Recreation Articles
Recreation: Warp Speed
Published in August 2012 - Story: Jon Lewis BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS SPEED WEEK It’s the most straightforward of settings: a dry, barren, salt-crusted lakebed in the Utah desert that stretches for miles in every direction, resembling a bleached canvas waiting for the first touch of color. It’s little more than desolation to some, yet to others it’s a land of enchantment and unlimited possibilities. “The..
Recreation: river to ridge
Published in June 2012 - HIKING AND BIKING THE NORTH STATE'S TRAILS Story by Amber Galusha Photos by Tracey Hedge Proof of the North State’s rich mineral history can be found in the pathways that transect our hillsides. Many of these paths —ditches that once carried water for gold mining purposes —now serve as trail systems that provide hikers and bikers access to treasures of a different kind: vistas filled wi..
Recreation: Ride Into the New Year
Published in January 2012 - story: Amber Galusha A RIDE THROUGH THE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING INSTITUTE IN RED BLUFF Imagine cruising along back roads, rolling over oak-studded hillsides or winding along the Sacramento River, exploring new places and spaces. Now imagine doing this sightseeing not from the confines of an automobile, but from a motorcycle. As you ride, sunlight glints off chrome handlebars, the wind swirls around your bo..
Recreation: Fish in The Water
Published in October 2011 - story: Jon Lewis photos: Bret Christensen Shasta Trinity Fly Fishers By its nature, fly fishing is a solo sport. It’s one angler pitting his or her casting and fly-tying skills against a trout that can be maddeningly discriminating at times. It’s a quiet, contemplative, timeless contest that anglers live for. Get a couple of fly fishers together, however, and they’ll quickly make up..
Recreation: Catch A Wave
Published in July 2011 - story: Jon Lewis photos: Miguel Cruz SUNDIAL JETBOAT EXCURSIONS As part of his 70th birthday celebration, family members had blindfolded David Gasman and were leading him along a path behind the Redding Convention Center when he got a whiff of the horses corralled near the Redding Rodeo arena. “He said, ‘Oh, no, are we going to go horseback riding?’” recalls his wife, Kay. Th..
Recreation: CASTING CALL
Published in March 2011 - story: Claudia Mosby The Shasta Mayflies were founded 10 years ago by former fishing guide Rachael Andras in response to her encounters with women who needed help with all things fly fishing. Begun with only a dozen members, the club now numbers almost 100 fly fishers—novice to expert—from throughout Northern California and Southern Oregon. Mayflies Vice President Linda Slater says many wome..
Recreation: Powder Puffs
Published in January 2011 - story: Billy Brown photos: Brett and Matt Christensen MT. SHASTA SKI TEAM For many kids, winter marks the beginning of several months indoors. But Robert Baker doesn’t see it that way. As the head coach/coordinator of the Mt. Shasta Ski Team, Baker makes it his mission to help equip young skiers and snowboarders with the skills to safely take full advantage of the various terrain that Mt. Shasta has..
Recreation: The Fast and the Furious
Published in August 2010 - story: Joshua Corbelli photos: Teri Ziemer NATIONAL COMBINED OUTBOARD HYRDOPLANE CHAMPIONSHIPS For many, thrills are a rarity, coming usually from activities like riding a rollercoaster, hitting an exciting downhill single track or even something as simple as buying a new outfit. Going 90 miles per hour on an 11-foot modified hydroplane boat, however, is a story in a different book. That book featur..
Recreation: X-men
Published in July 2010 - story: Camille Coulter photo: Don Walgamuth X GAMES BOUND TODD THOMPSON DEFIES THE ODDS He’s been shifting gears since the age of 3, but Todd Thompson of Cottonwood couldn’t have envisioned then being a top contender for the X Games slated for July in Los Angeles. Thompson, 31, says he’ll strive for nothing short of the gold medal in the Adaptive Supercross Division – adaptiv..
Recreation: The Cure For Summer Boardom
Published in June 2010 - story: Jim Dyar photo: City of Redding Recreation and Parks Department TAKE A STAND WITH PADDLEBOARDING It’s nearly impossible to catch a wave on Whiskeytown Lake. So what would explain the increasing number of people riding surfboards out there? Actually, they’re participants in the rapidly expanding sport of stand-up paddle boarding. The sport originated in Hawaii in the 1930s as a way..
Recreation: S'more Summer Fun
Published in May 2010 - story: Cindy Martinusen Coloma CAMPING GETS FAMILIES AWAY AND TOGETHER My feet get warm before the crackling fire, and I take my first sip of hot percolated coffee. The paper plate in my lap holds fluffy pancakes swimming in syrup. I wear my coat on these crisp mornings, and I smile thinking of how it’ll be 100-plus degrees at home today. After taking a bite, I say, “Now, that’s a pa..
