Well, summer is here and that means field trips!  We have been busy looking into possible trips and Trails West has come up with our 2023 field schedule below.

 

As always, for insurance reasons, anyone attending one of our trips must be a member of Trails West.

 

More information on these trips is on our website and calendar.

 

 

Lassen Trail Terminus

 

On the first Sunday of most months, member Dave Freeman leads a group out to the Lassen Trail terminus and the town of Benton City to locate and ground proof trail locations and other camps. Occasionally a Saturday trip will be to work on the Lassen features of the nearby Monastery. This is a great opportunity to learn about this historical area and to assist in locating and documenting a part of our history before it disappears forever.

 

 

Black Rock Emigrant Camps

 

There are three trips planned out to the Black Rock Desert this year.

 

You will have a choice of either moteling or camping and most any type of vehicle will be acceptable. The main part of the trips will be to visit multiple emigrant campsites and hot springs used on the Applegate and Nobles trails. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit some of the major emigrant camp sites on these trails from the comfort of your everyday vehicle.

 

May 27-29 (Memorial Day weekend)
July 1-4 (4th of July weekend)
August 12-13 (In addition, this trip will be a great chance to witness the Perseid Meteor shower)

 

These trips are tentative depending on the number of signups. Those expressing interest will be contacted about a month ahead of time to discuss final details and any vehicle or equipment requirements.

 

 

Lassen Trail Location Survey – July 22nd & 23rd

 

There is a section of the Lassen trail between markers L-46 to L-48 that is located on private land. We have never had access before but we will on the above dates. We will be working to locate the exact trail location and also look into old military encampments. Full information is on our website in the Members Only section.

 

 

Nobles Trail Fun Trip – July 31st to Aug 3rd 

On this trip we will be following the Nobles Trail from where it leaves the Applegate near the Black Rock Desert to its end at Shasta City. We are planning on camping, but motels can be used but will entail a lot of extra driving.

 

 

Maintenance Trips – Dates to be announced

 

We also have five maintenance trips that are currently needed this year.
1 – Straighten Marker CR-46 at Caples Lake. This will require pulling the marker upright and pouring new concrete around it.

 

2 – We have been notified the plate on Marker A-26A near Cedarville is missing. We have the new plate and will need to rivet it to the marker.

 

3 – We have been notified the plate on Marker B-39 at four trees is missing. We have the new plate and will need to rivet it to the marker.

 

4 – There is a report that Marker A-36 is missing. We will be making trip to check to be sure. If so, we will need to install a new marker and plate.

 

5 – We have just found out that Marker S-10 is located on private property and the owner has installed locked gates. We will need to move this marker down the road.

The work on all of these maintenance trips can be accomplished in one day, but travel time for some members might entail an overnight stay. Camping and/or motels are available nearby to these sites.

 

An email will be sent out to all members when dates have been firmed up for this work.

If you’re thinking of attending one of these trips please check the Members Only “2023 Field Trips” page for more information and contact the trip coordinator at the email below.

 

trailactivities(at)emigranttrailswest.org

Be sure and change the (at) to @

 

                              

 

During the year, we usually have several one day trips to do marker maintenance and move markers to better locations. If you would like to be advised of when these are happening, contact our Trail Activity Coordinator at the email address below.

 

trailactivities(at)emigranttrailswest.org

 

                              

 

We could use your help!!

 

With all the markers we have out on the trails, many of them are getting to where they need maintenance work. Attached here is an updated PDF version of our Inspection Report form that can be printed out and it would be a great help if anyone out on a trail would take a copy along and fill it out as they pass by a marker. It would also be a big help if you would fill it out even if a marker is fine. That way we’ll know that someone won’t need to make a special trip to check it. Here is a Word version of the form that you should be able to fill out on your computer and then attach to an email back to us at:

 

markermtce(at)emigranttrailswest.org

Be sure and change the (at) to @

 

Thanks, this would be a big help in our continuing efforts to maintain our markers.

 

                              

 

RULES & REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAILS WEST FIELD TRIPS

 

We, as an organization, have certain responsibilities on our outings. Because of that, we have developed a set of Rules & Requirements that each participant must adhere to when joining us on one of our trips. You may review them by clicking here.

 

If you do not have the type of necessary vehicle and are still interested in joining us on a trip, please contact the trip leader. Many times there will be room in someone else’s rig and arrangements can be made to accommodate an extra passenger or two.