History
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Oct- 2023 -27 October
The Legend of Snowshoe Thompson: The Founder of California Skiing
In the 1800’s, traveling across the Sierra Nevada in the middle of winter was rarely accomplished. Native Americans were usually…
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27 October
These Brothers Were Hanged in Redding in 1892. Their Hidden Treasure was Never Found.
On July 24th, 1892, a group of masked men stormed the Redding, California jail and dragged out two men accused…
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10 October
Take a Walk Through History in this Ghost Town just Outside Redding, California
Shasta State Historic Park. Photo: Visit Redding In the mid-1800’s, the town of Shasta sitting just 6 miles west of…
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9 October
Watch the Incredible Video of the Lassen Peak Eruption in 1914
My interest with our surrounding volcanic activity has turned from curiosity to obsession. The last eruption of Mount Shasta occurred…
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6 October
Once a Northern California Boomtown, Now a Sunken City at the Bottom of a Lake
Kennett, California was once a boomtown in Northern California, prospering in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, with numerous stores,…
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Sep- 2023 -28 September
On this Day in History: President JFK Dedicates the Whiskeytown Dam
We know that our area holds significant landmarks for the state as well as the country, and no event signifies…
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23 September
Remembering President JFK’s Trip to Northern California Just Weeks Before His Assassination
On November 22, 1963, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade drove through Dallas, Texas. Less than two…
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17 September
Mark Twain’s Hilarious Account of the Naming of Yreka, California
The small town of Yreka, California, sitting just to the north of the mighty Mount Shasta, has a prominent history…
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13 September
Meet the Mount Shasta Lizard: The Largest Known Marine Reptile to Ever Live on Earth
Illustration of what the Shastasaurus could look like In 1893, Stanford University’s James Perrin Smith went of a fossil-collecting expedition…
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8 September
The History Behind Northern California’s National Parks
Northern California is a treasure trove of natural wonders, boasting an array of national parks that stand as testament to…
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6 September
How the Grizzly Bear Became the Symbol of California
The California Bear Flag (the official state flag of California) hardly gets any love despite flying over virtually every government…
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Aug- 2023 -28 August
A History Behind Shasta Dam’s Essential Role in California Water
In 1938, thousands of hardworking people arrived in rural Shasta County to build a dam and a dream. Shasta Dam…
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11 August
Did the Real-Life Tarzan Dive Off Burney Falls?
The story was well known to me, but we at Active NorCal always check our sources. If you Google “Tarzan,…
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9 August
Lassen Volcanic National Park Celebrates its Beautiful 107-Year History
Lassen Peak reflecting over Manzanita Lake Of all the destinations and parks in Northern California, Lassen Volcanic National Park might…
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2 August
Remembering Babe Ruth’s 1924 Exhibition Game in Dunsmuir, California
Photo by Paul J. Standar The Babe. The Sultan of Swat. The Great Bambino. The legend of Babe Ruth has…
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1 August
The History of the McCloud River and its World-Famous Fish
Photo: California Trout It’s the strangest feeling. I can be standing for hours in a rushing trout stream totally absorbed…
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Jul- 2023 -30 July
Remembering the Deadly 1996 Rockfall that Sent 90,000 Tons of Rock into Yosemite Valley
July 19, 2021 marked the 25th anniversary of the 1996 Happy Isles rockfall in Yosemite National Park. The deadly incident…
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Jun- 2023 -18 June
Capturing History: 10 Mind-Blowing Photos from the Lassen Peak Eruption
When Lassen Peak Erupted in 1914, there were no advanced photographical instruments. There were no DSLR’s or drones or GoPro’s,…
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1 June
Beauty Meets History – Hiking Tahoe’s Rubicon Trail
Tahoe’s Rubicon Trail might sound familiar to you as it’s become a very popular destination for hikers throughout Northern California,…
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May- 2023 -29 May
Unveiled FBI Documents Reveal Plot to Kill Queen Elizabeth on Her Trip to Northern California
In 1983, Queen Elizabeth II undertook a tour of California, marking her only visit to the state during her lifetime.…
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25 May
Ancient ‘Donut-Shaped’ Rock Found in Rural Northern California. What the Heck is it?
