2015 has been a fun filled year thus far. I explored new places and revisited some old favorites. For my second blog update I am featuring stories and photography from the months of April, May, and June. My next update will be for the month of July and then I will update on a more regular basis. Happy Trails!
April
April was kind of a quiet month as far as my photography goes. I made several trips to the south fork of the Sacramento River, played a few games of disc golf, kick ball, and checked out the dam overflow at Lake Siskiyou which feeds the Sacramento River. It was a good month, I just didn't do as much photography as other months.
My buddy Charlie dog
Lake Siskiyou dam
Sacramento River
South fork of the Sacramento River
River crossing
My buddy Maxx
Crystal clear water on the South Fork Sacramento River
Good spot to jump in!
April plunge!
Camp spot near river
Saw this Airbus fly over
April full moon
Stellar Jay
Castle Lake
May
May was another amazing month! I started my job at the Weed Airport at the beginning of May. I worked at the airport in 2013 and when offered the job again this year I was happy to take it. My main job is to fuel jets and helicopters with a fuel truck in addition to customer service. On top of starting the airport job I also took some incredible trips in the month of May.
Black Hawk at the Weed Airport
Sky Crane at the Weed Airport
Jot Dean Ice Cave / Harris Camp / Little Glass Mountain / McCloud River
To start off the month was a trip with friends to the Modoc National Forest. We visited a place I have been to several times named Jot Dean Ice Cave. The cave holds ice year round and is quite intriguing. After the cave we went to an abandoned forest service campground and fire station called Harris Springs. We camped the night and then drove up the road to a place called Little Glass Mountain which is composed of pumice rock and black obsidian. We braved the sharp rock and climbed to the top which made for quite an amazing site! On the return trip home I took the group to one of my favorite swimming holes on the McCloud River.
Jot Dean Ice Cave
6 foot tall ice wall
Jeff monkeying around
Jeff under a natural bridge
The abandoned fire station
Having fun at the campsite
Glow stick photography
Little Glass Mountain
Climbing up the mountain
Plenty of Obsidian
This picture gives an idea of how big the Obsidian chunks are
Also a large amount of lightweight pumice rock
Snowball fight!
McCloud River swimming hole
Flowers along the McCloud River
Washington Trip
My next exciting trip for May was an unforgettable one. My brother Matt had work lined up in Washington state and used some vacation time so we could meet up and explore Northwest Washington. We hadn't seen each other for several years so it was exciting for both of us to get to hang out again. On my way up to meet Matt I spent a night at Seaquest State Park nearby Mount Saint Helens. The next day I explored Mount Saint Helens before a stop at Mount Rainier National Park. I then met Matt at the Redhook Brewery just north of Seattle. After a night in Woodinville, Washington we took the ferry across the Puget Sound and spent a night in Port Angeles. From there we made our way over to Ocean Shores with a stop at Hurricane Ridge and the Hoh Rainforest in beautiful Olympic National Park. After a couple of fun days and nights in Ocean Shores we made our way back towards Seattle for one more night. Matt flew out early in the a.m. and I made my way back towards California. I spent my last night of the trip on the Umpqua River in a nice cabin and then soaked in the Umpqua Hot Springs before finishing the drive back to Weed. A great trip to say the least!
Seaquest State Park
After doing a little research I decided to rent a yurt at Seaquest State Park nearby Mount Saint Helens. I would recommend this option to anyone planning a trip to this area. The yurt was great and surrounded by a beautiful lush green forest. There was a series of trails in every direction from the yurt and it was very quiet and peaceful. When I arrived to the park it started to rain but was warm enough to enjoy a hike through the woods before relaxing in the yurt for the evening.
My Yurt
Inside of the yurt
Many flowers!