Recreation: The Wheel Deal
Published in May 2010 - Story: Jim Dyar Photo: Deven Carter Redding’s Russ Azevedo occasionally puts off the chores. The 73-year-old former Caltrans worker feels it’s his duty to enjoy his retirement on two wheels. In fact, Azevedo, a 40-year member of the Shasta Wheelmen bicycle club, rode his bike a staggering 10,000 miles in 2009. That’s the equivalent of riding from San Francisco to New York City and back..
Recreation: Mini Tears Of Joy
Published in May 2010 - Story: Jim Dyar Photos: Kara Stewart CRUISING AROUND WITH MINI TEARDROP TRAILERS Kurt Bowden designs custom homes. It’s a profession that’s paid most of the bills over the years for him and his wife, Shannon. Recently, however, he’s turned his attention to dwellings of a bit smaller scale. The Lakehead resident has begun constructing high-end teardrop trailers that feature fine ca..
Recreation: Catching On
Published in May 2010 - Story: Kallie Markle Photos: Michael Caranci FLY SHOP KIDS' FISHCAMP Your kids already love catching bugs, playing in the water and tying knots in any string, shoelace or knitting yarn available, so why not channel all that energy (and get a week to yourself!) by sending them to FishCamp? FishCamp is a fun, outdoor week of hiking, games and fly fishing instruction designed to teach 10- to 15-year-..
Recreation: Gettin' Dirty
Published in March 2010 - story: Joshua Corbelli photos: Brent Van Auken BOOMTOWN BMX TRACK IN SHASTA LAKE CITY It started in the early 1970s. Children in Southern California took to racing their Schwinns and such on dirt tracks in a fashionable attempt to emulate their motocross icons of the time, so the story goes. By the middle of the decade, bicycle motocross (BMX) was a fast-growing phenomenon – the intrigue of which ..
Recreation: Elbow Room
Published in February 2010 - story: Mellissa Gulden photos courtesy of Redding Rollergirls REDDING ROLLER GIRLS ELBOW THEIR WAY IN AS A LEGITIMATE SPORT Don’t let ‘em fool ya. Behind the body-baring outfits, pink fishnets and tattoos are mothers, wives, business owners and nurses. These women all share a common passion: Roller derby. No longer the choreographed flying clotheslines and cartoonish body slams, the all-..
Recreation: Rise Above
Published in February 2010 - story: Jon Lewis photo: JohnReiser HIRISEFMX TAKES IT TO A NEW LEVEL As a freestyle motocross rider, John Reiser has had his share of thrills and chills. And then came the spills. And the fractures, the surgeries, the ankle that had to be rebuilt twice and the titanium-reinforced tibia and fibula in his right leg. So what’s a semi-retired, former high-flier to do at the ripe old age of 24?..
Recreation: A Shoe In
Published in January 2010 - Story: Jim Dyar EXPLORE THE NORTH STATE WITH SNOWSHOES The appeal of snowshoeing can be summed up in the lines from a famous Christmas carol, where the “snow is glistening,” it’s “a beautiful sight,” and you’re “walking in a winter wonderland.” “Being in the mountains in the snow is very surreal, very tranquil,” explains David Dodd, an avid ..
Recreation: Hangin' Around
Published in January 2010 - Story: Michael O'brien Photo: Frank Kratofil BIRDING AT THE SHASTA COLLEGE CAMPUS January may be too cold for swimming, surfing and other outdoor activities, but it’s not too cold for bird watching. On the contrary, the winter months are ideal for birding. Why? Our feathered friends are just as dedicated to their cold weather digs as they are their balmy breeding grounds. The North Sta..
Recreation: On The Rink
Published in December 2009 - story: Gary VanDeWalker SISKIYOU ICE RINK IN MOUNT SHASTA Against the backdrop of snow, a child’s laughter glides over the ice as the early winter sun fades over the Siskiyou Ice Rink in Mount Shasta. During cold months, childhood memories and family traditions form while warm hands clasp and feet learn to balance over the white surface. The idea of the rink crystallized first in 1996, opening t..
Recreation: Bird's Eye View
Published in April 2009 - story: Michael O'Brien photo: Frank Kratofil Birding at the McConnell Foundation's Lema Ranch Lema Ranch is a birding oasis inside the Redding urban landscape. Originally a working mule ranch owned by Chuck and Peggy Lema, Leah McConnell purchased it in the 1970s as an investment property. In the 1990s when the McConnell Foundation needed a permanent home, Lema Ranch was the chosen place. About 20..
Recreation: Round Em Up
Published in April 2009 - story: Beth K. Maxey Saddle Up For The 2009 Red Bluff Round Up The annual Red Bluff Round-Up draws top cowboys from all over the world and thousands of rodeo fans, and it has a huge financial impact on Tehama County. And it all started with a picnic. It was 1918 and spring in Tehama County – time to move the cattle from the valley to the mountains. Ranchers got together at the A.H. Clough ..
