active norcal november/december

NortherN CaliforNias sport, fitNess aNd outdoor MagaziNeNortherN CaliforNias sport, fitNess aNd outdoor MagaziNe

November/December 2014 - Issue 6

Q & A with Shasta Living Streets

12 Days of the

Holidays

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activenorcal.net November/December Active NorCal 1

t

tA Soggy Review of the Shasta Mud Run

Who knew that combining a 10K,

wooden obstacles and tons of

mud could be so fun? Mud runs

are one of the best ways to get

out and active in NorCal, and

weve provided you with a first-

hand account of one of the many

mud runs in the North Statethe

Shasta Mud Run. We guide you

through all the obstacles, and

give you the highs and the lows

of the run.

Sleeping by the Lake

Active NorCals

Adventure

Consultant,

Backcountry

Craig, doesnt

believe in tents

or sleeping

bags.

Active NorCal Online

digital

VideosPhotos are great, but to really capture an active experience youve got to film it. Were strapping on our GoPros, pressing the record button and giving you some of the freshest and most radical ac-tive video footage in NorCal.

Does it Get More Radical than This?

When the Radical Reels Film Tour stopped

at the Cascade Theatre in downtown Red-

ding to show the town its array of heart-

pumping, adrenaline fueled movie action,

we couldnt help but get excited. We

attended the event, and provided awards,

grades and in-depth reviews of all 11 films

at the show.

Find exclusive content at activeNorCal.net

Like us on FacebookActive Norcal

Follow us on Twitter@ActiveNorCal

A Guide to Camping Whiskeytown

If youre an outdoors enthusiast, Whiskeytown

National Recreation Area is a great place for, well,

just about everything. We recently took a trip

there, and decided to give you all the information

you need to get the most out of your Whiskeytown

getaway. From campsites to hiking trails to lake

activities, weve got you covered.

Behind the Scenes

Go behind

the scenes at

Northstate

Studios in

downtown

Redding where

we spent the

day doing pho-

tography with

Taylor Andrews. See the fun photos

that didnt make the print magazine.

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4 Publishers Note

6 For the Kids

10 Just for Fun

16 Holidays

34 Health

42 Gift Guide

48 Inspiration

CoNteNts

departmentsFeatures

pg. 10

November/december 2014

16 Team Taylor This is the story of Taylor Andrewsa Cottonwood teen who consistently shows his positive attitude while heroically battling cancer. This is also a story of his community, who come together for one common goalto beat Taylors cancer. We take you through Taylors journey, told through his supporters, more commonly known as Team Taylor.

22 Beer Camp Beer and camping are an epic combination. With that in mind, the Active team took a road trip through the North State matching the best craft brews and breweries in the area with nearby campsites. From Redding to Petaluma to Yreka, we show active beer fans how to make the most out of your next NorCal camping trip.

pg. 34

Cover photography by Nigel Skeet

pg. 16

pg. 22

4 Active NorCal November/December 2014 activenorcal.net

This issue marks the end of our very first year of publishing Active NorCal magazine. By now you may have noticed our cover looks dif-ferent than in the past. This is Taylor Andrews, and I can honestly say that working on his story has been one of the most rewarding projects Ive experienced. Let me take you through the journey.

I heard about Taylor about a year ago, that he was a Cottonwood kid fighting cancer. All signs pointed to it being a very difficult battle. I wanted to publish an article about him immediately but, to be honest, I was afraid. I had just started Active NorCal and wanted to develop an audience and an editorial style before I took on stories like Taylors. Also, the responsibility of telling his story felt enormous to me. I felt incapable of doing it right.

I followed his page on Facebook, Support and Prayers for Taylor An-drews, and have been keeping tabs on his battle ever since. They posted pictures of him and he always had a big smile on his face. It was hard to imagine being that brave and optimistic.

I started asking questions of my friends and family about the telling his story. The resounding answer was that this article HAD to be done. I jumped in headfirst and assigned the article to my father, Chip OBrien. He was the only person I trusted to give this story the wings it needed to fly, and he let Taylors family and friends tell it in their own words.

Then I reached out to Nigel Skeet from Northstate Studios to do the photography. Ive always known he was a great photographer, but you can truly see his passion for this project in his pictures. Once the dust started to settle, I realized why this story would be greatboth writer and photogra-pher had dealt with cancer in their own fathers.

Everything was starting to come together, but something was still missing. During the creation process I kept hearing about Cincinnati Bengals

defensive lineman Devon Still. During NFL training camp this year, Still was informed that his four-year-old daughter Leah had cancer and needed to be treated immediately. The Bengals had planned to cut Still after train-ing camp, but instead kept him on the practice squad in order for him to keep the teams insurance for Leahs medical bills. After an outpouring of support, the Bengals decided to sell Stills jersey and donate the proceeds to cancer research. The team sold 10,000 jerseys and raised over $1 million.

Thats the motivation I needed. I set up a fundraiser with advertising prospects that would see proceeds of our ad sales go to Taylors medical bills. We were able to raise $1,750 in two weeks, joining an amazing group of friends and well-wishers whove found creative ways to help.

I was lucky enough to spend some time with Taylor during the creation of this story. Taylor is a kid we can all learn from. Hes a small guy now, walks with a little limp and is probably dealing with some excruciating pain. But that kids smile is never-ending. He is respectful. He is apprecia-tive. He is stoic. Taylor Andrews is an inspiration.

This project changed me. I certainly hope it can inspire you.What an end to our first year. See you again in 2015.Stay Active!

Zach

Publishers Note

Publisher Zach OBrien

EditorChip OBrien

Content ManagerRoss Lawrence

Sales ManagerKevin Reinhart (530) 355-3018

Art DirectorAdrienne Rosone

Active NorCal is published bimonthly by Active NorCal, 1350 Placer Street, Redding, CA, 96001, (530) 247-7330, Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

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For the kids

A YouTube search of Scott Halsey will turn up real fighting scenes about as compelling as those found in films like The Karate Kid or Rush Hour, minus the special effects. Owner of Reddings Scott Halseys Kenpo Karate for the past 28 years, Halsey has prevailed through sev-eral of karates major shifts in popularity. From the ninja craze in the 80s, through the Tae Bo trend of the 90s, to the recent rise of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Halseys studio continues to churn out skilled mar-

From Aspiring Superhero to Karate Masterthe story of scott halseys kenpo karate

By RoSS LAWReNCe

tial artists of all ages. For Halsey, it started at a young age.

His father was stationed at a military base in Fort Lewis, Washington when Halsey began Taekwondo (a Korean sys-tem of fighting that emphasizes kicks) at the age of four. As he grew older Halsey switched styles and started practicing Ken-po Karate. Going into his teenage years, he won a few tournaments including Ed Parkers world famous International Karate Championships, which helped people

like Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris rise to prominence.

Halseys success in competitions and consistent improvement solidified his obsession with Kenpo. When he was just a sophomore in high school, Halsey moved back to Redding and opened a martial arts school with the help of his mother and sister. The result is Scott Halseys Kenpo Karate.

I think I was attracted to karate at such an early age because I was into the

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superhero thing, recalled Halsey. I think wearing the uniform and training made me feel like a superhero when I was five. As I got older I kept with it because its a great way to stay in shape and learn self-defense.

Halseys studio teaches a style of karate called Kenpo, which loosely translates to fist law or Chinese boxing. The style was developed in Hawaii, and as a mixing pot of Asian cultures the islands were the perfect setting for Kenpo to grow. Com-bining elements from the Japanese forms of karate, Chinese Kung Fu, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, Kenpo is widely considered the first mixed martial art. It is used for self-defense and focuses on hitting sensitive areas of an attackers body with efficient strikes and blocks.

