The eclipse begins at approximately 5:10pm, reaches maximum at about 6:27pm, and ends at 7:35pm.

Make sure to observe safely

Never look directly at the Sun! Never look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope unless you have approved solar filters! Sunglasses are NOT adequate! We caution everyone to be very careful. Do not try to view the sun directly with the naked eye or through any optical equipment such as a camera, binoculars or telescope. The sunlight will be bright enough to permanently damage your eyes, even causing complete blindness. Sun glasses, even a stack of sun glasses, and polarizing filters are not safe. These glasses pass harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause irreversible damage. The eye does not feel pain from exposure to intense light. The damage is almost instantaneous and irreversible.

Mt. Shasta Eclipse Concert a celebration of life, love, music and Mt. Shasta

Sunday May 20, 2012 12 noon-8 PM • www.EclipseConcert.com

Marc Cooper & CoopDeVille; Paula Reynolds & the Groove Perpetrators; Dr Scott Durbin & Densa w/Connie Croad; DoubleChief; Ryan Marchand; Anna Repetto & Blue Relish; Wild Blues Yonder; The Mountain Gypsies; Genny Axtman & 3 on a Match; “Queen of Harps” Patricia Hill; Jimmy Limo; Djin Aquarian.

Bring blankets & lawn chairs to Hoy Park at Lake Shastina in Weed California

Live Music • Free Admission

Special eclipse glasses available that will allow you to view the eclipse safely without damage to your eyes.

Mt. Shasta Star Gazers

The Mt. Shasta Star Gazers invite everyone to a viewing of the annular eclipse of the sun on Sunday May 20th. An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence, the Sun appears as a very bright ring surrounding the outline of the Moon. Mt. Shasta is in a nearly ideal location to observe this eclipse. Meeting on Spring Hill Road just north of Mt. Shasta City at the white cross about 1/2 mile south of Les Schwab Tires. We will have a special eclipse glasses available that will allow you to view the eclipse safely without damage to your eyes.

The eclipse will be followed the same evening by a star party at the same location, beginning at about 9 PM. Several telescopes will be available for public viewing of stars, star clusters, Mars, Saturn, and nebulas.  Please, no white lights in the viewing area after 9 PM. Park your car on the Spring Hill Dr. and do not pull into the viewing area.

Everyone is invited and the event is free. Please no dogs. Children must be carefully supervised by parents.

More than 750 maps sold so far for Mt. Shasta to Truckee section of long-distance route that guides bicycle tourists from Canada to Mexico along stunning Western corridor

Missoula, Montana — Just over a year ago, Adventure Cycling Association announced the official release of its new Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route, a 2,389-mile road-based cycling route that runs from Sumas, Washington, to Tecate, California. The Mt. Shasta to Truckee, California, section of the route uses State Highway 89 and guides bicycle tourists through small and medium-sized communities along this corridor, including McCloud, Chester, and Quincy. Since publishing the maps for the route in April 2010, Adventure Cycling has sold over 750 maps for the Mt. Shasta to Truckee section alone.

“Our membership eagerly anticipates the release of our new maps and the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route was no exception,” said Teri Maloughney, Adventure Cycling’s sales and marketing director. A national nonprofit organization, Adventure Cycling Association has over 44,000 members.

The Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route is the newest long-distance route in the Adventure Cycling Route Network, which was launched in 1976 with the publication of maps for the 4,262-mile TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. Today Adventure Cycling’s network is the largest mapped cycling route system in the world, encompassing more than 40,000 miles of routes throughout North America.

The new route will be a new source of economic vitality for nearby communities. A study done along the Great Allegheny Passage (pdf) in 2009 found that overnight cyclists on that route spent an average of $98 per day as they traveled. A 2010 Wisconsin study (pdf) found that out-of-state bicycle tourism brings $560 million into that state’s economy each year. (Total bicycle tourism, including in-state residents, approximates $1 billion.)

