stories
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Stories
Could Mount Shasta Bring America’s Next Great Volcanic Eruption?
The recent volcanic history of Mount Shasta eludes us. For a long time, the last eruption was believed to be…
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Stories
HBO’s “The Dark Wizard” Is One of the Most Gripping Documentaries I’ve Seen in Years
I always knew rock climbers were a little crazy. “The Dark Wizard” on HBO confirms it, and then some. The…
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Stories
Rivers of a Lost Coast is a Must-Watch Documentary for NorCal Fishermen
When you think of what California is best known for, obvious answers might include Hollywood, surfing, giant redwoods, the Golden…
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Stories
The Story Behind the Giant Gold Miner Arch That Once Welcomed Visitors to Grass Valley
A photograph from Grass Valley’s past tells quite a story about how the town once welcomed its visitors. In 1901,…
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Stories
Two of America’s Oldest Lakes Are Right Here in Northern California
Northern California has a quiet claim to geological fame that most residents don’t know about: two of the oldest lakes…
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History
The Bizarre Story of the Horse that Summited Mount Shasta in 1903
Photo by Sebastien Goldberg Who isn’t fascinated with standing on top of NorCal’s premier active volcano, the formidable Mt. Shasta?…
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Stories
The Mystery of the Severed Leg Found on a Northern California Beach Has Been Solved
A leg bone discovered by a family searching for seashells at Salmon Creek Beach in 2022 has finally been identified,…
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History
This Popular Northern California Destination was Once the Scene of a Bloody Battle in 1855
Photo by Brandon DesJarlais We know Castle Crags as the beautiful Northern California wilderness area settled just between Shasta Lake and…
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History
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…
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Shasta Cascade
Remembering the Historic Valentine Avalanche that Created a 30-Foot Wall of Snow on Mt. Shasta
On February 13, 2019, a giant avalanche slammed Mount Shasta, which has come to be known as the Valentine Avalanche.…
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Stories
Remembering the Alien Sunrise Lenticular Cloud Over Mount Shasta that Went Massively Viral
It was a beautiful morning in Mount Shasta on February 12, 2020, when a rare lenticular cloud appeared over the…
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Stories
Remembering the 1959 Mt. Shasta Storm that Brought 16 Feet of Snow in 6 Days
In February 1959, Mount Shasta became the center of one of the most extreme winter storms ever recorded in North…
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Stories
The Ancient Story Behind the Small Holes Scattered Across Yosemite
If you have wandered through Yosemite National Park, you may have noticed small bowl-shaped holes carved into large granite rocks.…
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History
72 Bars on One Road? The Legend of Mount Shasta’s Whiskey Row
The stories of Siskiyou County during the Gold Rush are like something out of a Wild West movie. The town…
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Stories
Lake Monsters: Here’s Why Sturgeon Grow to Be So Big in Shasta Lake
Massive sturgeon caught on Shasta Lake in 2018. Photo: Sou Saephan For anyone who’s been lucky enough to take a…
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Stories
Want to See What the Lemurian City in Mt. Shasta Looks Like? Here Are Illustrations From the Man Who Claims to Have Visited It.
Rendition of the city of Telo in Mount Shasta from Lowell Johnson In 2021 we learned about Lowell Johnson, the…
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History
The Story of the Donner Party: Deadly Mistakes Over the Snowy Sierra
Photo of James F. and Margaret Reed, who were members of the Donner Party I could have died so many…
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History
Remembering the Deadly Flood of 1955 that Put a Northern California Town Under 20 Feet of Water
It was just minutes past midnight of Christmas Eve 1955 when the Gum Tree Levee on the Feather River in…
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North Coast
Short Film Documents Off-The-Grid Oasis in the Northern California Redwoods
In 1968, Charles Bello and his wife Vanna Rae bought 400 acres of redwood forested land in Mendocino County and…
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Stories
This Underwater Trail in Lake Tahoe is Home to Shipwrecks and Other Historic Artifacts
The history of Lake Tahoe sits at the bottom of its crystal-clear water and it’s now home to an underwater…
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Stories
How Outdoor Ice Skating Became a Winter Tradition in Yosemite National Park
Long before lift lines and après-ski became part of winter culture, Yosemite National Park was already carving out its own…
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History
Ski A Volcano: The History of the Lassen Ski Area
Large groups of skier in Lassen – 1936. PHOTO BY JERVIE HENRY EASTMAN, COURTESY DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, GENERALLIBRARY, UNIVERSITY…
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History
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 and opened a two-person chairlift on the…
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Stories
What’s the Deal with the Perfectly Symmetrical Tree Plots in the Sierra Nevada?