Kenpo was the first style of martial arts that mixed the linear and straight mo-tions of Japanese styles, the circular mo-tions of Kung Fu and the breaks, throws and grappling of Judo and Jui-Jitsu, said Halsey. It combines physics and kinesiol-ogy. Theres a science to it, and its cen-tered around getting the most power out of each strike, and avoiding attacks. Thats why we have a lot of doctors, engineers and type-A people in the studio.

In terms of why people choose to take classes at Halseys business thats a com-plicated question. Some parents bring their children in because they feel they need a confidence boost. For kids that have never played any sports or done much athletical-ly, Kenpo is a great starting point. And as a child, the idea of wearing a uniform, and

sparring (supervised fighting) with your friends, must make you feel powerful like a superhero, or at the very least, a ninja.

The studio provides individual classes to begin with, making it accessible for those who might find a group setting intimidating. After getting comfortable in 1-on-1 sessions with an instructor, group lessons offer pupils a component of camaraderie with other classmates and an opportunity to spar and earn higher-level belts. Unlike other sports, theres no bench in karate everyone is out there (in the group sessions) participating, which may attract people who have been turned off by certain team sports. Otherwise, people start and stick with Kenpo for the health benefits, for self-defense purposes and to take out some extra aggression.

I think wearing the uniform and training made me feel like a superhero when I was five. As I got older I kept with it because its a great way to stay in shape and learn self-defense.

activenorcal.net November/December 2014 Active NorCal 9

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Everyone who walks in here has a different reason for being here. I just want to meet the needs of everybody that walks in, said Halsey. A story a mother just came in whose son was bullying other kids and the counselor recommended he try karate. That may seem weird, but it gives him an outlet for his aggression and it will boost his confidence, which is good because usually we pick on others because we dont feel good about ourselves.

Even with kids and teenagers running around, their fists and feet flying, Kenpo pupils tend to avoid a lot of injuries common in other sports. This is because theres not a lot of repetitive motion in Kenpo. Participants are not wearing down the joints by doing the same action over and over. With the sparring aspect of karate, Halsey trains his students to be controlled and encourages them to agree beforehand on how much contact should be in each fight, to cut down on injuries.

A misconception often held by people having little experience with karate is that its only for kids. Halseys studio offers les-sons for students of all ages and abilities,

and is even home to a 60-year-old black belt who started training in his 40s. Many of those training at Halseys gym also play other sports and do cardio workouts and weight training to supplement their Kenpo classes. Halsey pushes his students to play other sports and get additional exercise.

The ages at the studio really are from three to 60, noted Halsey. My son is 18 and trains here. But Ive encouraged him to do team sports his entire life he wrestles and plays football.

Kenpo karate differs from most athlet-ics in that it is almost exclusively depen-dent on you as an individual to advance to the next level. It takes a big commit-ment, usually four or five years, to become a black belt and thats really just the be-ginning. You have to be a strong, goal-ori-ented individual to rise through the ranks. The whole process to get there makes you mentally stronger and more independent. Also, since Kenpo is ultimately about self-defense, high-level participants are forced to compete, which builds confidence.

At some point you have to compete

in tournaments. If you get into a real fight youre going to be nervous and scared like in a competition its good to see how well you react under pressure, explained Halsey. Karate is a lifestyle. Were try-ing to build a tough person and a good fighter, but also just a good, well rounded individual.

While many karate studios have come and gone in the North State over the years, Scott Halsey continues to ride through ebbs and flows, and punch through misconceptions about martial arts. Despite great economic shifts in the NorCal area, changes in popular concep-tions of karate and the art itself, Halsey remains consistent in his approach with the knowledge that if it isnt broken, he shouldnt fix it. With 28 years of experi-ence and an established name in the mar-tial arts community, one can only assume that Halseys brand will remain alive and well. Couch potatoes, seasoned athletes and superhero-obsessed 4-year-olds alike will continue to find a home in down-town Redding at Scott Halseys Kenpo Karate. NORCAL


just For FuN

You may have noticed the recent bike lane that burst into existence along California Street in downtown Redding. This was no accident. It was a lot of hard work. The majority of the work was taken on by Shasta Living Streets and, more specifically, its Director Anne Thomas. We sat down with Thomas to talk about her role in bringing her vision of more walkable and ride-friendly streets to our community.

Q & A with Shasta Living Streets

Mount Shasta Area Newspapers Wednesday, August 6, 2014 Page 12

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Subaru, Forester, Impreza, Legacy and Outback are registered trademarks. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. iPod is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. 12014 Top Safety Picks include the 2015 Subaru Forester. 2EPA-estimated fuel economy for 2014 Subaru Legacy 2.5i CVT models. Actual mileage may vary. 3EPA-estimated hwy fuel economy for 2014 Subaru Outback 2.5i CVT models. Actual mileage may vary. 4EPA-estimated fuel economy for 2015 Subaru Forester 2.5i CVT models. Actual mileage may vary. 5EPA-estimated hwy fuel economy for 2014 Subaru Impreza 2.0i CVT models. Actual mileage may vary. 7PZEV emissions warranty applies to only certain states. See dealer for complete information on emissions and new car limited warranties.

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We bought a 2015 outback. LOVE the car. Had a great experience buying it. The entire staff there were wonderful. They let us bring our dog in and treated her like a queen. Our Salesperson Ricky was genuinely happy for us and made sure we had

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We just purchased our second Subaru from your dealership. We have purchased nine new vehicles over the years and this is the first timethat we bought from the same dealership. Every employee throughout this dealership administration, sales, service, lot are friendly and

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We sell the best product on the market! Our vehicles are among the safest on the road. Locally owned and Operated, this means the $ you spend stays in our local economy.

We treat you the same way we would treat a member of our own family, with respect, honesty andattention to your needs. Check out our testimonials.

We are here for you long before the sale, during the sale and long after the sale. We appreciate yourbusiness and we will never take it for granted.

We give back to the community. See our events page dedicated to these charities and groups.

Top Notch service department with factory certied technicians on duty Monday through Friday. Thiswill make certain that your service needs will be taken care of promptly and accurately.

We offer loaner cars and a shuttle service while your vehicle is with us.

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1. What are the primary goals of Shasta Living Streets?Shasta Living Streets (SLS) is a local civic organization dedicated to building Better Bikeways and Trails, Walkable Cities and vibrant public places in Shasta County. Our members have big hopes for this region.

Our vision for Shasta County recog-nizes that one of our greatest public assets is the interconnected network of streets and public places that bind our homes, schools, businesses and parks together. When we build better bikeways and walk-able cities and couple that with our exist-

ing world-class recreational attractions, we will ensure our region excels as a place for families and businesses and enhance tourism.

We want people to be able to make convenient and reliable daily trips walk-ing and bicycling. Living Streets includes cars and trucks. We are not suggesting no carsbut merely the opportunity for fewer cars. We hope to see access to quiet, low-speed residential streets and a bicy-cling network with protected bike lanes on busy streets. We support sophisticated intersection controls, off-street pathways, greenways and trails to connect people to

where they want to go. We want everyone to enjoy walkable, bicycle-friendly busi-ness districts and see that all children can walk or bike to school. We believe this will provide broad benefits across the com-munity for a thriving regional economy, healthy local business, strong families, improved fitness, greater community interaction, less civic cost, less pollution, better living and more joy.

How do we do this? We work to iden-tify opportunities and provide members and partners with information about ideas and projects and specific ways they can contribute and help. On behalf of


members, we attend agency meetings and respond to partner initiatives. We develop products and services to help build ac-tive living excellence in our community, which includes projects like the Bicycle Friendly Hotel program. We host events so people can experience the vision. Some-times we cant visualize change until we experience it ourselves.