Small towns along other established Adventure Cycling routes have reported experiencing a boost in the number of cyclists who stay and use their services, especially when the community offers services such as dining and accommodations for cycling tourists. In Twin Bridges, Montana, which is situated along Adventure Cycling’s TransAmerica route, an effort by locals to attract even more bike tourists — by providing a cyclist-friendly campground and shelter — has been very successful. All of the community’s initial investment (around $10,000) was recouped in the first summer of operation, and now that word has spread about this cyclist-friendly town, many cyclists traveling on the TransAmerica are choosing it as a destination for an overnight stay during their tour.

“When a community is popular on one of our routes, word spreads like wildfire,” said Winona Bateman, media director for Adventure Cycling. “Cyclists really enjoy helping other cyclists plan their trips, and cyclists spend time and money in the towns that they visit. They’re not just speeding through in order to ‘get there.’ For them, what’s often most important are the experiences along the way.”

Roughly paralleling the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route passes around and through many of North America’s mountain gems, including Mt. Shasta and Lassen Volcanic National Park. The nearly 2,400-mile route guides traveling cyclists through terrain as varied as thick evergreen forests, apple orchards, wide and narrow river canyons, grasslands, glaciated high Sierra canyons, volcanic cones, and high desert.

Adventure Cycling chose to use the Highway 89 corridor as part of the new cycling route because of its scenic value, and proximity to the Pacific Crest Trail, which inspired the new route’s creation. For this region, Highway 89 is the ideal option for traveling through areas that best represent the character of the Sierra Mountain Range.

“There are few roads in this region and even fewer that are paved,” said Jenn Milyko, an Adventure Cycling cartographer who worked on developing the new cycling route. “If we had used a different road, the route would have left that forested corridor and traveled roads closer to the Central Valley or the Great Basin.”

The organization is aware of the commercial truck traffic along Highway 89 and is working with area companies such as Timber Products Company to promote mutual respect between commercial truckers and traveling cyclists.

“We’re advising touring cyclists traveling on this section of the Sierra Cascades Bicycle Route to expect this type of traffic and to yield when possible,” said Milyko. “We’ve also asked several area logging companies to help spread the word among their drivers to expect cyclists on the road, and to pass them in a safe and considerate manner.”

Chris Chase, timberlands manager at Timber Products Company, said, “We’re happy to get the word out and encourage respect. Tourism is another important part of our local economy and we definitely want to support it by doing our part to make our local roadways safe for all travelers.”

Adventure Cycling has also been in communication with Tamy Quigley at the California Department of Transportation who feels strongly that this route is a good one for bicycle travelers.

“Even though there are several areas with less than 8′ or 4′ shoulders, traffic volumes are not high,” said Quigley, Associate Transportation Planner, District 2 Bicycle Coordinator for the California DOT. “The section around Lake Almanor is simply amazing. They host an annual ride that attracts over 400 people and is very successful. The last section from Canyon Dam down to SR 70 junction is very rideable.” (For more information, download a PDF of the Caltrans District 2 Cycling Guide.)

With over 35 years experience in creating long-distance cycling routes, Adventure Cycling seeks to put cyclists on low traffic roads that weave through small communities and scenic destinations whenever possible.

Adventure Cycling offers some tips for trucks and cars that drive by a touring cyclist along Highway 89: Allow at least 3 feet when passing and wait for a safe place to pass (as with any slow moving vehicle), honk only in emergencies — at times it can be difficult for a cyclist to hear (such as when riding downhill due to the wind in their ears). Most likely the cyclist in front of you on a narrow roadway is looking for a safe place to pull over to let you pass. Give them a chance to do so and then pass carefully.

Communities interested in attracting bicycle travelers and building bike tourism can find quick tips and in-depth suggestions and information on Adventure Cycling’s bicycle-travel friendly communities web page.

# # #

Adventure Cycling Association is the premier bicycle travel organization in North America with nearly 45,000 members. A nonprofit organization, its mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. It produces routes and maps for cycling in North America, organizes more than 45 tours annually, and publishes the best bicycle-travel information anywhere, including Adventure Cyclist magazine and The Cyclists’ Yellow Pages online. With 40,699 meticulously mapped miles in the Adventure Cycling Route Network, Adventure Cycling gives cyclists the tools and confidence to create their own bike travel adventures. Contact the office at (800) 755-BIKE (2453), info@adventurecycling.org, or visit www.adventurecycling.org.

