Click on the photo to see more detail of this mural.

City of Mount Shasta

There is no better place to revisit the 60’s culture than the small town at the base of Mount Shasta. After reading the flyers posted in the new age bookstores, organic markets, and crystal stores, it’s obvious that the town still teems with free lance mystics, metaphysicians and mediums. Therefore we were not shocked when we read that this small community is notorious for being the spiritual headquarters for more sects and cults per capital than any other town in America and that as many as 23 spiritual organizations considered Mount Shasta a shrine. Eat your heart  out Sedona, Arizona!

Mount Shasta’s water is known for its purity and we were quite eager to have a taste. The public water fountain in the center of town comes directly from a local spring and Danny rushed for a drink. We can confirm that it has a cool round sweet taste with a refreshing finish. The water at the RV Park where we stayed was also spring water and the report posted in the office confirmed there were zero contaminants.

The city’s other claim to fame is that it is home to the headwaters of the Sacramento River. Tucked away in Shasta City Park we tracked down the northernmost source of the river. There, at a spot almost obscured by rocks and plants, water bursts out from a lava tube known as Big Springs. Here icy pure water originating deep within Mount Shasta rushes into Cold Creek, which is the northern most feeder stream of the Sacramento River. The water is known for its constant cold temperature and purity. We were somewhat surprised at the number of locals who were filling plastic jugs under the spring. A few told us that the short hike to the spring was a weekly ritual.

Mount Shasta’s architecture is somewhat unremarkable and consists mainly of a few small lava rock structures. Has Beans coffeehouse is an example of one of the historic rock faced buildings built by the early Italian stonemasons. This funky little place is a local hangout and is the mother store of the Has Beans Coffee chain. In the back, we were invited to view coffee beans being roasted and shipped to their other locations. We came here everyday for a great cup of java, to surf the web and people watch.

(Page 2 of 3)

Copyright © 2006 TrailerGypsies.com. All Rights Reserved.