2. How long has the SLS been around and what motivated the founders to start the group?In 2010, a handful of enthusiasts came together to find ways to inspire improve-

ments to walking, biking and livable com-munities. We decided to host an open-street event to help people feel what its like to walk and bicycle safely on neigh-borhood streets. The program, now called Family Bicycling Day, brings thousands of people out to enjoy a trail through the city and learn more about the citys public places, businesses and history in part of Reddings downtown core.

Shasta Living Streets was an all-volunteer organization for the first four years. Since then the program has grown considerably as we innovate and develop new collaborations and now consists of

200+ members. SLS also incorporates a core group of advisors and volunteers, a large number of contributors to specific projects, a long list of partner groups and thousands of event and social media participants.

3. Are there any national projects or movements that have influenced Shasta Living Streets?A big part of what we do is look for and share ideas and examples from organiza-tions around the world that could make a difference here. There are many who in-spire us. We are inspired by Gil Penalosa,

We want people to be able to make convenient and reliable daily trips walking and bicycling. Living Streets includes cars and trucks. We are not suggesting no carsbut merely the opportunity for fewer cars.


College student. Food lover.

Sister. Photographer. And I bike.

We all share the road.

Meet Tamara and learn more at www.healthyshasta.org

In your car: Be on the lookout for bicyclists, especially at intersections.

On your bike: Ride on the right side of the road, in the same direction as traffic.

the father of the ciclovia, and current Executive Director of 8-80 Cities. He sent words of encouragement to our team on the eve of our first event four years ago:

Shasta Living Streets will show residents that streets can be used for more than just moving cars; streets are our largest and most valuable assets, the space that belongs to all, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, social or economic background.

We are also inspired by Jeff Specks books, and have been reading Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America One Step at A Time. Jeff Speck is an urban planner who has dedi-cated his career to determining what makes cities thrive. He has boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. We like that this book doesnt describe a new approach, but rather is a readable overview of what has been known for over thirty years. His com-ments resonate for us; he says, Whats needed is: understanding, decision-making and action to put good ideas into place.

4. What are some of the biggest challenges that SLS has faced over the years?Shasta County is a place people choose to move and bring their families precisely because of the opportunities we have for get-ting outside: fishing, boating, hiking, camping, mountain biking, horseback riding and because of the fresh air and the beautiful mountain views.

Yet in this place where so many people love to be outside, its ironically difficult to get support to walk and bicycle on our streets. Maybe its because it seems that in this recreation mecca we already have this covered. We do not. Most people in the city of Redding and in nearby rural areas cannot safely walk or bicycle to local businesses or schools or to visit nearby friends or family. If they want to get outside, they have to load up the car first and drive to a park or trail. Streets are for cars was the response I received from one bike shop owner. And the shameful injury and death rates for pedestrians and bicyclists in our community provide evidence for the truth of that statement.

So we have enthusiasts who run 50-mile foot races or ride rigorous mountain trails on weekends, with no choice at home but to get in the car and drive a mile and a half to get a burrito. An additional consequence is the high level of obesity and poor health from inactivity in our community. Then there is the con-stant driving all parents must do because there is no other option for their children.

Organizationally, we are challenged by a lack of dedicated staff to coordinate and take advantage of opportunities. We also need to pursue funding for programs and organizational growth and sustainability. We have a two-year action plan to address that. We are also challenged by a pervasive attitude that things will not change or be different than they are now. We see little civic participation and dialog. Trust in our community and agen-cies is at a low point.

5. Could you explain some of the major projects that SLS is working on currently?For the past year we have had a focus on bringing improve-ments to downtown Redding and connections from downtown to neighborhoods and city attractions. We have been asking the


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question, What is a walkable, bicycle-friendly downtown, and how do we get one? We have been highlighting the issues, shar-ing methods and examples about how towns can and do change. Weve also been hosting conversations to build understanding and develop ideas about how to support improvements in our community.

Our members helped secure improvements to downtown Red-ding that are being implemented right now, including a better bikeway along California Street. We are focusing on promotion and celebration of what this brings to downtown businesses, and looking towards what else can be done. We look forward to help-ing the community understand the issues, think about important questions and provide informed input.

Another growing program is Friends of the Redding Trails. This is a group of volunteers working to help maintain our pub-lic trail system. The group regularly monitors trails to see what might need to be addressed, communicates with city staff, and conducts periodic clean-up projects. They have recently adopted and given special attention to the trails in the Henderson Open Space.

6. How has the movement been received and what does the future hold for the organization?Members were instrumental in showing support for street im-provements in downtown Redding that are now making a differ-ence for people and businesses. These include rightsizing and a buffered bike lane on California Street. Issues we are considering include driving circulation, improvements for safe and conve-nient walking and bicycling, whether to restore auto traffic at the Market Street Promenade and how to best address parking. We look forward to helping our members and the community learn about these issues and what options might be available.

We are working to be more effective at bringing better bike-ways, trails, and walkable cities to our region. How do we do that? With members. We want to continue growing our member-ship of individuals and businesses to be 600 by the end of the year. We are inviting everyone to please help us by becoming a member. SLS continues developing to serve our members and to help everyone work together. We invite you! Heres how you can become a member: http://shastalivingstreets.org/join-us/become-a-member-today/

7. What is Friends of the Redding Trails?Trails are an important part of our local active living. Together with our street network they bind our homes, schools, busi-nesses, and parks together. Reddings trail system was recently chosen by Rails to Trails Conservancy as one of the nations top five trails for cycling. Friends of the Redding Trails is a program of SLS that is growing rapidly because of ambitious local inter-est to bring people together and help develop and maintain our public trails system. Some of the activities of this ambitious group include regular monitoring of trails to see what might need to be addressed, communication with city agencies about concerns and opportunities, periodic clean-up projects, and host-ing community events to help everyone learn about and enjoy the trails. NORCAL

holidays

Twelve Days of the Holidays

A Christmas Tree Cutting Adventure

Staying active during the holidays is an important part of starting the New Year healthy and motivated. One of the best ways to do that is to participate in local activities that keep us moving. This year why not try walking or running in Shasta Regional Medical Center Foundations annual Turkey Trot. Once again this year it will be held on Thanksgiving Day, November 27th, with either a six mile or a two mile event. There is also a Kids Diestelhorst Dash which is free of charge for the children. The event takes place at the Diestelhorst Landing, 2280 Benton Drive, Redding, CA. The cost to partici-pate is $20 for the six mile and $15 for the two mile. To register go to http://www.shastaregional.com/Turkey-Trot.

On the 1st day of the Holidays my family gave to me...The Turkey Trot

On the 2nd day of the Holidays my family gave to me...

Grab your saw and head up to the wilderness as a family to find the perfect Christmas tree. As a kid, there is nothing more fun than choosing your own tree, cutting it down, hauling it back home and seeing it covered in lights in your house for weeks afterwards.

Bewareyou cannot just cut down any old tree you find. There are guide-lines. Go to any one of your local Forest

Service offices to obtain a permit to cut down a tree. They will provide you with a map with area locations on US Forest Service Land where you can find the tree of your liking. Popular places to find these trees are near the town of McCloud, the flanks of Mt. Shasta and areas near Shingletown. Bring some hot chocolate in order to celebrate your new tree in the beautiful wilderness.