Google Earth If you were to approach these select plot of trees from the ground, you may not know something…
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History
Remembering the Deadly 1996 Rockfall that Sent 90,000 Tons of Rock into Yosemite Valley
July 2026 will mark the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Happy Isles rockfall in Yosemite National Park. The deadly incident…
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Stories
The Oldest Lake in North America Sits Right Here in Northern California
We have plenty of beautiful and unique lakes throughout Northern California. From man-made lakes like Shasta and Oroville, to natural…
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Tahoe
Why Lake Tahoe Never Freezes, Even in the Coldest Winters
Lake Tahoe may sit in one of the snowiest mountain ranges in the country, but the lake itself refuses to…
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Waterfalls
13 Waterfalls in One Weekend: Northern California’s World-Famous Waterfall Loop
There is a legendary loop sitting in the Shasta-Cascade of Northern California that includes 13 incredible waterfalls to visit. Realistically, you…
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History
Remembering the Deadly 75-Foot Tidal Wave that Leveled Crescent City in 1964
Beginning in Northern California and running all the way up to Alaska in the Pacific Ocean sits multiple fault lines…
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Bay Area
Remembering the Serial Killer Who Terrorized Northern California Hikers in the 1980’s
A trail in Point Reyes National Seashore. Photo by Alexis Marts. In the wake of the arrest of the notorious Trailside…
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Destinations
This Lighthouse Has Looked Over the Northern California Coast for More Than 150 Years
Perched on one of the windiest, foggiest points in North America, the Point Reyes Lighthouse has stood watch over the…
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History
A Northern California Couple Found Historic Coins Buried in their Backyard. The Discovery Landed Them $10 Million.
In 2013, a couple was walking their dog on their rural Northern California property when they discovered an unusual scene.…
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Stories
Meet the Mount Shasta Lizard: The Largest Known Marine Reptile to Ever Live on Earth
Illustration of what the Shastasaurus could look like In 1893, Stanford University’s James Perrin Smith went of a fossil-collecting expedition…
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Destinations
Winter Bucket List for Outdoor Adventurers in Redding, California
It’s officially winter in Northern California, which means we’ll be trading our shorts and sun-tan lotion for scarves and beanies.…
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Stories
The Northern California Roots of Charlie Brown and Snoopy
Photo via Charles Shulz Museum Few comic characters feel as timeless or beloved as Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest…
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Stories
How This Ancient Sierra Giant Became America’s Christmas Tree
Deep in Grant Grove at Kings Canyon National Park stands one of the most iconic trees on Earth, a 267-foot…
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Stories
A Guide to Cutting Down Your Own Christmas Tree in the Northern California Wilderness
It’s that time of year again. With the holiday season upon us in Northern California, it’s time to knock the…
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Stories
20 Horror Movies That Take Place in Northern California
Laurie Strode had a Northern California family reunion with her psychopathic brother Michael Myers in Halloween H2O Northern California is…
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Stories
Dad Finds Note on His Windshield After Yosemite Camping Trip
A Sacramento dad was left smiling after finding a heartfelt note on his windshield during a family camping trip to…
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History
The Legend of Snowshoe Thompson: The Founder of California Skiing
In the 1800’s, traveling across the Sierra Nevada in the middle of winter was rarely accomplished. Native Americans were usually…
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Stories
Why Does Whiskeytown Lake Stay Full of Water Year-Round?