Lilly Pads
Great Blue Heron
The lush forest
Enjoying a hike in the rain
Looking out the yurt through the ceiling at twilight
Banana Slug greeted me on my yurt's doorstep
Mount Saint Helens
After a great nights sleep in the yurt I headed into Mount Saint Helens via the Spirit Lake Highway. The highway had many nice viewpoints of Saint Helens and due to it still being off season I was able to skip the park entrance fee. I made a stop at the sediment retention dam which I had to myself. It was amazing to see all of the destruction from the Mount Saint Helens eruption. I can only imagine the sound of the blast. After hiking around the park all morning I made my way back down the highway and headed for Mount Rainier National Park.
A nice hike in the woods
Sediment Retention Dam
Waterfall on the side of the road
The rental car
Mount Saint Helens
Mount Rainier National Park
I arrived to Mount Rainier National Park early afternoon and once again was able to skip the fee due to it still being the off season. Mount Rainier itself was very majestic and beautiful. The 14,410 foot mountain was the highlight of the park but the old growth forest dubbed the Grove of the Patriarchs was equally impressive. After a nice hike in the forest I made my way out of the park to go meet up with my brother just north of Seattle. A great day indeed!
The very green entrance
Giant trees
Fun bridge!
Old growth forest
Mount Rainier
Me and my Brother
Port Angeles
After a tasty breakfast Matt and I headed for the ferry which we would take across the Puget Sound and drive to our destination of Port Angeles, Washington. It was a fun ferry ride and a beautiful drive. The city of Port Angeles is also one of the entrances to Olympic National Park. We spent the afternoon and evening overlooking the passing boats on the Puget Sound. We ate a delicious fish fry and had a couple tasty beers at a place called Next Door Gastropub. Highly recommend this place! The next morning I was able to purchase my first legal bag of marijuana. What a unique experience, way to go Washington!
One of the ferrys
Port Angeles with Olympic National Park backdrop
Our hotel for the night
Awesome mural in Port Angeles
Another awesome mural
Sunset on the Puget Sound
Watching the ships go by
Even saw a huge cruise ship
Legal Washington weed
Olympic National Park
Our first taste of Olympic National Park was a drive up the mountains out of Port Angeles. The drive was incredibly foggy but we eventually reached the top of the road at a place called Hurricane Ridge. The clouds started to break and we had glimpses of the snow covered mountains. After exploring the area for a little bit we made our way back down the road and drove across the park getting views of the ocean, lakes, and large trees. Our next destination in the park was the Hoh Rainforest. Averaging 12-14 feet of rain per year the Hoh is a lush green canopy of both coniferous and deciduous species. In other words.. incredibly beautiful!
Cloudy morning at Olympic National Park
Mountains poking through the clouds
Hurricane Ridge
Foggy road
Black Slug
Invasive species from Northern Europe
Selfie with a doe!
Banana Slug
Plenty of water
Very tall trees!
The name of my elementary school
Someone pointed out this owl to us.
Looking out form under a tree
Washington Coast
After departing the Hoh Rainforest we began the drive to Ocean Shores, Washington. Once we reached the Pacific Ocean we decided to make a stop at the first beach to stretch the legs and have a look. We picked the perfect beach, there was a pod of Gray Whales not far from shore. This was a first for me, I have always wanted to see a whale. It was quite mesmerizing! Eventually we decided to move on and make our way to the hotel. After arriving to Ocean Shores we checked into our room on the 4th floor with a balcony overlooking the Ocean. It was great! We got another delicious dinner and spent the night sitting on the balcony watching the crashing waves. The next day we rented mopeds and cruised the beach which was also a great time! Had a 2nd awesome night enjoying the sunset and the balcony. The following morning we headed back towards Seattle but first stopped at another rainforest nearby Ocean Shores. We also made a stop at a wildlife refuge that reminded us of Wisconsin a little bit. I got to spend one more night hanging out with my brother before saying our goodbyes until next time. It was a great experience for both of us that I will never forget.
Whale spotting
The first beach had some awesome rock formations
Gray Whale
View from the hotel balcony the first morning
Cruising the beach on mopeds!