ILLuSTRATIoNS By CAITLIN oBRyANT

Some of us tend to be major sport fisher-men, but on this day, relax with you fam-ily and expect nothing more than good quality time together. This is best accom-plished by finding some relaxing, low-key fishing spots. Here are a few:

Baum Lake Located near Hat Creek outside of Burney, this lake fishes great in December. There is a large fish hatchery nearby, giving the kids a fighting chance at some big trout. Be sure to pack warm clothes and check the road conditions on Highway 299 to avoid an icy, stressful drive.

Lewiston LakeThis reservoir is created by the Lewiston Dam on the Trinity River, near the towns of Lewiston and Weaverville. You can find some big rainbow trout here and the area contains a certain amount of tourist feel to make any family feel comfortable. While the hardcore anglers are on the Trinity River, you can enjoy relaxing fun with your family at Lewiston.

Lower Sacramento River at Anderson River ParkThis is a two-bird-one-stone scenario. Take your family to the park, and catch some fish in the process. KC Grove is a popu-lar place to take kids and if the fishing is slow, you can enjoy a BBQ or simply play in the park.

A Make Your Own Holiday Cards DayThere are so many ways to do this, but we are going to focus on photo collage holiday cards. Pack your family in your car and head around town, anywhere you want. Choose your favorite family destina-tions and take turns snapping pictures with a camera at these places (the kids might prefer to take smart phone selfies).

Then take your photos home to design some unique Christmas cards for friends and family. If you are design savvy, use a fun template from InDesign. If you are a little tech-toodled, you can put together simple cards in a Word document. This puts a unique, personal touch to every member of the familys card, and you can differenti-ate yourself from those cookie-cutter family holiday cards.

On the 3rd day of the Holidays my family gave to me...

On the 4th day of the Holidays my family gave to me...

A Family Fishing Day



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This 5K run and one-mile run/walk is another fun way to get the family out of the house and get moving during the season. Brought to you by Dignity Health/Mercy Medical Center, this inexpensive event is great for everyone in the family with the proceeds going to St. Joseph School. The athletes in the family can get a sweat going at the 5K run

($15 entry fee) while the others can enjoy the more leisurely aspects of the one-mile run/walk ($10 entry fee). This event takes place on Sat-urday December 13th at the Benton Drive entrance to the Sacramento River Trail. For more information or to register, go to Facebook.com/mer-cychristmasdash.

On the 5th day of the Holidays my family gave to me...The Mercy Christmas Dash


The holidays are happy times for many of us but we all know that in our community there are many who cannot afford to give their family the kind of holiday they would like. That is where our Ac-tive readers can really make a difference. There are several organizations who assist the low-income residents of our community and who sponsor pro-grams especially for the holidays. The Good News Rescue Mission is a great place to donate food and money this time of year to help everyone have a nice meal during Thanksgiving and Christmas. But going a step further and adopting a family for the holidays is also very rewarding. In Shasta County

the most popular program for that is sponsored by Northern Valley Catholic Social Service (NVCSS) Holiday Adopt-A-Family program. This program, in partnership with the Redding Record Searchlight, allows you to select a family from a list provided of all family members. You then shop for gifts for each person in the family, wrap them and bring the gifts back to NVCSS for them to deliver along with a gift card for groceries. This program not only helps needy families, but when done as a family project of your own, it teaches children and adults alike how rewarding giving can be. The adopted families are anonymous but their gratitude is eternal.

Adopt-A-Family



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There is nothing like a great tradi-tion to bring a family together at the holidays. Too many people go shopping on Black Friday among the masses and come home with dozens of bags without even remember-ing what they bought or who they bought it for. Even more people do their shopping on the computer and have gifts shipped directly to their loved ones, without ever laying a hand on any part of the gift. Why not take a step back in time and ac-tually create a handmade Christmas gift? Start a new tradition in your family where each member writes their name on a piece of paper. The

names are placed in a bowl and you each draw one name (of course if you draw yourself try again) of your special person. You then must make a gift for them by hand, with no more than five dollars in supplies, and wrap it for opening on Christ-mas morning. Gift ideas depend on the recipient but can include a collage of photographs in a frame, make a special bath salt recipe for mom, make cookies or candy, create a calendar out of photographs, start an herb garden in a planter or a thousand other ideas. Keeping sup-plies to five dollars is sometimes a challenge and a big part of the fun.

On the 7th day of the Holidays my family gave to me...Secret Santa


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The holidays kick off our winter season with a lot of joy and celebration, but for that season most people find the winter dark, cold and depressing. One of the ways to change your attitude about that is to actually celebrate the day that winter begins with a Winter Solstice celebration. This can be an intimate, almost spiri-tual event with immediate family or you can make it a full-blown

party with many family members and friends. Because the winter solstice implies darkness, the best way to celebrate is with plenty of light including outdoor torch lighting, candles and even a bon-fire (check your local ordinances). If you choose a larger party, have a potluck where guests bring their favorite winter foods. You can even have a gift exchange or party favors for the guests.

The joy of Christmas lights can only be bettered by combining that fun with a spirited family bike ride. Depending on where you live, you can even do this in your own neighborhood. Safety first since this activity is most effective at night, make sure that all of the bikes are equipped with proper lighting to be seen by any motorists. If you have the capability, load your bikes into your vehicle and pick a neighborhood to tour. You can scout these out in your car during the day, or find some extra lighted neighborhoods here - http://rdcfeeds.redding.com/xmaslights/

On the 8th day of the Holidays my family gave to me...A Winter Solstice Celebration

On the 9th day of the Holidays my family gave to me...A Biking Christmas Light Tour


For those who celebrate Christmas, and even those who dont, planning and participating in an evening caroling party can be loads of fun for all ages. Long gone are the days when groups of cheery people would knock on the door and surprise neigh-bors and friends with songs for the holiday season. It brings good spirits to your neighbors and good walking exercise for those who participate. Here are some tips for creating your own caroling party.

Plan ahead and send out invitations. Schedule your party after Thanksgiving, but before Christmas. Send invitations ear-ly so all of your guests can save

the date and plan to go caroling between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the evening, before most people put their children to bed.

Choose your Christmas CarolsTake time to choose which songs you would like the group to sing. Pick upbeat and easy songs like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, or We wish you a Merry Christmas, and O Christmas Tree, that your audience will recognize. They might even join in and sing along! Make a printout of the songs to sing so that everyone has the words. If you have a friend with a guitar, have them play along. Find-

ing the lyrics to your favorite songs is easy, just go to http://www.41051.com/xmaslyrics/

Dress in Holiday CostumesBuy Santa and elf hats at your local party store and have everyone bring their favorite holiday scarf or sweater to wear. You can even designate someone to dress like Santa

with a bag of small, inexpen-sive gifts for children of the homes where you perform.

Enjoy the After PartyWhen the singing is done and the feet are tired, invite everyone back to your home for some healthy refreshments, warm drinks and holiday cheer.

Christmas Caroling



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In with the new, out with the old. Having too much stuff is an important lesson in life. Certainly, giving our children presents is an important tradition to uphold, but it can be a good lesson to donate your old items when you receive new ones. Did the kids get new clothes? Make sure they clean out their closet

and give any unwanted clothes to charity. Did the kids get a new toy? Tell them to pick an old one that they want to donate. This accomplishes two things It teaches children to appreciate what they have, while scheduling a yearly, mandatory house-cleaning day.

We are very optimistic it will snow loads of powder this winter, which will give us the opportunity to indulge in one of our favorite activities: sledding! Here are the two best places to take your family once the snow has fallen:



A day of cleaning and donating

A Sledding Day Eskimo HillAbout an hours drive east from Redding on Highway 44, you will find this magnificent hill where all your sledding dreams can come true. This area experiences a decent amount of snow in the winter

so make sure your vehicle can handle a snowy road.

