The second week of June Linda and Bill and Jim and I spent two nights at the Girard Ridge Overlook, a former fire lookout cabin in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest that was built in 1931 and in use until 1981. It is one in which you can drive right up to. In January Linda had the inspiration to suggest this adventure, and we booked it then.
The views were wonderful. Castle Crags was to the west.
Mt. Shasta was to the north.
Apparently at one time, Mt. Lassen could be seen to the Southeast. There are big scotch pine and white fir trees that now block that view.
The cabin, which was 14 feet off the ground and enclosed by 360 degree windows, had two cupboards, two twin beds with mattresses, and a table with four plastic chairs. We drank margaritas, played Scrabble, and watched for animals at night. I think we all stayed awake a little too long in hopes (or dread) that Smokey the Bear would amble by. He never did; nor did anything else.
During the day we hiked down a fire road and onto the Pacific Crest Trail. We saw lots of wildflowers including blue and yellow lupin, Pacific dogwood, Indian Paintbrush, and some we did not know. The weather was beautiful: few clouds, a gentle breeze, and comfortable temperatures.
We brought a Coleman stove to cook our meals, solar heated water bags for showers, and chairs to enjoy the new fire pit. You have to take everything in with you and carry it all out with you. No water is available either. There is a nice (really) vault toilet close to the cabin. You walk through some day lilies and hazelnut bushes to get to it.
Check out time was noon, so we headed down soon after and stopped by the Sacramento River. Jim and Bill found it to be very relaxing.
The views were wonderful. Castle Crags was to the west.
Mt. Shasta was to the north.
Apparently at one time, Mt. Lassen could be seen to the Southeast. There are big scotch pine and white fir trees that now block that view.
The cabin, which was 14 feet off the ground and enclosed by 360 degree windows, had two cupboards, two twin beds with mattresses, and a table with four plastic chairs. We drank margaritas, played Scrabble, and watched for animals at night. I think we all stayed awake a little too long in hopes (or dread) that Smokey the Bear would amble by. He never did; nor did anything else.
During the day we hiked down a fire road and onto the Pacific Crest Trail. We saw lots of wildflowers including blue and yellow lupin, Pacific dogwood, Indian Paintbrush, and some we did not know. The weather was beautiful: few clouds, a gentle breeze, and comfortable temperatures.
We brought a Coleman stove to cook our meals, solar heated water bags for showers, and chairs to enjoy the new fire pit. You have to take everything in with you and carry it all out with you. No water is available either. There is a nice (really) vault toilet close to the cabin. You walk through some day lilies and hazelnut bushes to get to it.
Check out time was noon, so we headed down soon after and stopped by the Sacramento River. Jim and Bill found it to be very relaxing.