An interesting rock was discovered in the rural town of Termo, California, bringing many questions about how it was created…
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14 May
This Jaw-Dropping Eastern Sierra Lake was Named After a Group of Escaped Convicts
In the Eastern Sierra, a natural wonder known as Convict Lake captures the awe of photographers and anglers alike. This…
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8 May
Remembering the Serial Killer Who Terrorized Northern California Hikers in the 1980’s
A trail in Point Reyes National Seashore. Photo by Alexis Marts. In the wake of the arrest of the notorious Trailside…
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7 May
This Waterfall Was Once the Hideout of NorCal’s Most Notorious Stagecoach Robber
Every bandit needs a hideout, and it just so happens that one of the most prominent waterfalls in Northern California…
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Apr- 2023 -30 April
The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: The Endless Winter of 1938 Remains the Snowiest on Record
With a historical winter currently blanketing the Lake Tahoe region, we decided to dive deep into the history of epic…
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29 April
Two Bridges with the Same Name Tell a Fascinating Story of Northern California’s History
In July 1848, John Bidwell discovered gold in a canyon of the Feather River, leading to the establishment of Bidwell’s…
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20 April
Historic Video Footage Shows Scenes Around Tahoe in the Early 1900’s
Northern California was much different 100 years ago. The developed roads and landmarks we know so well today are just…
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14 April
The Story of Lassen’s Ishi – The Last ‘Wild’ Native American
It was August 19, 1911, when an unknown, “wild’ man emerged from the wilderness near Lassen Peak and into the…
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14 April
A History of Lassen Park in Photos
Lassen Volcanic National Park’s history is fascinating, from the eruption of Lassen Peak to the naming of Hat Creek to…
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5 April
The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: 812 Inches of Snow Buries the Railroad in 1952
The winter of 1952 in Tahoe is remembered for its record-breaking snowstorms, which caused avalanches, trapped trains, closed roads, and…
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2 April
The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: The Great April Storm of 1880 Pushed Donner to the Brink
In 1879, a severe storm originating from the Gulf of Alaska hit the Northern Sierra just before Christmas Day. The…
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Mar- 2023 -31 March
Remembering the Massive Avalanche at Alpine Meadows that Killed 7 and Changed the Tahoe Community Forever
In the 70’s and 80’s, ski resorts were rated for their avalanche danger with a scale of A through F…
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28 March
Lake Tahoe a National Park? How Years of Decisions Shaped California’s Most Famous Lake.
Photo by Gordon Mak In 1861, Mark Twain camped on the shores of Lake Tahoe, captivated by its beauty. Unfortunately, he…
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28 March
This Northern California Town is Responsible for America’s First Bike Lane
The ever-popular bike lanes you see all around the country are a pretty new phenomenon. San Francisco received its first…
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21 March
The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: The Great Snow Blockade of 1890
With a historical winter currently blanketing the Lake Tahoe region, we decided to dive deep into the history of epic…
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20 March
This Popular Northern California Lake Was Once a National Park
Northern California is home to some of the most popular National Parks in America, with Yosemite National Park ranking high…
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20 March
The Snowiest Winters in Tahoe History: The Two-Month Blizzard of 1895
With a historical winter currently blanketing the Lake Tahoe region, we decided to dive deep into the history of epic…
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15 March
Remembering the Great Flood that Put Northern California Under 30 Feet of Water
If you take a look at Northern California on a map, it will show a large valley right down the…
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3 March
The Legend of Captain Dick – The Hermit of Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay
Emerald Bay’s Fannette Island was once the home of Captain Dick. Photo by Patrick Minero. In the mid-1800’s, there weren’t many…
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Feb- 2023 -20 February
Stay Overnight at a Historic Northern California Lighthouse
There are so many great adventures to be had in Northern California, but there may be none as relaxing and…
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20 February
Take this Hike to See Ancient Petroglyphs in Northern California
In the Lava Beds National Monument sits a wall of stone with petroglyphs that are dated as far back as…
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16 February
72 Bars on One Road? The Legend of Mount Shasta’s Whiskey Row
The stories of Siskiyou County during the Gold Rush are like something out of a Wild West movie. The town…
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Jan- 2023 -29 January
The Story of the Donner Party: Deadly Mistakes Over the Snowy Sierra
Photo of James F. and Margaret Reed, who were members of the Donner Party I could have died so many…
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12 January
Remembering the Deadly Flood of 1955 that Put a NorCal Town Under 20 Feet of Water
It was just minutes past midnight of Christmas Eve 1955 when the Gum Tree Levee on the Feather River in…
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Dec- 2022 -27 December
Sculpting an Icon: The 100 Million Year History of Yosemite’s Half Dome
Half Dome is a iconic granite rock formation located in Yosemite National Park in California. It is known for its…
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26 December
How Did Lake Tahoe Get Its Name?
