Happy Camp Burn Scar

I had a little road trip last weekend exploring northern California. I made a quick drive down I-5 and hopped on 96 west towards the coast. I can't recommend the drive on 96 enough. It was a beautiful winding drive along the Klamath river as it snakes through the Siskiyou National Forest. My initial hope was to turn right in Happy Camp and head over to Takilma and take 199 down to Jedidiah Smith for some running and pictures. Turns out that road out of Happy Camp is not maintained in the winter. I figured I'd give it a try since it was March. I made it about 15 miles up Grayback road to hit a pretty good pile of snow. I hopped out and took a couple pictures as the snow covered burn scar was pretty unique. I turned around and headed back to town. That area is really devastated and being so remote hasn't been cleaned up as much as the Phoenix/Talent area hit by the fires last fall. It's very disturbing to drive through. I can only equate it to the destruction I saw outside Kuwait city during the first gulf war. I look forward to returning later in the spring to see complete the leg over the pass and over to 199 and Cave Junction.

The trip continued down 96 through Hoopa and eventually to Willow Creek where I headed west on 299 to the 101 on the coast. Highway 299 is a pretty major route from Redding over to the coast so it felt more like a race track. And the 101 is well, the 101 in its own unique mix of locals, tourists, and trucks. I took the back road (Howland Hill drive) from Crescent City into Jedidiah Smith and creeped my way down to the Stout Grove. Those pictures are still in process. I didn't have time for a run but made it back home by 8pm to relax and look through the days pictures.