Kilted Hiking in the Highlands (of California)

**MacMillan's son** · 15th August 10, 10:21 PM

This is my first photo tour for my friends at Xmarks. After enjoying the numerous photo posts by Alex, Ron, and others, I thought I would share some photos from my recent trip to the Mount Shasta area of my home state of California.

It was a three day trip that started on the McCloud river. For my trout fishing friends, this is from the U.S Department of Agriculture bulletin on the area:

" The McCloud River, from which this arm of Shasta Lake takes its name, was named after Alexander R. McCloud, a Scot fur trapper who was snowbound along the river in 1829. Little of the land along the McCloud river was ever developed. In 1872 Livingston Stone established the first West Coast salmon hatchery near the confluence of the McCloud and Pit rivers. The facility, which grew to resemble a small town, was called Baird in honor of the first commissioner of fishing. Seven years later, a trout hatchery was established at Greens Creek farther up the river. Rainbow trout from this hatchery were transplanted all over the world and most strains of Rainbows are descendants of the McCloud River trout."

The first day was spent on the McCloud river exploring the Lower, Middle and Upper falls.

Along the river

USAkilts Casual in MacMillan Black in PV with Father Knot bag type sporran by Donnie at Wyvern Leatherworks

Lower falls

Middle falls with friend

Admiring Middle falls

Admiring the Middle falls even more

[IMG]http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af100/Socialwrkr
/Shasta%20trip%208-10-10/IMG_1012.jpg[/IMG]

Upper falls

More in a minute

**MacMillan's son** · 15th August 10, 10:25 PM

Looking North to Mount Shasta, a dormant volcano of the Southern Cascade Range elevation over 14,000 ft ( aprox 4700 meters)

Day three took us to the base of Mount Shasta and then on to Castle lake for some coolness.

Castle lake

Headin' out

Well, that's it for this trip. Thanks for letting me share a piece of California not often in the news!!

Brooke

**MacMillan's son** · 15th August 10, 10:31 PM

Here is the photo of middle falls that didn't come through. Hiking companion admiring the falls. This is one of my favorite photos of trip.

Cheers,
Brooke

**Downunder Kilt** · 15th August 10, 10:45 PM

Thanks for sharing the photos, looks like a great trail to hike. How high up are you and is that snow on them thar hills?

**xman** · 15th August 10, 10:47 PM

Fantastic pics Brooke. Thanks.

**MacMillan's son** · 15th August 10, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

Thanks for sharing the photos, looks like a great trail to hike. How high up are you and is that snow on them thar hills?

You're welcome!

Castle Crags trail tops out at 4800 ft. at the base of Castle Dome.
Mount Shasta is over 14,000 ft. The photo of me on Shasta is right near the upper parking lot which I think is about 8500 ft elevation. Yep, that is snow on the mountain in the middle of August! There are also some small glaciers around the top of the mountain. We didn't hike Shasta, as it is pretty barren, as you can see. Beautiful to look at from a distance, but for me, not all that attractive for a hike.