2008 Trip to Bearpaw Meadows, CA as well as WA and OR: June 13, 2008 Heading to Weaverville, CA along lovely "off the beaten path" state highway 299.

I took myself back to Eureka and took Dorothy and Bill’s recommendation of traveling Highway 299 through Shasta Trinity National Forest. I do believe I saw a Condor, which I think is rather rare.

Shasta Trinity National Forest

Wildflowers in Shasta Trinity National Forest

Blurry Condor

I had a very lovely, winding drive along that road and the Trinity River which, from time to time, runs beside it. I must have stopped at least 30 times for photos. While the westerly part of the road is primarily forested, the eastern part seems to have been part of gold rushes in California from the mid 1800s.

Shasta Trinity National Forest

Wildflowers in Shasta-Trinity

Trinity River

Amazing colours in Shasta Trinity Forest

Amazing trees in Shasta Trinity Forest

Trees and River

One of the interesting stops I made was in an area called Bagdad (ghost town) and the La Grange mine. I believe the gold was washed down from Oregon Mountain by giant hydraulic monitors. After the gold ran out, the remainder of the mountain was washed out (1933 - 39) to build the last segment of Highway 299.

Old mine site

From mine site to highway via hydraulic monitors

I also stopped overnight in (June 13) Weaverville (old California mining community – keeping itself going now as a lovely tourist stop) and had a super time. It is a very peaceful community. Went to the Chinese (Taoist) Joss House for a tour and was simply amazed at that history and relaxing feeling in that place.