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Travel From Seattle, WA to French Meadows Summer Camp, CA

We got off the cruise ship early in the morning of July 15th, filled with a strong desire to start our camping experience that included four nights in Oregon and Northern California, and ten nights at French Meadows Summer Camp. We rented a car at the airport, and made our way to a health food store just outside Seattle to buy food and fuel for our burners and to send emails. We hadn't been online for the week we were on the high seas.

We felt so good to shop, and snack, and simply hang out catching up on our mail that it was several hours before we set out headed south. Our first goal was Mt Hood, a volcanic mountain in Northern Oregon. As daylight began to run out, we pulled off the road at the first campground we saw not far from Mt Hood.

Campgrounds Near Mt Hood

We took a walk through the woods after supper, then slipped into our tent for a well needed rest. In the morning, we set out for climbing Mt Hood. On the way there, I looked for an ATM to get some cash, only to learn that I didn't have the pin numbers for any of my credit cards. Oh, well, I thought; I will just let the universe take care of us. Not that we don't have any cash, but much less than I would have liked to carry with me for emergencies.

After our spectacular descent, we continued south to Crater Lake National Park. I heard about its amazing beauty, but words could not describe it. I felt breathless as I viewed the lake for the first time.

Crater Lake National Park

After a view of the lake at about 8,000 ft elevation, we descended to find a hiking trail. The one we found was pleasant but not spectacular.

Hike in Crater Lake NP

Our goal was to reach the area of Mt Shasta in California before it got dark, and find a place to camp for the night. We had a list of recommended places to stay and see from Keren who toured the area several months before. When we reached the Mt Shasta area, we parked at a parking lot overlooking the mountain and called Keren in Israel to find out directions to Stewart Mineral Springs a short distance from the town of Mt Shasta.

Mt Shasta

The directions to this resort were somewhat convoluted, and the road was a narrow two lanes with signs few and far between. Just as we were beginning to despair thinking that we had passed it we stopped the car and asked a passerby for directions. The entrance to the Springs were right in front of us!

After we set up our tent, we strolled around the grounds. We met a woman named Robin who revealed to us that she was headed to French Meadows and would get there about the same time as us. We chatted with her, her friend, and her friend's dog for a little while before turning in for the night.

Stewart Mineral Springs

What we understood was that the spring had special healing qualities. People went for a sauna then plunged into the river. There was an Indian Sweat Lodge on the site, but it only operated on Saturdays. We made it to the sauna, but plunging into a cold river was just not what I was ready to do. The sauna was amazing!! It operated on wood coals instead of electricity, and it felt so healing. When we first entered, it took some time for our eyes to adjust to the dim light. When they did, we suddenly noticed a bunch of naked bodies of both sexes laying around. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it all, but got used to the ambiance in a short time.

After our sauna, we left the Springs and drove to the end of the road leading to the top of Mt Shasta. It was cold and windy, but the air was clean, fresh and uplifting. There was a labyrinth with an offering at the center. We walked through it just in time before it started to drizzle, then left on our way to Mt Lassen.

Top of Mt Shasta Road; Labyrinth; Offering At Center of Labyrinth

Before continuing to Mt Lassen we stopped in the town to shop at the health food store Keren recommended. On our way to the store, we passed a bookshop that was also on Keren's to do list. We stopped to browse. It was a well stocked New Age store with CDs and books. The owner was a gentle man with lots of patience to help and answer questions. We struck up a conversation with a Japanese woman and her husband, visiting the US from Japan, who translated "The Secret" into Japanese!! She mentioned this when she read our business card and saw what our interests were. She asked me to do a numerology reading for her. Of course, I replied, and the store owner agreed that we could sit in the furnished space in the loft of the store where it was quiet and we could speak undisturbed. I did a reading for both husband and wife, and received $50 for my fee. I was blown away--exactly what I needed in cash to feel secure; the universe sent me this couple to solve my cash flow problem when I was stuck the day before without a pin number for my credit card!!

After buying a few things in the health food store, we set out for Mt Lassen. The drive was particularly beautiful and we paused at marina to enjoy the view.

Boat Dock Off Highway to Lassen Park

We stopped at a campground in Lassen National Park.

Campground in Lassen National Park

When I woke up in the middle of the night I couldn't believe that it was raining. It never rains in California in the summer, or so I thought. We were lucky that we got up in the morning there was a break in the rain long enough for us to pack up our tent and get going. Little did I realize that the rain was to ruin our whole day of sightseeing and hiking, as it relentlessly poured once we set off from the campground. Despite the rain, we managed to see two things on our way out of the park: a huge boulder deposited there by a volcanic eruption millenia ago, and a sulfur pit.

Volcanic Rock Sulfur Pit

We drove to Chico, positive that we would leave the rain behind us in the mountains. Incredibly, it had rained in Chico, and the temperature was comfortable. The humidity was unusually high, and the streets were still damp when we got there. Chico is normally over one hundred degrees all summer long. It wasn't convenient to stop off to see Carl and Julia as they were making last minute preparations for summer camp, so we walked around the downtown before heading for Forestville, the last town before entering the national forest where French Meadows is located.

We had no idea of the problem we would have finding a campground in the Forestville area. There was nothing in the town itself, and we were guided to a campground about fifteen miles away. This would not have been a problem if it wasn't dark by this time, and very difficult to navigate the narrow roads. After several wrong turns and dead ends, we found a campground, set up our tent with the use of our headlights, and went to sleep. The following morning we drove to French Meadows with no further adventures.

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