Surprise military train! Following an amazing three days below Mount Shasta, I was hanging out with the guys and had just gotten my full from a big dish of spaghetti when we saw an unexpected southbound military train roll through Castella. I decided it was a good time to hit the road heading further south, and so a quick drive down the Sacramento River Canyon, followed by a jog through the woods, and then sliding (or "controlled falling") down a rocky slope brought me to the high water mark of Lake Shasta just seconds before the train came cruising out over Salt Creek Trestle. Severe drought in California has left Lake Shasta at a record low level. The bridge below is part of the old highway from prior to the construction of Shasta Dam; in a good year, it is under 50+ feet of water.