Recreation: Scootin' Around
Published in March 2009 - SAVE MONEY AND HAVE FUN WITH A SCOOTER Story: Jon Lewis Photo: courtesy of Scooterville Hop on a scooter and set out on an urban adventure and you’ll quickly realize there’s a new way of getting around town that’s a treat to the senses: a vibrant hum made of new sights, sounds and sensations. The best sensation, though, awaits at the gas station when you discover that your two-wh..
Recreation: Girls on the Run
Published in January 2009 - RUNNING TO BUILD SELF ESTEEM Story: Sue Edmondson When Joanne Crosetti has a problem, she runs—literally. “Running helps me work through my emotions. It’s a great way to figure things out,” she says. “When I was a teen, if a boy broke up with me, I’d go for a run instead of drinking or using drugs. It helped boost my self-esteem— I’d feel so much better afte..
Recreation: Pawsitively Exciting
Published in January 2009 - SISKIYOU SLED DOG RACES Story: Melissa Gulden The majestic snow-covered mountains whiz by at 20 mph. The breathtaking sights of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen and Castle Crags become merely a flash of white as the sun hits the ice, creating a sparkle in the frosty winter morning. You become one with nature. Sound amazing? It is, but not as amazing as the athletes behind this scenic winter wonderland. They are..
Recreation: ...And a Crossbill in a Pine Tree
Published in November 2008 - Audubon Christmas Bird Count Treasured Christmas traditions originate from days gone by. Cutting down the family Christmas tree, singing carols and … blasting birds out of the sky with shotguns? Yes, about 100 years ago, it was a family tradition to set aside one day near Christmas to go into the great outdoors and shoot as many birds as possible. Prior to the turn of the 19th Century, people engag..
Recreation: Board Meeting
Published in November 2008 - North State Skate Series Story: Todd McBain Photo: Nicole Kirby Pam Lewis smiled as the second installment of the North State Skate Series neared its end on a brisk, windy Saturday in October. The Anderson Parks and Recreation supervisor looked out at the skate park she helped bring to life. It was a vibrant scene at Volonte Park – music blared while skaters of all ages shared the concrete ..
Recreation: Snow Fun
Published in November 2008 - Exploring the North State from a Snowmobile Story: Melissa Gulden Photos: Courtesy of The Fun Factory SWOOSH! SWISH! Fresh powder underneath a powerful Polaris 600 snowmobile can feel as though you have the whole world underfoot. Just you and the woods, a synthesis of snow, speed and the simplicity that comes with nature. There are many ways to achieve this feeling, but only one licensed operation can ..
Recreation: Caving In
Published in September 2008 - Explore the Subway Caves & More Story: Thom Gabrukiewicz Creepy is cool. And cool is creepy. A sultry September wind blows warm through the Hat Creek Valley. But that hot breeze cloaks a cool secret that lies under the lichen-flecked, dark-black basalt rock formations. It is another world: a dark, subterranean realm where the beam of a single headlamp can dance off formations that are some 20,..
Recreation: Beauty Within
Published in August 2008 - Bodies Revealed Exhibit at Turtle Bay Story: Kerri Regan It’s miraculous and mysterious, complex and resilient. Billions exist, yet no two are the same. This is the human body – the star of the show in “Bodies Revealed” at Turtle Bay Exploration Park, which has provided an unparalleled educational opportunity for scholars, professors and medical professionals. “Having..
Recreation: Get Hooked
Published in May 2008 - Story: Jon Lewis Fishing in the North State Lightning sparks a blaze that rages through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, far from the reach of fire hydrants and water tenders. From the sky, the cavalry arrives, bailing out of a plane and parachuting into the woods. “I always wanted to pursue a job that was kind of extraordinary,” says Rick Rataj of Redding, who will soon begin his ninth..
Recreation: Favorable Winds
Published in May 2008 - Story: Sandie Tillery Whiskeytown Regatta Sails Again A rainbow of sails billows in the breeze as sailors enjoy some friendly competition every year during Memorial Day weekend on Whiskeytown Lake. A labor of love put on by the Whiskeytown Sailing Club, this year’s Whiskeytown Regatta begins Saturday, May 24, with the first race beginning at 11 am followed by a series of races Saturday and Sund..
Recreation: Paddle Power
Published in May 2008 - Story: Kerri Regan Flatwater and Whitewater Kayaking Whether you’re looking for a leisurely paddle around Whiskeytown Lake or an adrenaline-fueled trip down the Trinity River, a kayak just might be the vessel for you. Kayaking on a lake (“flatwater”) requires no more instruction than playing golf; but it’s wise to take some lessons before careening down a raging river (“w..
Recreation: Learning the Ropes
Published in April 2008 - Building Self-Confidence at Kidder Creek Story by: Gary VanDeWalker Photos courtesy of Kidder Creek From the platform, the fifty-foot drop looks foreboding, despite the safety harness and person holding the rope attached to the harness below. The trapeze bar hangs just out of reach, meaning only a leap into the air will garner the prize. The twelve-year old lets out a nervous laugh before throwing herse..
