Stories Archives

Mar- 2019 -

28 March

A Guide to Spiritual Tourism in Mount Shasta

Flickr/Harold Litwiler If you’ve been lucky enough to walk through the quaint downtown area of Mount Shasta, you’ve probably noticed…

22 March

Shasta Pack Murder? What Happened to NorCal’s Famed Gray Wolfpack?

Photo of the Shasta Pack in 2015 Four years ago, two wolves had a litter of five pups in the…

13 March

The Legend of Snowshoe Thompson: The Founder of California Skiing

Animated depiction of John Albert Thompson, also known as Snowshoe Thompson In the 1800’s, traveling across the Sierra Nevada in…

8 March

Humboldt 4-H Leader to be Honored in D.C. Following Young Sisters’ Wilderness Survival Story

When 5-year-old Caroline Carrico and 8-year-old Leia Carrico were younger, they were taught wilderness survival tactics from their local 4-H…

8 March

Foodie Getting Active â€“ How I Dropped 30 Pounds in 60 Days

By Brien Oâ€™Brien Let me start off by noting that I am in no way an expert on weight loss.…

6 March

Remembering the Deadly Flood of 1955 that Put a NorCal Town Under 20 Feet of Water

Overhead view of Yuba City. Photo: Sacramento Bee It was just minutes past midnight of Christmas Eve 1955 when the…

5 March

Meet the Athletes from NorCal Heading to the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi

Lighting ceremony at the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi For a week in March, three Northern California Special Olympians…

3 March

Tourist Trapped in Deep Snow on Mt. Shasta Rescued with an Extensive Snow Removal Operation

Everitt Memorial Highway The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office received a desperate call from a Massachusetts woman whose Toyota Prius had…

Feb- 2019 -

28 February

Lake Tahoe has Risen a Foot this Month with 40 Billion Gallons of New Water

Flickr/Reno Tahoe The historic snowfall and prevalent rains of February 2019 in Northern California has transformed the landscape following a…

21 February

Yaks on the 5 – Delicious Burgers at a Top 100 Restaurant in America

Eating NorCal visited Dunsmuirâ€™s favorite local eater Yaks on the 5 to find out why they were named a â€œTop…

12 February

One Year Later: How Did a Lost Canadian Skier End Up in Northern California?

Danny Filippidis pictured above. On the left is a photo of him found in Sacramento after 6 days missing from…

12 February

Blizzard Trapped 120 Guests for 5 Days at South Sierra Resort

It started out as a normal winter vacation for 120 guests at the Montecito Sequoia Lodge in the South Sierra…

Jan- 2019 -

31 January

Chico State Adventure Outings Wins Award for “Excellence” and its “Get Outdoors” Scholarship

Chico State’s Adventure Outings is a program dedicated to outdoor recreation for students. The program is student operated and includes…

28 January

Eat the Burger That Wears A Skirt at Napa’s Squeeze Inn

Their popular "Squeezeburger w/Cheese" comes with it's own unique "Cheese Skirt" that always astonishes and satisfy's guests...

26 January

Wiyot Tribe Reclaims “Sacred” Indian Island in Humboldt Bay

Located off the shore of Eureka in Humboldt Bay sits an island called Duluwat, better know as Indian Island, which…

24 January

Northern California Chinook Salmon up for Endangered Species Consideration

Spring Chinook Salmon. Photo courtesy Michael Humling, US Fish & Wildlife Service The recent volatility of Northern California waterways has…

23 January

UberSKI Now Offered in the Tahoe Area

Photo courtesy of UberSKI Back in my day, taking a trip to the ski resort for some snowboarding including jamming…

16 January

The Fascinating History of Redding Rancheria

The Wintu Tribe of Northern California When I am outdoors visiting our beautiful NorCal landmarks, curiosityÂ always slips into my head…

15 January

The Great Northern California Taco Trail

By Zach O’BrienNorthern California is typically known as a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. From Mount Shasta to cascading waterfalls to…

15 January

A Total Lunar Eclipse Called the ‘Super Blood Wolf Moon’ is Happening this Week

The first significant celestial event is slated to occur this week and it should be visible from Northern California. On…

15 January

Did the Real-Life Tarzan Dive Off Burney Falls?

