Retreat in Shasta
by fimbulvetr
For the past 15 years my family along with our close family friends would retreat into the mountain of California for a weekend of camping. The goal initially was to rekindle in my parent’s generation the lost memories and feelings from their time in Kashmir, before they had to leave. Eventually it grew to have its own significance, becoming a place for us to detach from our busy lives and enjoy each other’s company, along with copious amounts of Kashmiri food.
This year we decided to do things a little differently, opting for a chalet in the woods just outside Mount Shasta instead of tents. Together in one giant house, we were able to focus more on the company and less of simply getting comfortable in the outdoors. What remained unchanged however were the outings, with the first day involving a short hike around McArthur-Burney Falls. The falls provided an excellent spot to sit and relax, with the crashing mists protecting us from the burning heat. After enjoying the falls, we ate a very late lunch at another smaller falls which was more swimming friendly, before heading home to prepare dinner and relax.
The next day started earlier, as we embarked on an 8 mile hike around Lake Siskiyou, at the base of Mount Shasta. It was immediately apparent how dry California has become, with whole river beds run dry, and trails opening up on the lake bed that would be flooded in April. A small trickle of a stream proved to be the perfect place to stop for lunch, and even observe some interesting fauna. Like previous camps, this weekend in Shasta was a good balance between comfort and challenge.
[peg-gallery album=”http://picasaweb.google.com/data/feed/api/user/105819570346662635782/albumid/6049120727754751521?alt=rss&kind=photo” ]