Matt on his moped
Interesting sand seaweed formations
Matt on the moped with the hotel in the background
The balcony
Beautiful Pacific coast sunset
Spotted this owl at the 2nd rainforest
Crooked River Bridge
On my way back down to California I took the scenic route. I drove the south side of Mount Hood down towards Bend, Oregon. On that stretch of the drive I stopped at a place called Peter Skene Ogden State Park which overlooks the Crooked River Bridge. The railroad bridge is 320 feet above the river making it the 2nd highest in the nation. Quite a site!
Umpqua National Forest
After my pit stop at the bridge I finished my drive for the day to a place called Umpqua's Last Resort. I had booked a cabin for the night and was very pleased with my accommodations. Not only was the cabin quiet, cozy, and clean but it also included free movie rentals at the camp store. I stopped at one of the many waterfalls on the way to the cabin and then took a short hike to the river after checking in. A very relaxing evening after a pretty full day of driving. The next morning I visited 3 more of the very scenic waterfalls on the Umpqua and then soaked in the hot springs. The hot springs took away all of the aches and pains of driving for the past week and made me feel like a brand new person. It was wonderful! Three and a half hours later I was back home in Weed, California.
Clearwater Falls
Turkeys outside the cabin
Umpqua River
Born to chill
The cabin
Umpqua Hot Springs
Toketee Falls
Love this place!
Pit stop on the river
Watson Falls
Lake Shastina Camp
After returning from my Washington trip I got back to work at the airport and spent a few weeks camping at nearby Lake Shastina. The weather was perfect and the sunsets amazing. It was an enjoyable few weeks sleeping in the tent and enjoying nature.
Home Sweet Home
Beautiful sunsets over Lake Shastina
Storm cloud
Every evening the deer go down to the lake for a drink
Half moon
Digital zoom
All kinds of birds.. the bald eagle left the shot just before I took it.
June
June was another fun filled month with plenty of activity. I started it off with a trip to a place called Hole in the Ground Crater. Rode my bicycle to Ball Mountain Lookout. Rafted the upper Sacramento River. Hiked from Kangaroo Lake to Bull Lake and back. Biked and hiked to Whitney Falls on Mount Shasta. Did a 20 mile hike in the Marble Mountain Wilderness visiting 4 lakes and climbing Marble Gap. And to top it off I re-vsited my secret swimming hole I like to call Paradise.
Hole in the Ground Geological Area / Martin's Dairy Campground
At the beginning of the month I came across a website that listed seldom seen places in Siskiyou County. I found something called Hole in the Ground Geological Area that really intrigued me. After calling the forest service to get an idea of where this Hole in the Ground is I made plans to go. The directions I received were very clear. Drive down a certain forest service road until I see the giant tree and park. From there I was told to climb the rocks on the left side of the road and hike back until I see the crater. It worked, I found the Hold in the Ground Crater! There is no trail and there was no sign of a human ever visiting which is something I love to see. The crater itself was magnificent and a site to behold. I spent a couple hours climbing around for the best views and enjoying the unique plants and wildflowers.
I had driven out to Martin's Dairy Campground in the Klamath National Forest the night before. I didn't see anyone the last hour of the drive and had the campground to myself. It was great! In the morning a car pulled into the campground and it just happened to be a couple friends of mine. They had come out to pick mushrooms so we camped together the 2nd night and had a delicious fire cooked mushroom feast.
The view headed from Yreka to Martin's Dairy Campground
Creek at the campground
Aspens
Stopped at Juanita Lake on the way to the Hole in the Ground Crater
The giant Ponderosa
Climbing up to the crater
Hole in the Ground Geological Area
Big drop!
Impressive view of Butte Valley
Fun climb!
Tim and Jayme cleaning their mushroom bounty
Ball Mountain Lookout / Klamath River
The next morning I took a bicycle trip up to the top of Ball Mountain which was nearby the campground. It was a good climb to a historic fire lookout tower. The views were great and the ride back down was fast and fun! It was getting extremely hot so I made my way to the Klamath River for a swim and then made my way back home. Great trip to several new places!