BThe story was well known to me, but we at Active NorCal always check our sources. If you Google “Tarzan,…

14 January

Lady Bird is a Beautiful Love Letter to Northern California

When Lady Bird was released to the public on December 1st, 2017, there was no massive marketing campaign or high-flying…

13 January

Northern California Town Uses Goats to Prevent Catastrophic Wildfire

Just 47 miles southeast of Paradise, California sits Nevada City, a town of about 3,000 people which has seen wildfires…

4 January

Two Hospitalized After Plane Crashes into the American River

Photo: SACRAMENTO FIRE DEPARTMENT For anyone driving across the Jibboom Street Bridge over the American River near Discovery Park in…

4 January

Netflix’s Smash Hit ‘Bird Box’ has Strong Northern California Connections

Netflix announced that it’s new thriller film starring Sandra Bullock, Bird Box, made a record-breaking debut with over 45 million…

Dec- 2018 -

30 December

The Top 10 Active NorCal Stories of 2018

By Zach O’Brien, Founder of Active NorCal Phew! What a years it’s been! In 2018, we really caught our stride…

21 December

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…

20 December

Dramatic Footage Shows Rare Meteor Cloud in the Sky over NorCal

No one knew what was going on in the Northern California sky this week, as a bright, streaking cloud appeared…

15 December

Yosemite Park Retires 32-Year-Old Veteran Patrol Horse

Ben, a 32-year-old patrol horse that has worked for the National Park Service in Yosemite National Park since 1992 has…

9 December

Dog Found After Waiting for Weeks at Home Burned Down by Camp Fire

When the Camp Fire erupted in Paradise on November 8,Â Andrea Gaylord was unable to return to her home to retrieve…

8 December

The Conflicted History of the Lava Beds National Monument

By Ryan Loughrey This past summer, we visited the desolate and beautiful Lava Beds National Monument to try to escape…

8 December

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…

Nov- 2018 -

28 November

Now Brewing: Sierra Nevada’s Resilience Butte County Proud IPA to Support Camp Fire Victims

On November 27, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. continued their efforts to fundraise for Camp Fire victims by starting the brewing…

23 November

Meet the Life-Saving Ski Patrol Dogs of Northern California

We all know that dogs are a man’s best friend. Well now dogs can be a skier’s best friend. And…

17 November

History Reduced to Rubble: Remembering the Honey Run Covered Bridge

The Camp Fire took many victims as it spread through Butte County on November 8th, the most significant being lost…

17 November

Sierra Nevada Releasing Craft Beer to Support Camp Fire Victims

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., which rose to prominence as one of the original craft brewers in the United States, has…

14 November

This Guy Drives His Car on the Sacramento River

“Wild” Bill Hill lives in Roseville, California, and just like any outdoor lovers in Northern California, he likes to spend…

Oct- 2018 -

30 October

Livin’ on the Edge – The Time Aerosmith’s Music Video Was Shot in NorCal

The band AerosmithÂ is kind of a big deal. In case you’ve been living in a cave for the past 45…

30 October

An Inside Look at Mt. Shasta Search and Rescue Training

Make no mistake about it – our beloved Mount Shasta can be a very dangerous place. In the midst of…

26 October

New Study Claims Mt. Shasta Poses a “Very High Threat” of Eruption

The U.S. Geological Survey updated its comprehensive volcano threat list for the first time since 2005 and it named Mount…

26 October

Meet the Fly that Rules Mono Lake by Living Underwater

Over 100 years ago, writer Mark Twain observed the case of some “incredibly weird” flies in Mono Lake, near Mammoth…

26 October

5 Survival Lessons From the NorCal Man Lost in Yosemite For Six Days

When Alan Chow solo-hiked into the Yosemite National Park wilderness in the spring of 2018, he had only planned to…

25 October

NorCal Elementary School Now Offers Fishing Class as Elective

Students ofÂ Castle Rock Elementary School are offered 14 different elective classes to choose from for kindergarteners through eighth grade. And…

17 October

Digging for Answers-Where Did The 60-Foot Hole in the Side of Mt. Shasta Come From?

Around 10 years ago, a 60-foot hole mysteriously appeared in the side of Mount Shasta. Even with its incredible size,…

9 October

Bulls vs. Bears: Northern California’s Bloody Spectator Sport of the 19th Century

In the 1800’s, when Spanish conquistadors and early gold rush optimists flocked to the newly settled areas of Northern California,…

5 October

Puppy Abandoned in Northern California Creek Becomes Online Sensation

When a good samaritan found an abandoned puppy in a dry creek bed in Northern California, they immediately took it…

Sep- 2018 -

26 September

Exploring the Underworld of Humboldt County’s “Murder Mountain”

Deep in the wilderness of Northern California’s North Coast sits the Emerald Triangle, the world-famous location of the underground illegal…

18 September

History Tells Us That Fire Season is Just Getting Started in Northern California

The past few weeks have been very successful for fire officials as the largest and most damaging fires currently burning…

16 September

Stories from a Carr Fire Evacuation Center

Now that Redding has returned to a state of relative normalcy, weâ€™ve been able to reflect on the Carr Fire…

12 September

A Beacon Of Northern California History: The Battery Point Lighthouse

A D.C. socialite, the Gold Rush, shipping lines, San Francisco, Crescent City and Battery Point Lighthouse intertwine in history to…