Snowmans HillAnyone who frequents Mt. Shasta Ski Park knows exactly where this hill is located, since you have to pass all the fun on

the way up to the mountain. A short drive from Mt. Shasta City off Highway 89, this is a popular destination due to its proximity to our mighty mountain. Get there early to beat the crowd!

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree NORCAL


Cover story

Team TaylorCancer. You cannot read or say the word without feeling something. What it can do to lives or families is no secret. It strikes like a shark in a calm sea, and what parent wouldnt give all that they had to spare their children from it? Yet like other colossal human tragedies, sometimes the darkness allows the light to shine that much brighter. This is not a story about cancer. It is a story about love, heroism and a community coming together to take care of one of their own. This is Taylor Andrews story, a kid who has taken his rightful place as NorCals newest superhero.


By ChIp oBRIeN phoToGRAphy By NIGeL SKeeTTeam TaylorCancer. You cannot read or say the word without feeling something. What it can do to lives or families is no secret. It strikes like a shark in a calm sea, and what parent wouldnt give all that they had to spare their children from it? Yet like other colossal human tragedies, sometimes the darkness allows the light to shine that much brighter. This is not a story about cancer. It is a story about love, heroism and a community coming together to take care of one of their own. This is Taylor Andrews story, a kid who has taken his rightful place as NorCals newest superhero.


The BeginningDana Andrews: It was July, 2013. It was a Sunday, and my hus-band and I were coming home from the lake with some friends. Taylors younger brother called and said Hey, Taylors not being able to breathe well. Somethings wrong. So we hurried home to him basically having shortness of breath. He was clammy and pale, so we took off for the emergency room. They did some chest X-rays and ruled out immediately that it was pneumonia. They decided to call in a specialist.

Taylor was almost 15 1/2. So were sitting in the emergency room at 11:00 at night on a Sunday. We were told that Taylor had cancer on his lungs. They hooked him up to oxygen. His oxygen stats were so low that they proceeded to tell us they were going to have to airlift us to Sacramento. We flew down to Sutter Memorial Hospital Sunday morning. Taylor was in the intensive care unit on oxygen for about seven days.

It took about two weeks for them to diagnose him with whats called spindle cell sarcoma, a very rare cancer thats usu-ally diagnosed in men in their late 20s. Theres only about forty diagnosed per year in the world. We were dealing with a young teenager with a rare cancer.

The night he was diagnosed, I was sitting next to him bawling my head off trying to get ahold of my husband and telling every-one whats going on. Taylor was texting his friends saying Hey, I have cancer. Im going to fly to Sacramento! It was Hey, I have cancer and Im going to be OK! That was his mindset.

I dont even think he texted five people, and within a week we had half of Cottonwood making 1,000 t-shirts that said, Team Taylor, Fight, Fight, Win. Immediately there were fund-raisers set up. Two weeks after we got home they had a spaghetti feed. Theyve done four of five different fundraisers.

He started chemotherapy a couple of days after that. They started with a generic chemo that kind of stops the cancer growth. We were there for eight days. Ever since then weve been going back pretty faithfully every three weeks for a week in the hospital. Taylor had just finished his freshman year at West Valley High School in Cottonwood and he played football. He hasnt attended school since hes been sick.

Dans Christmas PresentDana Andrews: Dan Ferry, who owns Ferrys Pharmacy in Ander-son, decorates his home every year and enters it into a contest at Christmas time. This last year he did it with all of the cancer colors. He had a mailbox specifically set up for Taylor and a boy named Michael Stevens who was also diagnosed with cancer last summer. He [Michael Stevens] is actually already in remission and on his way back to kind of a normal life. Dan split his funds between the two boys, and each got several thousand dollars out of just people driving through. Hes got a half-circular driveway, so people could drive through and just put money in the mail-box. He had their pictures up... it was just amazing.

Dan Ferry: We had the kids pictures up with a light on them and it said Pray for a Cure. It was something I could do through the pharmacy to make people aware and help out. We were able to give them cash money, which was pretty cool. I get a lot of my customers that have cancer. You see them, and then you dont see them, and its very difficult. The families all have to deal with it. These are both young boys and they have differ-ent types of cancer. I just tried to do whatever I could, something that would really help.

I called Taylor Andrews mom to see if I could get a picture. The pictures were really large so people could see them from their cars. I passed out little flyers to anyone who wanted describ-ing how the lights were all based on the colors of the ribbons they have for cancer. It was an education for me. I didnt realize that all the different colors of ribbon were for different cancers. People could take those at the same time they drove through. I dont know how many thousands we put out, but what I was most amazed at was the community itself. People drove through and saw the kids, and it told a little story. Christmas is for giving, so lets see how we can help. We won the light show contest for the whole Northern California.

Dana Andrews: Constantly theres support, support, support. If I said today Hey, I need some help with a fundraiser, everyone would be, just like ON it!

Elegant FriendsKarli Janc, owner of The Elegant Bean coffee shop in Cotton-wood: I became friends with Dana [Andrews] a little bit before Taylor was diagnosed. We were doing Zumba together, and our friendships kind of grown. Through Taylor getting sick I got to know her much better because we did some fundraisers. Now I call her my closest friend.

I was pregnant at the time, and Taylor loves babies. He was so excited! Right after we gave birth to our daughter, Dana brought Taylor over to meet her and they hung out for a while, a couple of times. He held her and loved her. He really has a heart of gold.

Taylor started coming to our church right around the same time as Mothers day, actually it was Danas birthday about two months before Taylor was diagnosed. Taylor invited her to come to the Mothers Day service where they give all the moms a carnation afterwards. Taylors attitude has been amazing. He is so inspiring. He makes any other bad day for the rest of us look like nothing. Hes so positive, and he just turned 16.

North Cottonwood Schools did a spaghetti feed fundraiser for Taylor, and Olive Garden donated all the food. The sodas donat-ed too, and from that little fundraiser they made like $10,000. It was on a Friday night and everyone came out. Logo USA started the Team Taylor thing here in Cottonwood.

We started with like, 100 shirts. Yeah, well sell them for $3 a shirt donation.

We sold out in the first couple of hours. We re-printed and re-printed and re-printed, until we ended up with somewhere around 1,000 shirts. Every day we were calling and telling them


Constantly theres support, support, support. If I said today Hey, I need some help with a fundraiser, everyone would be, just like ON it!

Dana Andrews


we need more, we need more, we need more. Wildcard Brewing in Redding called and said they wanted to sell. Everywhere you went youd see a Team Taylor shirt.

Touchdowns, Talent and Clay PigeonsShaye Kennen, English and Drama teacher at West Valley High School: We did Touchdowns for Taylor, at the beginning of last year right after his diagnosis. We had an exhibition football game for the Junior League. (My husbands really involved with the Junior League.) We got a whole bunch of teams from over the North State to come and play, and we had them get sponsorships filled out ahead of time. For every touchdown that was made, businesses and individuals paid a certain amount per touch-down. It was very successful. It was really cool for the community to come together. Even people outside of our local commu-nity came, teams from as far as Oroville and Yreka.

Next we did a Pay it Forward concert. We had our performing arts kids get together and they did monologues, skits, singing, dancing and then a dinner. We did that last fall for Taylor and Michael Stevens, another boy who was diagnosed with cancer.

My husband and I put that together TNT Shoot for a Cure last June. He works as a manager for our local Les Schwab. One of his accounts is Brian Riley who owns Red Bank Outfitters in Red Bluff. They do private hunts and things. They also have a big piece of property where they shoot clay pigeons.

