I was on the road this fine Saturday morning.
Headed to drive up north along I-5, then a part of US 97 known as Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway.
Started with Shasta lake. Stopped after lunch at Bailey Cove to walk the trail around the dried-up part of this lake. Walking by the dried basin - green grass and cracked mud several feet deep reveals some water and boat houses further downhill.
The trail was empty.
After many amazing people, vistas, and rest stops, it was ~ 5 pm when I reached Grass Lake in Weed, CA.
I had decided to spend the night here. (Many benches, beautiful sunset in the mountains, clear night sky, and clean restrooms).
Met many beautiful people, watched the elks (far away and still a hunch by the nice teacher; Dad for Bear and Monkey), deer, and a Bobcat OR mountain lion (?). Comment here if you know this could be a Bobcat? (To me it seemed the tail was bobbed and was smaller than a mountain lion's).
Living the nomadic experiment was amazing.
<Useful> Notes;
- need a flat surface to sleep; van or tent - the car is difficult - google for ergonomic car sleeping tips?
- fan was useful.
- comfy clothes and slippers were useful.
- need to sleep well; Night bliss.
- cloth to cover the eyes to sleep / avoid lamps at night and other cars.
- shower and cleanup is an issue.
- extreme cold in the morning.
</Useful>
In the morning went to the lava tube - Pluto's cave and could hike through the big first four caves.
The area was deserted, beautiful above and below (please carry flash lights for the cave), found many rodents and birds.
Fast forward to today, two weeks later, it was hard to see this place isolated on a closed down I-97 between the two active Siskiyou County wildfires - Tennant and Lava fires. The latter was caused by lightning. 33,685 acres of burning trees, amazing fire responders, and vulnerable wildlife.
The summer is obviously hard these days. More and more forests burning like the corals bleaching.
Below is an attempt at the amazing vastness that housed grazing wildlife in this area.
✌️
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