10 September

How Northern California Inspired Otis Redding’s Famous Song (Sittin’ on the) Dock of the Bay

Otis Redding had become a world-famous singer/songwriter by the bright age of 26-years-old when a visit to Northern California inspired…

7 September

How Your Selfies Are Killing Northern California’s Seal Puppies

During seal pupping season on the coastÂ of Northern California, baby seals will be basking in the sunshine on the beach…

7 September

Ellen Surprises Firefighter Who Lost Home in the Carr Fire

During the Carr Fire, Eric Johnson was fighting the Ferguson Fire in Yosemite when the Carr Fire broke out in…

6 September

Freak Accident: Did a Burning Hay Truck Start the Delta Fire?

As the Delta Fire plows along Interstate 5 between Lakehead and Dunsmuir near Lake Shasta, people are showing the aftermath…

6 September

10 Amazing Northern California Motorcycle Rides

Northern California is flush with people who prefer to enjoy the amazing natural beauty of our North State on two…

6 September

Symbol of the State: Bringing the Grizzly Bear Back to California

Although the grizzly bear sits front-and-center on the California state flag, the animal hasn’t roamed California in nearly 100 years.…

5 September

This Northern California Town Has Its Own Language

I’ll never forget the first I visited Boonville, California, located 12.5 miles southwest of Ukiah in Mendocino County. We entered…

5 September

Watch: Riding Down White-Water Rapids on Top of Six Rafts

Living the whitewater rafting life is fun. You get to take enthusiastic people on an exciting ride down the river…

4 September

The Incredible Recovery of a Bear Cub Severely Burned in the Carr Fire

California wildfires can have devastating effects on humans living near the fires. These fires can also be equally devastating for…

Aug- 2018 -

31 August

The Ultimate Northern California Brewery-Camping Road Trip

By Zach O’Brien This journey began a few months ago, when I was lounging in my back yard, sipping on…

31 August

Watch: Firefighter Works Out on His Gym that Burned Down in the Carr Fire

Rick Thompson is a firefighter and Crossfit enthusiast in Northern California. As he was going through the rubble of his…

30 August

The 25 Best Instagram Accounts to Follow for the Ultimate Northern California Experience

We live in such a beautiful area and sometimes the best way to appreciate Northern California is through the photos.…

29 August

Shasta Strong IPA Available Now! Drink Craft Beer to Support Carr Fire Victims

With a united goal, five Shasta County breweries have come together to create a special batch of beer in support…

22 August

More than 50 Percent of this Northern California County has Burned Since 2012

In the United States, Northern California has become the epicenter for wildfire activity in the country. In Northern California, Lake…

21 August

Q&A with Michelle Titus – the Owner of Northern California’s Premiere Fishing Lodge

In a short time, Michelle Titus went from a Bay Area city-dweller to a North Valley, horseÂ wrangling â€œangletâ€. When she…

21 August

Emotional Video Shows Devastating Aftermath for Carr Fire Victims

Vice News Tonight visited devastated Redding neighborhoods during the beginning of cleanup operations after the Carr Fire brought a destructive…

17 August

Watch: The Singing Samoan Fire Crew Working on the Carr Fire

The “Singing Samoan Fire Crew” has captured immense love and respect from the people of Northern California. They hike through…

12 August

Almost Climbing Mount Shasta: A Story of Misery and Life Lessons at 14,000 Feet

At four thirty in the morning no one saw the light from my tiny headlamp inching uphill in pitch darkness…

11 August

The World Dog Surfing Championship in NorCal was the Cutest Thing You’ve Ever Seen

Sitting just south of San Francisco atÂ Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica, California there are some mellow waves that any hardcore…

8 August

Explorers Study Ancient Underwater Forests with a Submarine at Fallen Leaf Lake

Mapping out the history of our the outdoors can be a difficult task, one that requires time, money, and maybe…

7 August

Firefighters from Australia and New Zealand Arrive in Northern California to Assist with Fires

Nearly 200 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand arrived in Redding on Monday to assist with the destructive wildfires across…

7 August

Volunteers Clean more than 500 Pounds of Trash from Lake Tahoe

From it’s beautiful beaches to family-friendly resorts, Lake Tahoe is a centerpiece of outdoor recreation in Northern California. But with…

3 August

The Singing Samoan Fire Crew in Northern California

The “Singing Samoan Fire Crew” has spent the last few years sharing their uplifting spirit and song amidst the Northern…

Jul- 2018 -

15 July

I Spent a Day Snorkeling Down Clear Creek in Redding. Am I Weird?

