a bowl of dense, green trees some 3,000 feet below us, views of other mountains and of course, the incredible lady, Mount Shasta. Understandably, she is far more attractive when dressed…covered in snow, but who’s fussy when facing such an intimidating sight. We also met two female hiking buddies, a Mexican and German, (both fully dressed) and bumped into them on three different occasions. It was enjoyable but meant we arrived home forty minutes later than otherwise.

Wednesday, we headed to Black Butte. The view of this set of volcanoes is so intimidating that one shivers at the thought of reaching the peak, if at all possible. Just the idea of finding a way up from the base is enough to create a little fear. When these edifices confront a person, there is a desire to succeed in the quest but wonder whether there is a way to the top. Fortunately, on this occasion, we just had the fear but not ignorance of a way up as we had completed the hike of some 2,000 feet twice before. For most of the hike, one walks on rocks and scree. It is tough and hard on the feet but an incredible experience. The only wish is that there should not be any rock-slides. We calculate that the rock covered volcano is slanted at an angle of 65-70 degrees. Throughout the hike, millions of various sizes of rocks hover above. Of course, the ones below us aren’t a threat unless they begin to rumble and upset their higher situate comrades. Like most times when hiking, at the commencement one anticipates all these things that can go wrong. By the time a person settles into the hike, one is too weary to worry about those issues. Heck, as long as the muscles and bones are in motion without crying in pain, life is good. 

Then there was Mount Shasta. Actually, the 3,500 feet climb to reach Helen Lake (10,600 feet) well below the peak. What an experience. We set out on the Thursday to take a look at our old friend. She does not know we’re friends, but we speak highly of her and thus far have never disparaged her although on occasion, we’ve come close to cursing her harshness, her unforgiving surface, her influence on the weather and surroundings and a host of other issues. Should that not be enough, the rangers have decided to place rocks as a pathway from Horse Camp for 6-7 hundred yards upwards to preserve the sand paths. (Hmm?) Thereafter, the sand covered in scree is not preserved for the next many miles. I got punished for criticizing this to Jenni, for I placed my foot on a sand-covered rock while looking above and ended up having to be scraped off the rock on which I lay a second later.

The hike is tough. It’s very rough in places. It’s less than seven miles round-trip while gaining what feels like more than 4,000 feet but the ‘incorrect records’ show it as 3,500 feet. I wish they’d correct the information. The first 1.7 miles takes one, from the parking along a wonderful highway into the mountains, to Horse Camp, a small camping area. From there one follows those rocks (you know what we mean) and then one climbs and climbs on a tough underfoot. Thereafter, the trail makes its way over rocks and shale which is really uncomfortable toward another two high points. 

During our previous two hikes to Helen Lake, snow covered the peak including Red Banks. On this occasion, the reward was magnificent as the distinguished Red Banks were prominent and beautiful in shape and color. Although the landscape, particularly naked without the typical, attractive snow covering, emitted a beauty through its vastness, shapes, consistency, and clarity. The air was clean and dry, allowing for sights that admittedly, lacked color but made up for it in sheer power, distinguished features, sporadic snow patches and intimidation. A bonus was the far-distance sights including a nicely shaped lake (picture included).

The most rewarding aspect of the day, something that stood out and made an indelible impression, was the way Jen handled the struggle and then did something which I won’t mention but I’ll never forget for its character. 

I did move ahead as agreed earlier and then later, with some 30 or so minutes to go, something popped onto my shoulder as I struggled. I published a book in 2009 which included a character, Itzy. This negative fellow would sit on the main character’s shoulder and entice him to take the comfortable route in life. Well, Itzy sat on my shoulder a couple of times and explained to me why turning around would make sense in the hot weather, on the treacherous surface and up the steep inclines. He made some good arguments which were seductive. I remember shutting him out by counting to a hundred before allowing myself to pause. At one stage, I recalled my army days and called out the pace…(“links, regs, links”). 

Fortunately, upon reaching the destination, Helen Lake, I was able to take a rest, made two trades on the NYSE (Stock exchange), had a snack, snapped photographs, viewed the tent that I had noticed from below. Until I got close, it appeared to be a snow-covered boulder.

“Itzy, you can be amusing but in principle, I despise you.”

We were looking forward to the return journey as the energy required would be a lot less than that used on the ascent. By the way, only one other person hiked to Helen Lake. For the holiday season, it was surprizingly deserted. Nice! Unfortunately, as we know, it’s much trickier negotiating the way down and of course, more dangerous. Most of the falls, if one has them, are going to occur while descending. 

We come across so many coincidences throughout our experiences. We sat at Horse Camp to take a rest and finish breakfast, at 2:30pm. Sitting close by were two men, one a little older than us the other much younger. They were discussing their personal interest in writing. The elder man, an honorary ranger, was complaining he was struggling to complete a book he was writing of the Shasta region. The other was talking about the book he was working on daily. Here were three men sitting in the middle of nowhere (only 4 people in the area) who were all in one way or another involved to some degree in writing. We thought that fascinating.

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey

The next day, I gave up cycling.