Lake Tahoe is a stunning alpine lake located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California and Nevada. It is…
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13 December
The NorCal Town Named ‘Rough and Ready’ Once Seceded from the United States
The only way you’ve probably heard of Rough and Ready, California is if you’ve driven on Highway 20 between Yuba…
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1 December
This 1952 News Reel Shows Passenger Train Buried in Tahoe’s Worst Blizzard in 50 Years
In January of 1952, the worst blizzard seen in 50 years slammed the Tahoe area, closing the pass over Donner…
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Nov- 2022 -17 November
How Skiing Down Volcanoes Became a Time-Honored Tradition in Northern California
Volcanoes are the kind of geological formations that tend to inspire awe. Towering above everything else, they seem like a…
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14 November
The Legend of Old Shavehead – The Lassen Native American Known for Murdering Samuel Burney
As written in the book California’s Best Fly Fishing Old Shavehead. Photo: California State University, Chico While geologists estimate that…
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6 November
The Bizarre Story of the Horse that Summited Mount Shasta in 1903
Photo by Sebastien Goldberg Who isn’t fascinated with standing on top of NorCal’s premier active volcano, the formidable Mt. Shasta?…
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Oct- 2022 -27 October
The Legends and Mysteries of Siskiyou County
Photo by Marco Bicca It’s well documented that the areas surrounding Mount Shasta are full of legends and mysteries. From paranormal…
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26 October
Remembering the Deadly 75-Foot Tidal Wave that Leveled Crescent City in 1964
Beginning in Northern California and running all the way up to Alaska in the Pacific Ocean sits multiple fault lines…
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17 October
The Literary Titans of Northern California – Part 2
Northern California has always attracted creative superstars, and the list of famous writers who either come from NorCal or spent…
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17 October
Five Northern California Destinations Being Considered for Federal Historical Designation
Fort Ross Landing Historical and Archaeological District The California State Historical Resources Commission will hold a virtual meeting next Friday,…
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10 October
The Fascinating History of Redding Rancheria
The Wintu Tribe of Northern California When I am outdoors visiting our beautiful NorCal landmarks, curiosity always slips into my head…
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10 October
The Mystery Behind the Sunken World War II ‘Ghost Boat’ on Shasta Lake
Photo: U.S. Forest Service There have been plenty of historic structures revealed on Shasta Lake during severe drought. With multiple…
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10 October
This Popular Northern California Destination was Once the Scene of a Bloody Battle in 1855
Photo by Brandon DesJarlais We know Castle Crags as the beautiful Northern California wilderness area settled just between Shasta Lake and…
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4 October
An Oral History of the Cantara Chemical Spill on the Sacramento River
Northern California is no stranger to disasters. Over time we’ve lived through earthquakes, volcanos, firenados, floods, mudslides and avalanches. Would…
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Sep- 2022 -18 September
Grizzly Bears Once Ruled California. Here’s Why They No Longer Roam the State.