The 2011 Boys League Champion will be trying to capture the state title, and he has two teammates who will be challenging him.

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center will host 80 of the top high school XC ski racers from Oregon state for the 2011 Oregon Interscholastic Ski Racing Association Nordic State Championships. Racing will be held on Friday, February 25th and Saturday, February 26th.

Start times are:

Friday:  2:00 pm, Start time for Freestyle 5K Boys and Girls races
Saturday:  10:00 am, Start time for Classic 5K Boys and Girls races
Saturday: NOON Start time for Relay races  (3 x 1km, CL, CL, FS)

The Ashland High School team trains at Mt. Shasta Nordic Center and they are hosting the event on their “home” courses.

The racers will be representing the following schools:  Mt. View High School (Bend, OR); South Eugene High School; North Eugene High School, Ashland High School, Summit High School (Bend, OR), Northwest Youth Corps Outdoor School (Eugene).

School teams compete for team trophies, based on combined performance in all three events: 5K Freestyle, 5K Classic, and 3x1K relay.  Individuals are recognized for performance in each discipline (Freestyle and Classic) and combined performance in both disciplines.

The Mt. View High School and South Eugene High School girls teams have been closely competitive for several years, and this year has been no exception.  During the league racing season, a relay race was part of each league event, and the outcome of the relay race determined the winning girls team in five out of five of the league races. The first place girls team for the state meet also will most likely be determined by the relay race.

“We are excited to host the community of junior racers from Oregon for their state championships,” says Laurel Harkness, Executive Director of Mt. Shasta Nordic, “What a wonderful way for the Mt. Shasta community to see the achievement of these student athletes. Mt. Shasta Nordic hopes to develop our own youth programs in future years so that our local athletes will have opportunity to compete at this level.”

The community is welcome to take in the action on either day at the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center. Spectators will be able to view the racing action on foot – or snowshoes or skis are available to rent. “There is a warming hut at the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center, it is a great place to bring the family up and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate,” says Harkness.”

“We are grateful for the support of the Mt. Shasta Ski Park for this event, who have worked closely with Mt. Shasta Nordic Center manager, Tom Tuttle to customize and groom the specialized race courses.”

The race is supported by the Central Oregon Radiology Associates as the primary sponsor.

The above photo was taken at the state championships in 2009, when Mt. View and South Eugene girls were battling it out for first place in the relay.

More about Mt. Shasta Nordic:

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center features 20 km of groomed winter trails for XC skiing and snowshoeing. There is a warming hut at the trailhead, and rentals and lessons available. The Nordic Center is open 9am until 4pm every day except Tuesdays.

The Mt. Shasta Nordic Center is operated by Mt. Shasta Nordic under a special use permit from the USFS. Mt. Shasta Nordic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2006, with the intent to create, enhance, and preserve Nordic skiing opportunities for all ages and abilities.

The Mount Shasta Nordic Center is located approximately 10 miles off of Interstate 5 near Mount Shasta City. From Interstate 5, exit onto Highway 89 South which is marked as the exit to McCloud. After 6.5 miles on Highway 89, turn left (north) on Ski Park Hwy. After 3.5 miles look for the Mt. Shasta Nordic Center parking lot on the left (one mile before the Mt. Shasta Ski Park).

The Park will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7, and passes are $29 for adults during the week.

Night skiing will begin on Friday, Dec. 17.

For more about Mt. Shasta Ski Park, go to their website at www.skipark.com

The Mount Shasta Trail Association worked long and hard to create the Lake Siskiyou Trail, and Siskiyou County opened the newly constructed Wagon Creek bridge to hikers at an official ceremony that took place at the Wagon Creek Bridge on North Shore Road in Mount Shasta on October 19 at 1:30.