Our community is really involved. Were a rural area, so were involved in things like that, shooting, hunting, and Taylor as well. So we decided to put together this Shoot for a Cure, which also included the father of one of our kids at West Valley who is also fighting cancer. His name is Troy Parke, so thats why we labeled it TNT. We loved doing it. These are great kids that we have in our community, and its not fair what theyre having to deal with.

Acts of FaithMark Boyle, elder, Cottonwood Community Church: Taylors real visible in our community even though hes battling cancer. Hes involved with the high school and hes been a big part of our church as well. This last summer he was baptized by Patrick Bloom, and it was very powerful. Taylor had the strong faith and dedicated his life to the Lord at a young age, and asked Patrick to baptize him last summer. Patrick is one of our wor-ship members and my brother-in-law. Patrick is real close with the Andrews and Taylor is friends with Patricks boys. Taylor has been in youth group activities and Bible study and over at Patricks house.

Cottonwoods a small community, so everyone goes to this one coffee shop called The Elegant Bean run by a gal named Karli who goes to our church. There are a lot of community members in our church, Cottonwood Community Church, so Taylors battle and his faith has really been a big encouragement to the whole community. Our church had a softball team this year, so we wore Team Taylor shirts every day and won the league this year. Taylors part of our community and families have been so encouraged by his faith and his courage. Hes got family and a church family and a community that rallies behind him.

A Mothers PerspectiveDana Andrews: I work as a mortgage loan processing manager for US Lending. When Taylor was diagnosed I went on short-term family leave. Then I tried to go back to work part time and

working while we were on the road. That wasnt working so now Im on short-term disability. Were taking care of Taylor.

One week were in Sacramento all week, and then the next two weeks we drive down to Sac-ramento to have blood drawn to see if he needs platelets or a red blood count. We drive there and back twice a week for two weeks and then were back in the hospital again. Hes constantly getting CAT scans to see how the prognosis is going and how his chemo treatments working. His most recent chemo weve been on for two rounds, so were about six weeks into this regi-men. We find out next week how the cancer on his lungs is reacting.

At least this new treatment is not making him as sick. He has very, very minimal nausea.

When we first started he was sick the whole time in the hospital, and basically two weeks at home and then he was right back in the hospital. He never got a chance to feel good. With this new chemo regimen were hoping to get the same results, and at least hell have a little bit of quality of life where he can do things with his friends and hang out.

Taylor has a 22-year-old sister, Britny who lives here in Cottonwood and works at Gaspoint Market. He has a younger brother Cameron thats 15 1/2 thats a sophomore at West Valley. Cameron keeps him up to date on all the high school drama.

Taylors homebound quite a bit, but with this new chemo hes much better. His friends are in school all day, so he doesnt really get out much until theyre either out of school or on the week-ends. Today was a minimum day at West Valley High School, so he went over to a buddys house after school and hung out with him for four or five hours. As long as hes feeling good and his numbers are OK, he can pretty much go hang out with his buddies.

He is on independent study right now, and we arent push-ing school too hard. For most of it hes been really sick and not feeling well enough. In the mean time Im not pressuring it too hard. School isnt going to go anywhere.

Thats kind of our story. His dad, Jason Andrews, works full time for Stevens Electrical in Redding. He holds down the fort when were not home.


I think just living in a small community has been amazing, with everybody constantly saying What can we do for you? Do you need help? Do you need your dog fed? Do you need your lawn mowed? Its just overwhelming with community support.

Taylor is definitely a fighter. He has a Facebook page called Support and Prayers for Taylor Andrews with over 3,200 follow-ers. I just cant say enough about Cottonwood.

Intercepting InspirationGreg Grandell has been the football coach for West Valley High School for 25 years, lives in community and knows Taylor well:

Taylor was in our program, coming up, going to be a player at West Valley, a freshman, he played freshman ball. His sophomore year he started to have some issues. He talked about not playing and wasnt feeling well, and of course we know why.

Weve stayed connected, our football team. We wore stickers for him. Weve been involved with a big car wash that kind of went on for days. It was really very neat to see, everybody in the community pulling for him. He was our honorary captain when we won the section title last year. We have a great film clip of him going out for the coin toss. Weve just been hanging in there with him. His battle is crazy. In thirty minutes he could probably teach all of us a lot of life lessons, even a guy my age. Hes just so positive.

I told him, Youve got to stay in the land of positive, dont you? He said, Coach, you know my blood types B Positive. I kind of broke down when he told me that. I gave him a hug and I said, Im sorry to do this, Im just pulling for you.

Kids are resilient. They dont think about death; but I do. I get choked up when I see him because I know the battle his fam-ilys in. I cant imagine the nights the parents must have. Were honored to join the fight. Our team is honored to be involved as much as we can, at least try to love on him when hes here. Most of us dont understand why, or any of it. The family is so impres-sive, especially him. Ive seen him look like hell, but hes always got a smile. He just fights.

No question Taylor is an inspiration for our team, total inspi-ration. Ive tried to make things happen over the years, like this year we have a little ALS [Lou Gehrigs Disease] boy thats going to be our Homecoming honorary captain. Hes already wheel-chair bound, poor guy. These kids I have, theyre so athletic, they can get around and theyre fast. They dont have any issues. Its good to let them see people that are struggling. It helps them be thankful for what theyve been blessed with, and to be an athlete.

Ive got to reign in my football kids because of how they drive. I was once there too. You just dont think about how frag-ile life is. Then here comes a kid who, every day its right there in front of him. I would think Taylor would just be home, pouting all the time. Ive never seen him not be positive about the war hes in. I even thought today about the radiation treatment. Its serious. Its scary as can be for the parents, but hes a go-getter. Hes a special guy.

Radiation is going to be rough on him. You cant tell from the way he talks cause hes so positive. He was an athlete. He was very popular. He helped with a lot of fundraising. The Andrews are community people and big-time Eagle fans. Hes got a brother thats a really good soccer player. Theyre having a battle and ev-erybody here is behind them. Its a good experience for us to see that. Were reminded of all our blessings and reminded to keep him in our hearts and prayers.

Taylor Andrews courage, his familys dedication and how the Cottonwood community is so on fire to take care of one of their own seems like a story from another time; a simpler time, a bet-ter time. But here it thrives in 2014 under our very noses.

Not a single one among us knows what challenges tomorrow may bring. Life can seem so uncertain and precarious at times. But if Taylor Andrews can rise above such demanding and fright-ening circumstances in his life, maybe there is hope for the rest of us. In light of his courage and the love it has inspired, even cancer seems pathetic and weak by comparison.

If it takes a village to raise a child, I would want all villages to be like Cottonwood, California. NORCAL

His battle is crazy. In thirty minutes he could probably teach all of us a lot of life lessons, even a guy my age.


oN the road

Beer Camp Road TripA Journey to Find the Best Beer-Camping Experience in NorCalBy zACh oBRIeN

this jourNey begaN a few months ago, when I was lounging in my back yard, sipping on a delicious craft beer with Active NorCals Ad-venture Consultant Backcountry Craig. We were reminiscing about our most recent backpacking trip, an 8-mile hike into Tahoes Desolation Wil-derness, which included three days of exploring, swimming and fishing. We recalled the moment when planning for that trip we realized we would have to leave the beer behind.

On the one hand it would be unnecessary

weight. On the other, beer and camping go together like chips and salsa. One is mutually exclusive of the other, but combining the two provides a perfect balance. Then we had our light bulb moment. Lets embark on a camping trip that pits beer and camping together.

We can match a craft brewery beer with a nearby campsite, replied Backcountry Craig. And we were off, six breweries, six campsites, six nights, (a six-pack of camping) a beer camp road trip.