Photo by Zden?k Machá?ek Why does the California State Flag feature an extinct animal, the California grizzly bear, a beast so…
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13 September
The Yosemite Camping Trip that Changed America
I call it a successful camping trip if I don’t forget the mosquito repellant and a roll of TP. But…
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7 September
How John Muir Almost Died on the Slopes of Mount Shasta
Many people take the slopes of Mount Shasta for granted. You may see images of people from all over the…
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Aug- 2022 -28 August
The Adventures of Mark Twain in Northern California
People dream of coming to California to become the next Meryl Streep or Tom Hanks, but hardly the “father of…
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1 August
The History Behind the Extravagant Castle Along the McCloud River
You’ve probably heard of the Hearst Castle, the magnificent residence of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. But have you heard…
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1 August
The Real Life Zorro: The Life and Legend of Joaquin Murieta
Some say he was a good man turned renegade when all he held dear was taken from him. Others claim…
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Jul- 2022 -7 July
The History of NorCal Names – How Redding Was Once Named ‘Reading’
Photo courtesy of the Shasta Historical Foundation Redding, California sits center stage in Northern California, nestled comfortably smack dab in…
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1 July
This Northern California Ghost Town is Cursed, According to its Visitors
Flickr/Robert Shea The workers at the Bodie State Historic Park are used to receiving letters in the mail talking about…
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Jun- 2022 -20 June
1906 Film of San Francisco Upgraded to 4K is Absolutely Stunning
It was on April 14, 1906 when Harry Miles, a motion-picture pioneer in California, took to a cable car and…
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14 June
The Good Guys and Bad Guys of Historic Northern California – Part 1
Hollywood is obsessed with “good guys and bad guys,” and why not? There’s something very satisfying when good triumphs over…
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14 June
Gold Rush Days Returning to Historic Downtown Yreka this Week!
Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou The town of Yreka, sitting in the beautiful Siskiyou County, is one of the…
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9 June
Why Are There Old Train Tracks Going Into Lake Tahoe?
If you’ve ever explored the breathtaking beaches of Lake Tahoe, you may have noticed a rare sight of railroad tracks…
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May- 2022 -22 May
This Historic Northern California Boomtown Maintains its Gold Rush Charm
Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou It’s sometimes hard to fathom that Northern California once sat as the center of…
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22 May
On This Day in History: The Lassen Peak Eruption of 1915
It was the late-afternoon of May 22, 1915 when Lassen Peak exploded in a powerful eruption that blasted rock fragments…
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Apr- 2022 -19 April
Courageous Explorer or Bloodthirsty Killer? The Sobering Truth About Kit Carson in Northern California
Who hasn’t heard of Kit Carson, the steely mountain man, courageous explorer, military hero, character in numerous dime novels and…
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10 April
Historic Photos Show Lumberjacks Chopping Down the Giant Northern California Redwoods
Northern California is known for being the home of some of the oldest and largest trees in the world. The…
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Jan- 2022 -13 January
And Just Like That, Shasta Lake’s Historic Train Tunnel is Underwater Once Again
The summer and fall on Shasta Lake was a somewhat depressing time. The lake’s water dropped to extremely low levels…
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12 January
These Stagecoach Drivers Were the Rock Stars of California in the 1800’s
Mark Twain tried, but no matter how good a storyteller you are, you just can’t make this stuff up. Historic…
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Dec- 2021 -20 December
NorCal Nerds: What Did Northern California Look Like Millions of Years Ago?
One of Active NorCal’s priorities is inspiring people to get out there and get active, to get off the couch…
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6 December
Famed Pioneer Stephen Meek Arrived in Northern California in the 1800’s. He Was Probably Just Lost.