When you combine a pithy streak of spontaneity with a penchant for living life on the edge, bad things might…

9 July

The Turbulent History of Mt. Shasta’s Old Ski Bowl

It was in 1959 when ambitious developers leased land from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest andÂ opened a two-person chairlift on the…

3 July

Flow State – An Inside Look into the Lives of Northern California’s Professional Cliffjumpers

By Zach O’Brien As Jay Briggs stands on a log perched 70 feet above the water in the middle of…

1 July

An Overnight Trip to Tangle Blue Lake in the Trinity Alps Wilderness

By Ryan Loughrey We had it in our mind that the hike to Tangle Blue Lake was going to be…

Jun- 2018 -

29 June

Chico State Students Use Their Education to Renovate a Park, Saving the City $135,000

The City of Chico was desperately looking to upgrade the Capres Acres Park, a Fairytale-themed playground featuring numerous activities and…

29 June

Firefighters Rescue Baby Deer During the Creek Fire

As fires swept through Shasta County during the Creek Fire, firefighters rushed to save homes, evacuate nearby residents and contain…

28 June

Lassen Peak is Sinking and Scientists Don’t Know Why

A paper written by Amy Parker in theÂ Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal ResearchÂ shows that Lassen Peak has been sinking since…

28 June

NorCal Brewery Introduces “IPA Inspired” THC-Infused Sparkling Water

The Northern California brewery responsible for the #1 selling IPA in the world, is making a brand new drink that…

27 June

This Northern California Outdoor Utopia is Up For Sale – But It’ll Cost You

The Lone Pine Ranch, a 27,000-acre property straddling Trinity and Mendocino counties, is a vast property of redwood forests, grassy…

26 June

Secret Northern California Old-Growth Forest Will Be Open to the Public Soon

Save the Redwoods League, celebrating their centennial year as the only nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and stewarding coast redwood…

19 June

The World’s Most-Viewed Photo is of a Northern California Hillside

It was in 1996 whenÂ Charles O’RearÂ pull over to the shoulder of Highway 121 in Napa Valley when he noticed a…

19 June

How Did Weed, CA Get It’s Name? A Story of Achieving the American Dream in the Wild West

You see many people snicker when you bring up Weed, California.Â After all, it seems to beÂ named after Cheech and Chong’s…

15 June

Daytrippin’ in Humboldt – Beach Bouldering and the Lost Coast Brewery

By Ryan Loughrey With the holiday season, traffic and locales around Redding have been busy. Not to mention the heat,…

14 June

Gray Wolf Wanders into Sierra Nevada Mountains for the First Time in Over 100 Years

Northern California had not seen a gray wolf since the early-1900’s, not until famed wolf OR-7 traveled over the Oregon…

13 June

Foreign Nationals Convicted in Northern California Plant Poaching Investigation

Three defendants caught in the global succulent poaching scheme happening in Northern California, have each pled guilty to two felonies…

13 June

Plan That Would Make Northern California its Own State Headed for November Ballot

California’s 168-year run as a single entity state could come to a halt next year, as the radical plan to…

12 June

Lake Oroville Eagles Find New Home Following Spillway Crisis

When the Oroville Dam spillway collapsed in February of 2017, officials had to rush to move electric towers that were…

11 June

What’s in a Name? The Story Behind Hat Creek

Names almost always make for a good story, and Hat Creek is no exception. Of course,Â not everyone may agree that…

5 June

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…

2 June

Road Trippin’ – Boards, Beers and Bucktail Streamers in Bend, Oregon

ByÂ Chip O’Brien For a town with 10,000 fewer people than Redding, Bend, Oregon is a lot cooler. Now, I could…

2 June

A History of Bigfoot Sightings in Northern California

Stories and legends of Bigfoot and similar creatures pervade the history of the Pacific Northwest. In Teddy Rooseveltâ€™s book, The…

2 June

How Did Whiskeytown Get Its Name?

Whiskeytown began much like most other 1849 Gold Rush mining communities – as a modest collection of shabby tents. Young…

1 June

The Heartwarming Story of President JFK Feeding Deer in Lassen Volcanic National Park in his Pajamas

When President John F. Kennedy visited Northern California in 1963, just months before his assassination, he made the rounds to…

1 June

Wild Animal Encounters on Shasta Lake

As much as it seems that Shasta Lake is just a place to hop on a boat and have some…

May- 2018 -

30 May

Lake Siskiyou – One of Northern California’s Best Destinations

By Ross Lawrence An expected forty-five minute road trip to Lake Siskiyou had turned into an hour-and-a-half, and hyped up…

30 May

The Unexplained Mysteries of Lake Tahoe

It’s said that French Explorer Jacques Cousteau did a deepwater dive into Lake Tahoe in the 1970’s, only to emerge…

30 May

Did You Know There’s More Than One Volcano in Lassen Volcanic National Park?

Did you know that Lassen Peak is not the only volcano in Lassen Volcanic National Park? While it is certainly…