Looking out over Butte Valley
Ball Mountain Lookout
Mount Shasta from the lookout tower
Butte Valley from the lookout tower
Inside the lookout tower
Driving down the Klamath River Road
Klamath River
Feeling refreshed
Sacramento River Trip
The next week I met up with my friend Jeff and we took his raft on it's maiden voyage down the Upper Sacramento River. It was a beautiful hot day on the river. The first half of the trip went very well and then we popped half the boat. It was a bit difficult from this point on and I ended up getting my camera and my phone wet so I had to replace both. I'm very happy with my new camera, a Rebel T5. My previous posts and the photographs on the river were all taken with my camera that got wet, a Nikon Coolpix with digital zoom. It's a nice camera but I enjoy having the Canon with the interchangeable lenses and more photographic capabilities. Below are some photos of our 12 hour raft trip on the Upper Sacramento River.
Launching the raft on the Upper Sacramento River
Hot day, cool water!
Stopped to check out this railroad tunnel
Floating under Interstate 5
Kangaroo Lake / Bull Lake
The next trip I took was a solo hike from Kangaroo Lake to Bull Lake. It was an easy 10 mile round trip with beautiful vistas, wildflowers, and amazing geology. Another hot day made jumping in both lakes very enjoyable! I also climbed to the top of Cory Peak which made for excellent views!
My first picture with the new camera. Kangaroo Lake Campground
Kangaroo Lake from above
Trinity Alps
Top of Cory Peak
Bull Lake
So refreshing!!!
Bull Lake with Mount Eddy in background
Kangaroo Lake
Bear Grass
Whitney Falls
The next day I made a trip to a place named Whitney Falls. Whitney Falls is one of the four waterfalls on Mount Shasta and flows when the Whitney Glacier is melting. The 200 foot falls is quite impressive and I had them entirely to myself on this hot June day. I began my journey by bicycling a few miles from the railroad tracks nearby to the trailhead. From the trailhead I hiked the several miles and enjoyed the beauty and solitude of Whitney Falls.
Start of the journey
Not a bad view while biking to the trailhead
Bolam Creek (dried up)
Whitney Falls (top left of picture)
View to the West
Biking back to the car (Sheep Rock and Miller Mountain in the distance)
Marble Mountain Wilderness
My next hiking trip was a great one, 20 miles in the Marble Mountain Wilderness. It was another very hot June day after camping the night at the Lovers Camp Trailhead. My friend Jeff and I had packed our backpacks for an overnight trip into the Wilderness Area. Our plan was to hike to Marble Gap, Sky High Lakes, and then set up camp above Sky High Lakes at Shadow Lake. We brought enough water for the day with plans to refill at one of the many springs. Unfortunately with the current drought in California all of the springs we encountered were dried up. I ended up finding 3/4 of a watermelon more than 5 miles from any trailhead which kept us going. We couldn't help but wonder who hiked this watermelon in and left it in the woods in a bag but we were very happy to have stumbled across it. After visiting the 4 lakes we decided we would hike out and head for the ice cold beer in the truck instead of camping and being thirsty. It was a long days worth of hiking but full of incredible vistas, rock formations, lakes, and wildflowers.
Start of the trip
Surprised to see a banana slug this far from the coast
Cabin on the Pacific Crest Trail
Marble Gap
Climbing up Marble Gap
Me after a fun rock crossing
One of the many marble caves in the area
Sky High Lakes
Salamander
View of Marble Gap from Sky High Lakes
Shadow Lake
Red Rock Canyon Trail
Paradise
My last post for the month of June is a special place to me. I like to call it Paradise. Last year while on a bicycle trip I noticed water passing under the road and after taking a closer look I found a pristine creek with deep swimming holes. I have returned to this spot several times since and I love the complete solitude and privacy of this incredibly beautiful creek. The water is cold and very refreshing, the perfect place to relax and recharge. I don't share the location of this spot because it is one of the few places I can go where I can almost guaranty nobody else will be around. I am willing to show people as long as they can keep it a secret.
The amazing water!
Several small waterfalls and deep pools
No clothing necessary
Ok, not totally private, this snake was also there.
My next blog update will be for the month of July and then I will update on a regular basis.
Happy Trails! ~ Kevin Citta
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