Wildcard Brewery Double Down Imperial Red Ale Whiskeytown LakeWe packed up our Ford Explorer early in the morn-ing with the various camping amenitiestents, sleep-ing bags, warm clothing, a mini-grill, pocketknives and fishing poles. Since we began in Redding, we decided that our first stop would be in our own backyard. Wildcard Brewery is located off the Old Oregon Trail exit of High-way 44 in Redding. Founded within the past two years, this brewery has taken the local area by storm, creating great craft beers that can be found all over the area.

We stopped in the tap-room and decided to fill up two growlers of Wildcards most popular beer, the Dou-ble Down Imperial Red Ale. [A growler is a glass or ceram-ic jug, typically 64 ounces, used to transport draft beer. They are commonly sold at breweries as a means to sell

take-out draft beer. They generally have either a screw-on cap or a hinged porce-lain gasket cap, which can provide freshness for a week or more.] Then we jumped in the car and high-tailed it west down Highway 299 over to Whiskeytown Lakes Oak Bottom campgrounds. There we were able to snag a large campsite and rent two SUP boards at the Brandy Creek Store. The Oak Bottom camp-sites are very family oriented with bathrooms, an ameni-ties store and even security at the entrance. Alcohol is prohibited on the beach and in picnic areas, but allowed within legal limits elsewhere.

The Oak Bottom arm of Whiskeytown Lake is perfect for a day on SUP boards. This part of the lake is a thin arm of the lake, so it keeps away hefty boats and unwanted crowds. The water is typically

glassy and untouched. We hopped on our water vehicles and paddled around find-ing numerous rope swings and rocks to jump off, help-ing to fill our adrenaline-crav-ing souls. We headed back to the campsite right before the sunset to crack open our growlers. We built a fire and sipped wonderful beer in the fading light.

The Double Down Impe-rial Red Ale is certainly not for the timid. Its red tint is unique in itself, and the full-bodied malty taste (and 7.5 percent alcohol content) was just the refreshment we needed on the first night of our expedition. We spent the evening discussing our loom-ing journey and strategically planning the logistics.

One down, five to go. On to the next location

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3

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photo: istock.com


Wildcard BrewerySierra NevadaLagunitasMad RiverEtna Brewing CompanyMt. Shasta Brewing Co.

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We rose from our tents with unbridled enthusiasm know-

ing our next destination was a familiar one. You see, Backcountry Craig and I had both lived in Chico at one point and we knew the Sierra Nevada Brewery and its surroundings well. We packed up our car

and headed south for an hour and a half drive to the Sierra Nevada taproom.

We might take this brew-ery for granted. I know I do. Sierra Nevada is a craft beer juggernaut, rivaling only Samuel Adams as the first and most successful craft brewery

in the country. This brewery has paved the way for the booming craft beer industry we see today with their flag-ship pale ale beer.

We arrived right on time for an incredible lunch at the taproom, and stocked up on Old Chico Crystal Wheat for that night. While the name of this beer may not be familiar to you, the taste will send me-morial chills down any beer enthusiasts spine. Formally known as simply the Sierra Nevada Wheat, this beer was rebranded years ago to pay homage to the brewerys home, Chico, California. It is the lightest beer you will find

at this brewery and contains a mild wheat taste very friendly to the palette.

We saddled up and headed to our favorite camping loca-tion, a beach on the Feather River. If you take Highway 70 east towards Quincy, you will encounter a long, windy drive along the Feather River. After about 18 miles down this road you will see a large entrance to a public dirt driveway, which takes you to a well-hidden beach on the river in the Plumas National Forest.

The campsite is perfect for adventure seekers. It offers great swimming; fishing and

a humongous rope swing across the water next to the train tracks. (This rope swing is one of the most dangerous Ive ever encountered and should only be attempted by true rope-swing profes-sionals.) We had the beach to ourselves and we washed down grilled hot dogs with Old Chico Crystal Wheat as the sun went down.

We woke up the next morning with the sun and reluctantly washed off in the brisk water of the Feather River. We had to move fast, as this day would be our longest.

Two down, four to go. On to the next location

We had a lot of driving to do, heading from the eastern part of the state all the way over to the coast. The Lagunitas Brewery is in Petaluma, which is about 15 minutes south of Santa Rosa and roughly an hour north of San Fran-cisco. Petaluma is a unique town off Highway 101 with an active down-town area and a

fun, energetic vibe. We were able to manage the

traffic on Interstate 80 through Vacaville in what we true Northern Californians consider Bay Area Traffic. We arrived at the Lagunitas taproom in three hours at about 11 am.

The brewery personifies the town of Petaluma the energy is palpable, everyone is friend-ly and everything reflects an indescribable brightness. After being trapped in the car for hours, we decided to tour the brewery first. A tourist

attraction for San Franciscan weekend warriors, it was filled to capac-ity by mid-afternoon. There al-ways seems

to be a party going on there, with a large bar, an enclosed outside

area and usually a quirky band playing inside.

We decided to grab some of their most popular beer, the Lagunitas IPA (Indian Pale Ale). The IPA was Lagunitas first seasonal beer back in 1995, and like many suc-

cessful craft brewer-ies its overwhelming reception among beer-enthusiasts laid a foundation for ongoing popularity. Its one of the lighter IPAs youll ever taste. The brewery claims The malt and hops work together to balance it all out on your buds so you can knock back more than one without wear-ing yourself out.

We hit the gift shop for some odd souvenirsa bottle opener, a beer cozy and sweat-shirt before taking off for our next camping destination.

We were out by noon in order to make another long drive to Fort Bragg. (We start-ed to seriously question our sanity on this stretch of the trip.) We headed up Interstate 101 and cut over to the coast on the beautiful Highway 20 through the Jackson State Forest. There we arrived at Hidden Pines Campground in Fort Bragg. The camp was

uniquea green for-est with the distinct ocean smell. We checked in, found

our site and immedi-ately took the quarter-

mile walk over to the main attractionthe Pacific Ocean.

Tired and nearing the midway point of our journey, we walked to the beach with our beer to watch the sunset with our IPAs in hand. We quickly realized that this is what this entire road trip is all aboutnew experiences. We were typically mountain men, viewing camping as a rough experience involving only you and your survival instincts. This trip was, of course, different. Sure, it had a tourist feel to it, but to be honest, Im not sure I had ever just sat on a beach and watched the sunset. With new days come new ideas, which bring new experiences.

Three down, three to go. On to the next location

Sierra Nevada Old Chico Crystal WheatFeather River

Lagunitas IPAFort Bragg

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We packed up and emerged from the wilderness eventu-ally travelling over to Inter-state 5 via Hwy 3. Suddenly we found ourselves in more familiar territory. Stopping at the Mt. Shasta brewery in Weed, we were hungry and anticipating our final destina-tion. We grabbed lunch and purchased some Weed Golden Ale, a light and refreshing choice. I had been anticipat-ing this moment since the beginning of our trip and brought along my Love Weed Project pint glass just for the

occasion. I had purchased it in order to support Weed residents affected by the dev-astating Boles fire. For more information go to facebook.com/theloveweedproject.

Full of great food, we then meandered down Interstate 5 to Mt. Shasta City and headed directly to the Lake Siskiyou Campground, a place I have become well acquainted with. Arriving early, we set up tents and rented a kayak to explore the shores of the lake. Though not very big, Lake Siskiyous claim to fame is its proxim-

ity to our mighty Mt. Shasta and the stunning views that go with it. While exploring the lake, we couldnt help but stare at the mountain, even though it has been a staple in our lives since we were children.

