Day 3: Cruising into California

It was a 269-mile drive across the Siskiyous and into California today. This time of year can be unpredictable in the passes but we were fortunate to travel on bare pavement, under a mostly blue sky, with the only snow along the side of the road. Perhaps the bright rainbow I spied as we left Canyonville, was a lucky omen. 

From Canyonville, I-5 weaves its way through the craggy mountains, climbs in elevation to any one of numerous pass summits, and drops to the other side, only to climb back up again to the next pass: Canyon Creek Pass (2,020 ft) followed by a 5% downgrade for 3 miles; Stage Road Pass ( 1,830 ft); Smith Hill Summit (1,730 ft) with a 6% downgrade for 2 miles and another slow climb for 2 miles to Sexton Mountain Pass (1,960ft). 

breathtaking vistas of the surrounding peaks enveloped in puffy clouds

Just before Medford, we looked for Mt McLoughlin towering at 9,495 ft, but today only the lower portion of the cone showed, the rest of the volcano draped by thick clouds. 

snow around us at the highest elevation

After Ashland, we started the long slow climb to the Siskiyous Summit, Alpine steadily moving forward, passing trucks, and pulling our Jeep with no problem. From 2,000 ft, the road rose up to 4,000 ft and crested at 4,300 ft. Then a 7-mile, 7% downgrade, and we entered California. 








As if someone flipped a switch, the terrain changed dramatically to a khaki landscape, dry and barren. 

We breezed through the border Inspection Station, giving the officer a list of fruits and vegetables we had on board with us. I make it a habit to check the website for the contraband produce and either make sure we eat it before we enter California or don't bring it with us.

A quick stop at the Klamath River rest stop, and we were on our way again, climbing up to Anderson Grade Summit (3,097 ft) and continuing on from Yreka in breezy, wet and foggy conditions until we passed Dunsmuir.

The scenery along this stretch of the Shasta Trinity National Forest wilderness area is always imposing and spectacular. Mt Shasta towered in its shiny frosty white mantle. 

From Redding, we dropped down to the valley floor, where the rain disappeared and we continued under a high grey umbrella, I-5 a straight black ribbon all the way to the flat horizon. We drove past familiar ranches, orchards and fields that mark this stretch and just beyond Corning, we pulled into Rolling Hills Casino for the night and treated ourselves to a buffet dinner.