The Mount Shasta Trail Association will soon announce its own event to commemorate the completion of the round-the-lake route.

College of the Siskiyous

There is still time to enroll in fall courses for Resource Technology and Sustainable Communities Programs:

Forest Ecology ERRT 11 – 3 units

Study of abiotic and biotic variables in forest ecosystems.
Wednesdays 9 – 9:50 and Fridays 9 – 12:50. Started Aug 18th

Introduction to Surveying ERRT 22 – 3 units

Covers the use and applications of basic engineering equipment.
Mondays and Wednesdays 11 – 1:30. Started Aug 16th

Silviculture ERRT 30 – 3 units

Covers concepts of managing forests for establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests on a sustained yield basis, using varying techniques.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 – 11:15.  Started Aug 17th.

Introduction to Sustainable Communities ERSC 1 – 3 units

Examines the interactions between humans and global ecosystems.
Mondays 5:30 – 8:30.  Started Aug 16th.

Sustainable Communities Skills Lab ERSC 50 - 2 units

Emphasizes applied sustainability principles through integrated hands-on lab activities and field trips in various areas of Sustainable Communities.
Tuesdays 11 – 2:50.  Started Aug 17th.

Outdoor Adventure Leadership Skills ERSC 3 – 3 units

Introduction to the history and philosophy of Outdoor Adventure Education with applications to current trends and opportunities for the future.
Fridays 10 – 1.  Starts Aug 27th.

Greening Your World ERSC 51 – 3 units

Students will research and implement strategies to incorporate lower impact practices at home, at work, on campus, and in their communities.
Mondays 2 – 4, Wednesdays 2 – 5.  Starts Sept 8th.

Renewable Energy ERSC 53 -1 unit

Offers participants an overview of efficiency and renewable living options for Siskiyou County, highlighting on solar power.
Four Wednesdays 6 – 9 and Saturday Oct 23rd 9-4.  Starts Oct 6th.

Exploring Business Opportunities BA 60 – 2 units

Explores the emerging opportunities within the business, nonprofit and government sectors for green jobs and entrepreneurship.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 – 10:50.  Starts Sept 21st.

It’s Your Business BA 86 – 2 units

Participants will be given all the tools and concepts necessary to complete a creative business plan for small business success.  Yreka Campus with distance learning to Butte Valley.
Tuesdays 5:30 – 8:30.  Starts Sept. 21st.

Please Call to Register 938-5555 or go to www.siskiyous.edu Late Registration Welcome.

Check out the website: www.siskiyous.edu/cte/er

Do you have program questions? Please contact Joy von S at vonskepsgardh@siskiyous.edu

Regular exercise, often done outdoors, is just as important during the hot months of summer as it is during the cooler seasons. Unfortunately outdoor activities often place people at serious risk of dehydration which can lead to other heat-related illnesses including — heat exhaustion — heat stroke — and in severe cases, death. Millions of Americans are at risk for heat-related illnesses; however, the risk is significantly increased for 4 groups of our population. Those most at risk include:

1. Children: When summer vacation from school arrives, most children spend a great deal of time outdoors being active. Because children have a larger surface area in relation to body mass, they often gain heat faster than adults when the outside air temperature is higher than body temperature.
2. Athletes and exercisers: People who spend hours training and competing in the hot summer sun often do not have an adequate intake of fluids to make up for the loss of fluids caused by their activities.
3. Outdoor workers: Workers such as landscapers, construction crews, police officers, postal employees, and others who spend most of their days in the heat often have little time for bathroom breaks or for drinking fluids, as a result these workers may not consume enough fluids during their workdays.
4. Elderly people: There is a fine line between how heat affects most adults and how is can affect the elderly in a more profound way. It’s is extremely important for senior citizens to practice a gradual acclimatization to heat that puts emphasis on hydration.

Is Your Body Acclimatized to Heat?

How does one acclimatize their body to heat? It takes about 10 to 14 days of working or exercising in the heat for your body to adjust or become acclimatized. You should cut down on the intensity of your exercise or activity during these first days. Once your body is heat acclimatized, the amount of sweat you produce, and other total body fluid losses, increases because you sweat sooner and more than before you became acclimatized.

