Smoky haze obscure Mount Shasta but reveals the mountain’s many layers.
Yikes. I haven’t posted anything at all in nearly two months. It’s the longest lacuna I’ve had since starting this site at the beginning of 2013. A lot happened in that time, some of it good, some of it not so good but it seems that I have come through to the other side and things are well, which is a tremendous blessing.
I’ll recap, briefly, some of the goings on as they relate to the lull in activity on Hike Mt Shasta but I really want to focus on the Lava Fire. I know I am late to that party but I have some shots and thoughts of my own that I want to document. So, to start things off…
In the latter half of June, I headed off to Camp Fleischmann with my boy scout troop. The camp is located between Chester and Lassen Volcanic National Park, on the road into Juniper Lake. We were there for a full week and it was exhausting but great. It was especially satisfying to see the troop’s new senior patrol leader realizing the difficulties that come with leadership and rising to the challenge of meeting them.
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- The troop’s uniforms hung on a line at the entrance to camp.
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- A view of our camp from across Lake Fleischmann.
Towards the end of the week there was some thunderstorms. Little happened at camp, but little did we know the reckoning the storm would bring when we returned home. By the end of the week we were all exhausted and ready to hibernate for a few days. However, as we returned to Mount Shasta, we were greeted with a towering plume of smoke rising above the mountain’s northwest flanks.
Unforunately, that was not the worst problem I met upon my return. My parents, who had been watching my younger kids while I was away were extremely sick and worsening. I finally convinced them to let me take them to the ER and, sure enough, they had covid. That set off a long journey through the sickness that ultimately saw my entire family get it as well, but, eventually, we all recovered. My folks are hearty but it really laid them low. It took a lot of work from my wife and I to get them back on their feet and, thankfully, their recovery has been very good. I recognize how fortunate they are and I thank God for their return to health.
Meanwhile, in the midst of dealing with this challenging illness, the Lava Fire was growing, just a few miles from my house. I’ll let the pictures do a lot of the talking on this one.
Click to enlarge:
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- I returned from camp on Saturday. By Sunday evening the fire was definitely a lot worse than people had originally thought it would get. It had moved off the northwest flank and was burning to the east, as well as upward, up the mountain.
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- It was fascinating to watch the flames from the Shasta Valley but I was exhausted and concerned about my parents, so I felt strangely detached as I watched Mount Shasta burn.
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- During the day, I could see the aerial attack on the flames. Helicoptors and planes both sortied into the conflagration.
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- A lot of what burned was brush, especially at the lower elvevations. I suspect a lot of this will return fairly quickly. Still, it was strange to watch it all go up in smoke.
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- On Monday a pyrocumulus cloud exploded over the Lava Fire, indicating a new birth of life for the fire. It was getting out of control, again.
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- The view from my house on Monday night. The eerie glow was from an outdoor streetlamp. The fire lit up the night sky only a few miles to the north.
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- On Tuesday, the fire worsened and made a run to the south. Initial plans were to halt it at Diller Canyon but the blaze pushed past this natural barrier. It was intense to watch. The large patch of fire on the far right is Diller Canyon.
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- Mount Shasta ablaze. I was exhausted from helping my parents out and still felt pretty detached from the inferno.
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- A C-130 approaches the fire and readies to make a retardant drop (far left).
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- This was about as far south as the fire got. It made it past Diller Canyon but too far.
Eventually, the fire burned out (mostly) and we all recovered from the virus (not only my parents, but my whole family ended up with it). We eventually reentered society after a long isolation and were prepared for what lie ahead…Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. Yet the question remains: we recovered, but how will Mount Shasta recover?
Hike Mt. Shasta 
Thank you for the photos and information concerning the fire. I don’t know you or your family, but I can still be thankful that you have all recovered from COVID.
I appreciate your words a great deal. I am really thankful we all recovered as well. It wasn’t too bad for my family but my parents had a hard road.
GOD BLESS YOU. I grew up in the woods near Castle Craigs, and love to read your reports and see your beautiful pictures of a place special to GOD. Glad you and your family are well.
Thank you very much. The Lord certainly blessed us throughout the ordeal!
Sorry to hear about your illnesses, and I’m glad you all have recovered. Had any of you been vaccinated? (No judgment implied, just curious.)
Sorry for the long wait in response. I appreciate the good word on our recovery! Regarding vaccinations, none of us had been. The reasons varied between my parents and my wife and I, but in the end its moot; we all got it. The shocking thing is how many people who have been vaccinated are still getting it.
Oh…you’re coming to Yosemite! Can’t wait to see your posts. Wow, glad you all recovered from covid (imagine that!—sorry for the sarcasm, it’s coming from a gal who wants to remain unvaxxed). Spectacular fire photos. Truly, I’m glad you are all well.
No need to apologize for sarcasm! We tend to have the same attitude regarding the vaccines. The real challenge was from my dealing with my folks at the same time! Thank you for your concern too!
We had a really good time in Yosemite, though the Valley was brutally hot. We picked the hottest day in the forecast and headed up to the 20 Lakes Basin then to enjoy some cooler temps. The rest of the time we just hung out near the water in the Valley. Honestly, with our freshly recovered covid-lungs we were happy to keep it mellow this year, with no major hikes or anything.
I hope the summer in Yosemite has treated you well!
Gosh Bubba, that’s a lot to deal with. I am so glad everyone recovered so we’ll, just amazing! Take care, Linda
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Hi Linda! It’s good to hear from you. I hope you guys are doing well! For us, this has certainly been the hardest, wierdest summer but it has still been good. I hope I run into you at some point in the near future…maybe somewhere on the PCT!
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