We headed back to camp to savor our beer reminiscing about the trip that would soon draw to a close. We had seen beautiful landscapes, interest-ing, curious people and some of the best craft breweries in the state. This road trip was

an epic journey to travel Northern California in search of the best beer

camping combinations. It also proved to be a vehi-

cle for new experiences, finer knowledge of our surround-ings and a deeper friendship.

We woke the next morning dirty and still tired. We headed down the hill on Interstate 5 back to Redding. Reality set it on this final stretchthe fun and games would soon be over.

Six breweries. Six campsites. Six nights. It was the greatest six-pack we had ever had. NORCAL

We could barely contain our excitement as we rose from our tents and packed up the car for the next leg

of our journey up Interstate 101 to Humboldt. The three hour drive was chock full of craft breweries. We would pass Eel River Brewery in

Fortuna and the very popular Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka. We were also very curious about the Mad River Brewery, which cel-

ebrated their 25th anniversary this year.We made the beautiful drive up Interstate 101

and over to Blue Lake on Highway 299 to the brewery. I knew exactly which beer I wanted, the

famous Steelhead Extra Pale Ale. Ive only had this beer a few times, and I knew its reputation2008 and 2012 Gold Medal, and 2010 and 2013 Silver Medal at the Great American Beer Festival. This is a popular beer among beer-snobs known for its medium body and slight bitterness.

Feeling spry, we purchased some Steelhead Extra Pale Ale and backtracked to the famous Patricks Point State Park in Trinidad. This campground is located about 25 miles north of Eureka, right in the heart of Californias coastal redwood country. We were ready to arrive at the park by 2 pm and, considering the time we had spent in the car over the past few days, we were anxious to get more active.

We hiked the six miles around the rim trail with beautiful redwoods; luxurious plant life and the oc-casional access trail to ocean views. It was a spectacu-lar way to get the exercise we craved. With daylight dwindling, we headed back to camp to savor our tasty beverages and grab an early bedtime.

Four down, two to go. On to the next location

We had another tedious drive ahead of us, so we rose with the sun to get on the road. We jour-neyed back to Highway 299, on to Highway 96 and eventually on to

Highway 93. Known as the Bigfoot Scenic Highway,

Hwy. 93 is famous for its Bigfoot sightings.

This long and windy road is almost entirely adjacent to beautiful rivers, most notably the lower Klamath. While this ride is not for those prone to carsickness, it is one of the most beautiful drives you will ever take. Be sure to fill up on gas and have a spare tire since you go through long stretches without see-ing any civilization.We finally made it to the

town of Etna in a little less than four hours and were ready for our much-anticipat-ed trip to the Etna Brewing Company. This is a small brewery with an even smaller tap house (in comparison to some of the giant ones we had already visited), but what it lacks in size it makes

up for in beer brilliance. We had played it safe with our beer selection throughout the journey, so we decided to try something different the Blackberry Blondea light wheat ale with a sweet, black-berry taste. Our palettes were pleasantly surprised.

We purchased some for that evening and headed about 25 miles north up Highway 3. We then turned onto the Scott River Road to our next campground, the Indian Scotty Campground on the Scott River near Fort Jones. We set up camp and immediately went fishing.

As with most fishing trips you highly anticipate, our catching came up short. The site was beautiful with grassy areas surrounded by Douglas firs and Ponderosa pine trees. We had heard about the trail-head that led to the Marble Valley Wilderness, but instead decided to relax at camp with our Blackberry Blonde. Fatigue began to set in as the finish line approached.

Five down, one to go. On to the next location

Mad River Steelhead Extra Pale AlePatricks Point

Etna Brewing Company Blackberry Blonde Indian Scotty Campground

Mt. Shasta Brewing Co.Lake Siskiyou


health

Five Strategies for Healthy HolidaysBy ANNeTTe BRyANT

Its November, so if you havent realized it yet, the holidays are coming! In just another week or two our lives will shift from nor-mal into high gear preparing for not one, but three big celebra-tions before we can start the New Year. The holiday season is sup-posed to be a joyous time to spend with our family and friends, but somehow every year it becomes a stressful fiasco of attending to details, often with a good measure of procrastination thrown in. It seems that every year this season sneaks up on us so we have more to do in a day than can possibly be done. So, with little planning, we end up rushing through it. By New Years Day we find ourselves exhausted, over-imbibed and making resolu-tions to get back to a healthier life. This year why not circumvent the hassles and stress and make a plan to have a healthy holiday season? Here are five tips that will help you wake up next year feeling accomplished and satisfied.

develop a plan. Starting today, acknowledge that the days ahead are going to be jam-packed. Why not put together a plan of attack for the

spiced shrimpIngredients3/4 pound uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

(about 48 shrimp)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 1/2 teaspoons water

1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

1/2 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped

Rinse shrimp in cold water. Pat dry with a paper towel and set aside on a plate.

To make the marinade, whisk together the tomato paste, wa-ter and oil in a small bowl. Add garlic, chili powder and oregano. Mix well.

Using a brush, spread the marinade (it will be thick) on both sides of the shrimp. Place in the refrigerator.

Prepare a hot fire in a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill or

broiler. Away from the heat source, lightly coat the grill rack or broiler pan with cooking spray. Position the cooking rack 4 to 6 inches from the heat source.

Put the shrimp in a grill basket or on skewers and place on the grill. Turn the shrimp after 3 to 4 minutes. The cooking time var-ies depending on the heat of the fire, so watch carefully.

Transfer to a plate and serve immediately.

Serving size: 12 shrimp Cholesterol 137 mgCalories 85Sodium 171 mgTotal fat 1 gTotal carbohydrate 2 g

Saturated fat TraceDietary fiber 0.5 gTrans fat traceSugars 0 gMonounsaturated fat 0.5 gProtein 17 g

Nutritional analysis per serving

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Kibler & Kibler Architecture and EngineeringRedding Bank of CommerceShasta Anesthesia ConsultantsChiropractic FirstPacific Sun GourmetWoofTraining.comRedding SubaruCattlemens RestaurantFigueroa K9 ServicesJohn F. Rooney, DDSSwell Endeavors Physical Therapy, Inc.Raileen C. Lagoc, MDKRCR TVFleet Feet SportsShasta Family YMCAHealthy Shasta

The run/walk of the season!

EVENT MAJOR SPONSOR

CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Email: [email protected]

RACE LOCATION & TIMESLake Redding Park / Sacramento River Trail Benton Drive, Redding Start and Finish

Saturday, December 13, 2014 7:30 am . . . . . . . . Late registration & race day packet pickup 9:00 am . . . . . . . . . . Start time for 5K run & 1 mile run/walk

ENTRY FEES5K Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15.00 1 Mile Run/Walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10.00

Race Shirt Options: ( * Add $2 .00 for 2XL and 3XL sizes) Long sleeve hooded sweatshirt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18 .00* Short sleeve cotton T-shirt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7 .00*

REGISTRATIONRegister online at facebook.com/mercychristmasdash

Pick up and drop off completed forms at: Shasta Family YMCA 1155 N . Court Street Fleet Feet Sports 1376 Hilltop Drive Or download forms at facebook.com/mercychristmasdash or www.saintjosephredding.orgMail completed forms to: Mercy Christmas Dash St . Joseph School 2460 Gold Street Redding, CA 96001

All proceeds to benefit Saint Joseph School Redding

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next few weeks that will help you get things done without the stress of procrastination? Make a list of all that you have to do to prepare for the holiday season including preparing meals, buying gifts, attending parties, sending greeting cards, wrapping presents and attending school and church parties or performances. Dont forget to put on your list taking care of yourselfexercise, eating healthy and quiet time. Once you have developed your list, get out your calendar and start scheduling when you will do each of

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