With Northern California’s lakes and rivers seeing drastic water fluctuations throughout the year, there’s one lake you can see that…
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Outdoors
An Oral History of the Cantara Chemical Spill on the Sacramento River
Northern California is no stranger to disasters. Over time we’ve lived through earthquakes, volcanos, firenados, floods, mudslides and avalanches. Would…
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History
Remembering President JFK’s Trip to Northern California Just Weeks Before His Assassination
On November 22, 1963, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade drove through Dallas, Texas. Less than two…
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Stories
‘One Battle After Another’ Showcases Northern California in a Nonstop Action Ride
Northern California takes center stage in the year’s most talked-about movie, One Battle After Another. From a heart-pounding car chase…
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History
The History Behind the Extravagant Castle Along the McCloud River
You’ve probably heard of the Hearst Castle, the magnificent residence of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. But have you heard…
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Stories
This Northern California Town is the Closest to ‘Shangri-La’ According to the Author Who Coined the Term
Photo: California Outdoor Propoerties Shangri-la is a fictional place featured in the 1933 novel Lost Horizon written by British author…
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North Coast
The Magical Candelabra Trees of Northern California’s Lost Coast
Photo by Stephen Leonardi One of the most beautiful places on the planet sits in Northern California and you’ve probably never…
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Stories
Five Ways You Can Take Action During Suicide Prevention Month
Northern California is well known for its outdoor spaces. There are many scenic areas people can visit to relax and…
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Video
Meet the Man Who Built an Off-the-Grid Watertopia Along the Trinity River
There are plenty of people who have built great properties in Northern California. While some people may point to the…
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Yosemite-Mammoth
Why Are There License Plates Sticking Out of Trees in Yosemite National Park?
Photo: National Park Service If you’re on a summer hike in Yosemite National Park, you may come across one of…
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Video
See What it’s Like to be a Smokejumper in Northern California
It’s fire season in NorCal, which means we must keep in mind the brave men and women who put their…
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Shasta Cascade
Shasta Dam Turns 80: Celebrating a Northern California Icon of Ingenuity and Resilience
Eighty years ago, in the heart of rural Shasta County, thousands of workers came together to build something extraordinary—Shasta Dam.…
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Destinations
Road Trippin’ Northern California’s Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou Mount Shasta overlooks much of the North State and provides a certain familiar presence.…
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History
These Stagecoach Drivers Were the Rock Stars of California in the 1800’s
Mark Twain tried, but no matter how good a storyteller you are, you just can’t make this stuff up. Historic…
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Stories
Potter Creek Cave: the Coolest Northern California Cave You Can’t Visit
It’s larger than Shasta Caverns. Extinct ground sloths were found there, the first ever in California. Sharp-faced bears, the most…
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Lassen
This Fascinating Northern California Lake Sits at 125 Degrees Year-Round
Boiling Springs Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo: National Park Service The outdoor destinations in Lassen Volcanic National Park…
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Stories
The Short and Spectacular History of the Lassen Peak Fire Lookout
The newly-built Lassen Peak fire lookout in 1913. Photo by Olan Hampton via NPS. In 1913, the Forest Service built…
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History
9 Fascinating Historical Gems to Visit in Siskiyou County
Brought to you by Discover Siskiyou Photo by Richard Lee When gold was discovered in the American River in the 1800’s,…
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Stories
Remembering the Massive Avalanche at Alpine Meadows that Killed 7 and Changed the Tahoe Community Forever
In the 70’s and 80’s, ski resorts were rated for their avalanche danger with a scale of A through F…
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Outdoors
How Mammoth Mountain Uses World War II Howitzers to Battle Potentially Deadly Avalanches
Mammoth Mountain is known to receive a lot of snow. With massive snowfall each winter, ski patrol is forced to…
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Stories
The Legend of Captain Dick – The Hermit of Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay
Emerald Bay’s Fannette Island was once the home of Captain Dick. Photo by Patrick Minero. In the mid-1800’s, there weren’t many…
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Stories
The Story Behind the Famed Traffic Sign that Kept Getting Stolen in Weed, California
There have been far too many giggles from people driving through Northern California near Mount Shasta who come across the…
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Stories
What is the Cascadia Subduction Zone and Why Should Every Northern California Resident Know About It?