The good news about summer heat is that staying healthy is as easy as becoming educated about your body’s need for fluids, and the signs and symptoms of dehydration which can lead to heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Drinking for Hydration

The best time to consume fluids is before you are thirsty — by the time you are thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. It’s best to drink on a schedule when it is hot outside. Avoid drinks containing caffeine or alcohol while in the sun or heat. These types of drinks stimulate the production of urine thereby promoting dehydration. The best drinks are water, or one of the many flavored sports drinks that are on the market.  Adults need 17 to 20 ounces of fluid before beginning activity, as well as an additional 7 to 10 ounces every 10 to 20 minutes during activity. Your fluid needs don’t stop when your activity is over — you should consume 24 ounces of fluid within the first two hours after outdoor activity.

Children need 4 to 8 ounces of fluid before beginning outdoor activities and 5 to 9 ounces every 20 minutes while they are outside. Once kids return from outside play or activity, they also need to consume 24 ounces of fluids within the first two hours after they stopped their activities.

Did you know? One adult-size gulp of fluid equals one ounce of fluid, and one child-size gulp of fluid equals one-half ounce of fluid.

Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration

• Dry lips and tongue.
• Headache.
• Weakness, dizziness, or extreme fatigue.
• Concentrated urine that appears darker than normal.
• Nausea.
• Muscle cramps.

More Hot Weather Tips

While pouring water over your head might feel good; it does not have any affect on your core body temperature — make sure you put plenty of water and other fluids into your body.

Always wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.

Whenever you get a chance, take a break in the shade. It’s important to remember that anytime a person who has been exposed to heat becomes disoriented or unconscious, immediate medical attention for that person must be sought.

Source: The American Medical Athletic Association By Tracee Cornforth, about.com

Hiking, Backpacking & Trekking require cardiovascular endurance, strength endurance, and hiking-specific training. Being in strong physical shape is one of the most important prerequisites for success on a trip.  Your general training should focus on these five major fitness qualities:

• Aerobic Endurance
• Anaerobic Endurance
• Upper Body Strength
• Lower Body Strength
• Flexibility

Traveling in the wilderness requires good cardiovascular endurance, whether you intend to do short day hikes or multi-day high-altitude trekking, scrambling, climbing, or overnight backpacking trips. Walking over varied terrain while carrying a pack is an efficient and effective way to train for such adventures. If you do not have access to hills or mountains, use whatever varied terrain is available to you, such as stairs, short hills, stadium steps, deserted parking ramps, and sandy dunes. Use of machines such as inclined treadmills, stair climbers, or elliptical cross trainers can also be beneficial.

Train the quadriceps for descents; the hips for supporting pack weight over variable terrain; the shoulders, upper back, and trapezius for pack carrying, gear hoisting, and using trekking poles; and the lower back, obliques, and abdominals for transferring power from the legs into forward propulsion. While hikers, trekkers, and backpackers encounter less extreme terrain than scramblers, mountaineers, or climbers do, you will still need to be able to navigate short stretches across boulder, talus, or scree fields, cross streams, traverse heather slopes, or negotiate around tree roots, all of which challenge footing and balance and may require awkward or high steps.

The exercises suggested below point you in the proper direction for sport-specific training for pack-loaded travel. Unilateral (single-limb) lower body exercises such as those listed below are ideal for early season training in order to increase balance and joint integrity throughout the lower body musculature. Bilateral multi-joint core exercises are ideal for middle months where your focus is on building as much strength as possible.

