Shasta #26 - the summit skunk

2020... what a crazy year.  Not my best in recent memory... BUT I did manage to get up Shasta.  And visit the Stinky Summit Shasta Skunk.  Woke up at 4 am, started up at 5:30 am, summitted, skied down Hotlum for a few 1000ft, re-summitted and skied down the Trinity Chutes.  These were my first go on my new skimo set up.  I got new boots on geartrade for 150$, picked up the skis and binders from Metres, and got the techcrampon 250, which rocks. 

Quite a number of folks up on the mtn.  

Who would forget their gloves???

Yeah Pat!

Purr-fect corn

I need to redo my boots... 

Carb back up to fuel my drive home.  

Marble Mtn Backpacking - Paradise Lake/Kinds Castle

Had a great first backpacking trip of 2020 with the fam.  With everything on lockdown, we figured we should head out.  It was still a bit early in the season, so we knew we'd encounter some snow, but this was the perfect amount.  Evan told me about Paradise Lake so we figured we'd start off there.  I haven't been to the Marbles in a long time, so this was all kind of new to me.  I took a lot of extras (chairs, beers, wine, fishing equipment, to make this a fun trip).  All in all, I can't wait to get back out again... it's Sept now, and I can't believe I haven't made it back out... sigh.  

Info:

• It's approx 2 hr drive to the trailhead from Ashland
• The hike in is only 2 miles, but it's all uphill
• https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/paradise-lake-trail--2
• Bear lake was small and shallow, but quite worthy.  
• Check out Marble Rim next time?

Next time:

• Check out the caves (BigFoot, SlipStream, Skunk Hollow, Karst) in the Marble mountains? Do more research
• Print out some recipes for rainbow troup. Don't take cinnamon rolls, take a grill/frying pan/tin foil/ for the fish. Cook on low, bring butter, lemon, oregano, flour, salt, garlic powder.  This might be fun to try too... 
• Print out wildflower guide - https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_008263.pdf

Check out this cool bridge on the way to the trailhead

This hike was all uphill... 

Yellow Avalanche Lilies (Yellow Fawn Lily)

Kimbo was stoked on her Rose

Kai and I took a walk around Paradise Lake

I caught lots and lots of fishes here...

 

The next day, I woke up.  Caught more fishies... was thinking about going on a run, but there was a bit too much snow for any reasonable options. 

The boys wanted to warm up.

And check on their jello

Snow fleas - spring tails - they have an antifreeze protein and they feed on decaying organic matter, so they play an important role in natural decomposition.  

What kind of poo is that???

Western Anemone?

King's Castle

Our day hike destination - Bear Lake

Desert miracle for the win

It was time to swim as soon as we got to Bear Lake.

I spotted some massive trout here, and caught a few smaller ones, but after a while they stopped biting.  There were lots of salamanders mating though... 

Back on the PCT.  

Nikko cooling off

Lupine

On the way back, I grabbed Kai and we decided to go tag Kings Castle.

Summit bugs!

Definitely worth the hike

The next morning, I woke up to a nice sunrise alpenglow

And caught more fishies

These cinnamon buns didn't do too well... some sites make it look easy... but it's not.  Get a cast iron and do it car camping.  

All smiles

mmm this worked well.  Just do it on the last day so you don't have to clean it.  Or bring tin foil. 

Leave no trace!

Kai ready to hike down!

It was hot down low and back home.  On our way out, we stopped here to take a dip.  

My triple decker Awesome burger/veggie burger.  

More pics here