Northern California residents may be familiar with the San Andreas Fault, responsible for the infamous 1906 and 1989 San Francisco…
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History
The NorCal Town Named ‘Rough and Ready’ Once Seceded from the United States
The only way you’ve probably heard of Rough and Ready, California is if you’ve driven on Highway 20 between Yuba…
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Stories
The Legends and Mysteries of Siskiyou County
Photo by Marco Bicca It’s well documented that the areas surrounding Mount Shasta are full of legends and mysteries. From paranormal…
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Sacramento
The Largest Corn Maze in the World Sits Right Here in Northern California
In Dixon, California sits a 63-acre fall utopia with a pumpkin patch, hay rides and the largest corn maze in…
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Stories
A Piece of NorCal History: Redding’s Diestelhorst Bridge
Considering its place adjacent to the recently added Lake Redding Bridge, you might overlook Redding’s storied Diestelhorst Bridge. Without scanning…
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History
This NorCal Park is One of the Longest Continually Occupied Areas in North America. Its History is Beautiful and Bloody.
We visited the desolate and beautiful Lava Beds National Monument to try to escape the heat by seeking refuge in…
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Stories
Lake Tahoe a National Park? How Years of Decisions Shaped California’s Most Famous Lake.
Photo by Gordon Mak In 1861, Mark Twain camped on the shores of Lake Tahoe, captivated by its beauty. Unfortunately, he…
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Hikes
Outside Magazine Lists the Best Hikes in Northern California National Parks. Here’s Our Take.
Photo by Saketh Garuda A list of the best hikes in every National Park in America was compiled by Outside Magazine,…
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History
This Waterfall Was Once the Hideout of NorCal’s Most Notorious Stagecoach Robber
Every bandit needs a hideout, and it just so happens that one of the most prominent waterfalls in Northern California…
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History
The Yosemite Camping Trip that Changed America
I call it a successful camping trip if I don’t forget the mosquito repellant and a roll of TP. But…
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Shasta Cascade
The 5 Best Places to Go Stargazing Around Redding, California
Stars over Chaos Crags When summer arrives in Northern California, the night sky comes alive with the best viewing opportunities…
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Stories
The Mysterious Case of the UFO that Flew Over Northern California
The incident began at about 4:30 pm on a seemingly normal day in 2017 when the air traffic controller from…
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Cannabis
Remembering the Time it Rained 6,000 Pounds of Marijuana on Yosemite
Photo: Rick Schloss In 1977, Yosemite National Park was a much different place. Rock climbers traveled the world over to…
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Outdoors
5 Survival Lessons From the Northern California Man Lost in Yosemite For Nearly a Week
Photo by Jason Strull When Alan Chow solo-hiked into the Yosemite National Park wilderness in the spring of 2018, he had…
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Shasta Cascade
An Unforgettable Summer Day on Shasta Lake
I had some good friends looking to come up from Los Angeles for the ultimate Northern California trip. Of course,…
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Stories
The Naked Truth: Stories of Skinny-Dippers and Fly Fishing in Northern California
I have nothing against naked people, and particularly respect their ability to garner interest at the beginning of a story.…
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Stories
The Zodiac Signs as Northern California Destinations
Just like human beings around the world, the destinations of Northern California have distinct characteristics that can bring out thoughts…
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Stories
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…
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Stories
Two Bridges with the Same Name Tell a Fascinating Story of Northern California’s History
In July 1848, John Bidwell discovered gold in a canyon of the Feather River, leading to the establishment of Bidwell’s…
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Outdoors
Here’s the Secret to Snagging Northern California’s Most Popular Campsites
Camping in Northern California can be a challenging task as the high demand for state park campsites often results in…
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Stories
Short Film Celebrates the World’s Highest Elevation Composting Toilet Atop Mount Shasta
Way to Go! from K-Rose Productions on Vimeo. With the many people visiting the high-elevation areas of Mount Shasta each…
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Stories
How Skiing Down Volcanoes Became a Time-Honored Tradition in Northern California
Volcanoes are the kind of geological formations that tend to inspire awe. Towering above everything else, they seem like a…
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Stories
The Dumbest Things I’ve Done in NorCal: Swimming Across the Sacramento River
Photo by Tony Webster Don’t try it. Redding in the summertime is a study in contrasts, contrasts that can be…
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Stories
What is ‘Ski Week’ in Lake Tahoe?