Unilateral Lower Body Exercises: Hip hikes for the Gluteus Medius;   1-leg Hover Step Ups for quadriceps;  Step Downs for Quadriceps;   1-leg Calf Raise for Gastrocnemius;   Forward Straight Leg Raise for Gluteus Medius;  1-Leg Squat for Balance, Gluteus Maximus and Quadriceps;  Lunge Variations for advanced exercises to challenge Balance, Gluteus Maximus and Quadriceps

Bilateral Lower Body & Core Exercises:  Stiff-Leg Deadlifts for Hamstrings;   Snow Shoveler for Rotational Movements;  Plank Variations and Oblique Twists for Rotational Movements;  Reverse Corner Pushouts for Rhomboids;  Back Extensions for Core Development to Help Support a Pack;  Seated Cable Rows to Face for Upper Back Strength Endurance;  Backwards Walking:   Rehabilitation for the Quadriceps;  Outside Fitness Pack Routine includes a number of strength exercises you can do with a weighted pack, no gym required.

Check on the web at www.bodyresults.com for instructions regarding these exercises, additional flexibility training suggestions, and more.

Our 135 mile Super Century features 16,500′ of climbing. It’s tougher than the Death Ride – but a lot prettier, and a better first ride for those who are new to hilly, mega-century rides.

Our Summit Century offers 10,500′ of climbing. It’s the perfect hilly century for those ready to move beyond standard centuries.

Our Metric Century is moderately hilly – only 4,200′ of climbing in 58 miles. All the views at less than half the suffering!

Our Half Metric is for novices; 30 miles and 2100′ of climbing. Pretty and easy.

To get information about the ride, visit shastasummitcentury.com

Because our 2009 Shasta Summit Century ride jerseys sold out in the first 2.5 hours of the ride, we’re going to offer a short advanced order period this year (we will still offer jerseys at the ride).

The 2010 jersey is similar to last year’s much-loved design – only in a bright, attention-getting red (visible to your envious friends and motorists).

These gorgeous short-sleeve jerseys feature a 3/4 length zip, and will not fade with normal washing. Questions? Contact the ride director at director@shastasummitcentury.com.

Purchase now!

What: A one week summer camp to connect with the outdoors, learn and practice personal and community leadership, and prepare you to take on the challenge of high school with passion, confidence, and excitement. More information www.tfff.org/campford

When: July 25-August 1, 2010

Where: Paradise Point, California (18 miles SE of Happy Camp)

Who: Youth entering the 9th grade from Dunsmuir, Etna, Happy Camp, McCloud, Mt. Shasta, Orleans, Seiad Valley, Somes Bar, Weed, Yreka looking for a fun, challenging summer outdoors experience.

Cost: $15 includes food, rafting, lodging, transportation, and a Columbia Sportswear backpack and water bottle.

How to Apply (Campers):
Complete an online application or download a printable PDF here and mail or fax to The Ford Family Foundation, 1600 Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471. Fax 541-957-5720.  Please also submit two reference forms.  One must be from a teacher/principal and the other can be from any adult, not related to you, and has known you for at least a year.  Download a printable reference form.
Camper Application and Reference Forms Deadline: May 17, 2010

Counselor/Mentors are: High school juniors and older who are connected to their community and wish to support rising ninth graders, to better prepare them for their transition to high school, connect with the outdoors and learn and practice community and personal leadership skills. We are looking for two individuals each from the Happy Camp area (including Orleans, Seiad Valley, Somes Bar, Etna), Yreka area and Mt. Shasta Area (including Dunsmuir, McCloud and Weed). Ideally they will be graduates of The Ford Institute Leadership Program. More information www.tfff.org/campford

How to Apply: (Counselor/Mentor):

Download a printable PDF application and mail or fax to The Ford Family Foundation, 1600 Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471. Fax 541-957-5720.  Please also submit two reference forms.  One must be from a teacher/principal and the other can be from any adult, not related to you, and has known you for at least a year.  Download a printable reference form.
Counselor/Mentor Application and Reference Forms Deadline: May 17, 2010

For more information: Contact RDI Youth Program Manager, Max Gimbel (mgimbel@rdiinc.org – 541.359.5284) or www.tfff.org/campford
You are also cordially invited to an informational session for potential campers, counselors and interested community members on Saturday, May 1st at The Mount Shasta City Park, Lower Lodge from 1:45-2:30.   Refreshments will be served.