Christmas, New Year's, Fishing, SUP Trips & Skiing!
Trinity has gotten nice snow; fishing report; and Mt. Shasta skiing is great
We ended 2015 with several snowfalls throughout Northern California, which made a lot of us very happy. Guests were able to easily get to their Trinity cabins and our Alpine Fish & Ski Haus in Dunsmuir and they made the most of it. Reports range from romantic getaways where they barely left their nest of a cabin to fishing the icy Trinity to skiing in that most wondrous substance: fresh powder, on Mt. Shasta.
Long-time return guests and friends Taylor & Laurie Santo brought their three dogs, Rosie, Kodi & Jaxson, to celebrate Laurie's 50th birthday, as well as to further Jaxson's Trinity adventures. Last summer, he joined me on my kayak on Lewiston Lake, then he tried out lake stand-up paddle boarding (SUP pup) and he even ran some gentle rapids with me on the river on my kayak. This time, dressed in his red Ruffwear down coat, Jax took a short spin on my SUP up on the lake before Steph, Laurie and I headed out for a very cold but refreshing trip up the lake. It was the perfect antidote for too little exercise
, so much food and let's not forget that eggnog!
Taylor wasn't far from Kodi in her reaction to the very cold water. Kodi, a very furry chow, crawled under their rig to avoid the lake and soon after launch, Taylor, "No Boundaries Rosie" and Kodi were back at our cabin, taking a nap. Laurie was treated to a couple of bald eagles on the two-mile paddle as well as one or two golden eagles. She impressed us by working as close as possible to the eagles and taking their pictures, all while balancing on the SUP she hasn't been on since summer! Looking up is tricky on a SUP; it throws one's balance off, but the threats of frigid water and a near-hypothermic paddle back to the truck proved adequate inspiration for Laurie to pull it off.
The End of the Year Trinity Fishing Report
From what our guests are telling us, steelhead fishing has been slow to moderate the past month. A fair surprise for us was two parties who come every year and usually catch a good number of fish each were skunked. Other recent guests did better, but all might agree that steelhead fishing is an art not ever truly mastered because of the many variables, including luck. Just when you think you've nailed it and your fish count seems to support the theory, nothing that has worked in the past works for you. Fish seem a distant memory and you long for that
zing!
of your line. I guess once you have embraced
not
catching fish as well as catching them, you could consider yourself on the way to mastering the art. Wax on. Wax off.
Herb Burton, who owns Trinity Fly Shop and knows these waters and their fish better than almost anyone, offers excellent insights in his blog.
Check this one out
for wisdom on handling slow fishing periods as well as how to protect your fish once netted or beached in order to make sure its release is successful. That is the goal, to catch and release the wild fish unharmed. In return, a small part of you goes with it, wild, free and alive.
Anthony Manning was one of the successful steelheaders to end the year on the Trinity. He reported landing some 23 and 24 inchers, but when Steph dropped by the cabin to deliver toilet paper, he found Anthony buck naked, or close to it, on the porch. He'd taken a dunk in the river and was lucky enough to be able to go back to the Miner's to peel off his waders and Popsicle clothing, change, warm up and I'll bet you anything, head back out. That's a steelheader.
Stay in Dunsmuir, Ski Shasta!
I am not whining when I say thanks to knee surgery early December, I missed the Ski Park's first opening day in 3 years (they did open last season, but only for a few slushy days before closing). It might seem
as though I'm whining when I tell you Steph was
there to catch the opening and ski several runs, but in this case, I figure at least one of us made it. Truth is, even with my flashy new brace, I'm a week or two out from getting on my Icelantic skis I call my Jammie Cats. And I should add Steph did some maintenance at the Haus while he was up north.
But there may be a correlation on the drought, the ski park's dismal last couple of years and the fact Steph bought new skis right before the drought hit. He couldn't wait to ski these skis especially because he's always coveted Kneissl skis and although they are no longer sold in the U.S., he found a new pair in Vermont. I'm sure the logic is inescapable to you: LUST>PURCHASE>ANTICIPATION>DROUGHT.
But Steph and the rest of us had suffered enough, so we're having a very nice winter now. Above-average snowpack in the Sierra and all of the higher elevations in the northern state are white. The Ski Park is once again enchanting people who are weary of Tahoe's long lines, rude employees and crazy-expensive lift tickets. The adult weekend and holiday rate ticket at Shasta is $54 and mid-week is only $39!
All of our recent Dunsmuir guests at the Fish & Ski Haus skied and said it was fantastic. Each time I heard this, part of me smiled and part of me felt like Anthony Manning with his waders filled with ice water. So maybe I am whining a bit, but if you're looking for a grand adventure, stay at the Haus, dine at Dunsmuir Brewery Works
and toss a few porters back for me (after all, you can walk to the Haus from DBW) and of course, Ski Shasta.
Call or email us to check on availability for any of our places and enjoy your January.
Happy New Year & here's to 2016 being filled with good health & great fun!