When Christopher Columbus discovered the “New World,” (Cuba and the Bahamas, really) he was convinced he had landed on the…
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Nov- 2021 -22 November
Who Was Jim Beckwourth? A Life as Big as America
How do you take the measure of a man? It usually begins with facts documented and witnessed by credible sources.…
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9 November
Historic Covered Bridge Reopens Over the Yuba River for the First Time in 10 Years
Following a 10-year restoration project, the historic Bridgeport Covered Bridge at the South Yuba State Park has reopened to pedestrians,…
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Oct- 2021 -25 October
Historic California Ghost Town Transforms into a Winter Wonderland
The popular Bodie State Historic Park is a fun destination in the Eastern Sierra to learn about the history of…
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18 October
Historic Train Tunnel Now Fully Exposed on Shasta Lake
The abysmal water levels throughout Northern California currently sit at their lowest for 2021, with incoming storms bringing the prospect…
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Sep- 2021 -28 September
On This Day in History: President John F. Kennedy Dedicates the Whiskeytown Dam
On November 22, 1963, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade drove through Dallas, Texas. Less than two…
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19 September
Mysterious Sunken Boat Revealed on the Low Shore of Shasta Lake
There have been plenty of historic structures revealed on Northern California reservoirs as water continues to shrink down to historically…
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Aug- 2021 -16 August
Are There Frozen Bodies at the Bottom of Lake Tahoe?
Sitting at 6,225 feet elevation as the largest alpine lake in North America, there is plenty to be fascinated with…
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9 August
Jedediah Smith’s Travels Through Northern California – Part 2: Strong Was His Middle Name
Every time he visited California he got arrested. When a grizzly bear chewed off his hair and ear, he had…
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1 August
Jedediah Smith’s Travels Through Northern California – Part 1: The First White Settlers of NorCal
There is little doubt the standards have changed for what it means to qualify as a “bad dude.” NorCal has…
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Jul- 2021 -19 July
S**** Valley Alpine Meadows to Host Washoe Cultural Tours
SVAM is excited to announce a new on-mountain summer experience: the Washoe Cultural Tour, beginning Monday, July 12. Not only is…
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Jun- 2021 -3 June
9 Fascinating Historical Gems to Visit in Siskiyou County
Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou Photo by Richard Lee When gold was discovered in the American River in the 1800’s,…
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May- 2021 -18 May
Wildfire Unearths Hidden Bunker in the Big Basin Redwoods
Photo: Julie Horner/SLVPost When the devastating CZU Fire blazed through the Big Basin Redwoods, it destroyed much of the state…
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10 May
This Northern California Town is the Closest to ‘Shangri-La’ According to the Author Who Coined the Term
Photo: California Outdoor Propoerties Shangri-la is a fictional place featured in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon written by British author…
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Apr- 2021 -15 April
Ishi: The Last California ‘Wild Indian’ We Never Really Knew
Ishi making a wood harpoon in Deer Creek in 1914 Most California school kids have heard the story of Ishi,…
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Mar- 2021 -22 March
How ‘Euro-Nymphing’ Originated in Northern California
Joe Kimsey was a fishing legend on the Upper Sacramanto River If you refer to that fly rod as a…
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9 March
Getting High on Mount Shasta with John Muir
“If I were you,†he said as he passed by, “I’d head back down the mountain. Storm’s brewing.†His words…
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Feb- 2021 -23 February
The Mystery Behind Rattlesnake Dick’s Lost Treasure in the Trinity Mountains
Richard Barter AKA “Rattlesnake Dick” Richard Barter lived a life of crime in the Gold Rush era of the 1800’s…
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18 February
Shame and Redemption: The History of Captain Jack’s Skull
Captain Jack The 1870s were turbulent, bloody times in Northern California. Tensions between Indigenous Peoples and the U.S. Army who…
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5 February
Getting High on Mount Shasta with John Muir – Part 3 Finale
Read Part 1 Read Part 2 Lightning, heavy winds, hail and deepening snow pummeled intrepid mountaineers John Muir and Jerome…
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2 February
Getting High on Mount Shasta with John Muir – Part 2
John Muir and Jerome Fay made it to the summit by 7:30am on that fateful day in 1875. That’s right…
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Jan- 2021 -19 January
Potter Creek Cave: the Coolest Northern California Cave You Can’t Visit
It’s larger than Shasta Caverns. Extinct ground sloths were found there, the first ever in California. Sharp-faced bears, the most…
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