Growing up in the Redding area, the concept of “Ski Week” is foreign to me. When I was a kid,…
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Outdoors
This Tree in Sequoia National Park is the World’s Largest Living Organism by Volume
In the heart of California’s Sequoia National Park stands the General Sherman Tree, the largest living organism by volume on…
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Tahoe
Rules of NorCal: Don’t Drive to Tahoe on Friday
When planning a trip to Lake Tahoe, traffic delays are almost guaranteed if traveling on either Interstate 80 or Highway…
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News
The Oldest Person in America Lives in Northern California – and She Turns 116 this Week
Edie Ceccareli seen here on her 114th birthday celebration with Assem. Jim Wood (D) in 2022. Photo: Assemblymember Jim Wood This…
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Stories
The Mystery Behind Rattlesnake Dick’s Lost Treasure in the Trinity Mountains
Richard Barter AKA “Rattlesnake Dick” Richard Barter lived a life of crime in the Gold Rush era of the 1800s…
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History
This Man is the Namesake of Lassen Volcanic National Park. His Murder Remains a Mystery.
You’ve surely seen the name Lassen plastered throughout Northern California, but behind the name sits a wild west murder mystery.…
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Stories
NorCal Nerds: What Did Northern California Look Like Millions of Years Ago?
One of Active NorCal’s priorities is inspiring people to get out there and get active, to get off the couch…
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Destinations
Celebrate Veteran’s Day at Living Memorial Sculpture Garden Near Mount Shasta
Photo: Discover Siskiyou Every year, Veteran’s Day sits as a reminder to all Americans about the sacrifice made by the…
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Stories
The Most Ridiculous Action Sequence from Indiana Jones was Filmed in Northern California
You’ll find no arguments against Indian Jones in this article. It’s truly one of the great film franchises ever. But…
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History
These Brothers Were Hanged in Redding in 1892. Their Hidden Treasure was Never Found.
On July 24th, 1892, a group of masked men stormed the Redding, California jail and dragged out two men accused…
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Stories
50 Years Later, this Bigfoot Footage Filmed in Northern California Keeps the Legend Alive
Bigfoot remains one of the most popular legends and mysteries in the United States. Thousands of sightings and the never…
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History
Take a Walk Through History in this Ghost Town just Outside Redding, California
Shasta State Historic Park. Photo: Visit Redding In the mid-1800’s, the town of Shasta sitting just 6 miles west of…
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Stories
Is the Next Big Earthquake Destined for Northern California?
Fires erupt all over San Francisco in the earthquake of 1906 On January 27, 1700, a six-hundred-mile-long wave struck the…
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History
Mark Twain’s Hilarious Account of the Naming of Yreka, California
The small town of Yreka, California, sitting just to the north of the mighty Mount Shasta, has a prominent history…
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History
The History Behind Northern California’s National Parks
Northern California is a treasure trove of natural wonders, boasting an array of national parks that stand as testament to…
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