29-Aug-2012 -- Driving from northern California to central Oregon (on a mountain biking trip), I had planned to attempt both [41,-122] (east of Redding, CA), and [42,-122] (near the California-Oregon state line). It became clear, however, that [41,-122] would be 'off limits', because it lay within the perimeter of one of the several large forest fires currently burning in northern California. Perhaps, in a few weeks, after the fire has been extinguished, the cleared vegetation will have made this an easier confluence point to visit.

Instead, I focused solely on [42,-122] - a confluence point that was last visited more than 11 years ago! From Redding, I drove north along the rustic and peaceful Butte Valley to the town of Dorris, then turned westward on (the paved) Picard Road. I then turned north-northwest on a series of narrow dirt roads. At times, these roads became very rocky, and I was forced to drive very slowly to traverse them. A 4wd vehicle (with reasonably high clearance) is essential here. Despite the fact that these roads are very rough and 'feral'-looking, they are listed as official roads (in both my GPS, and on Google Maps). I took "Lake Ridge Road" just past its junction with "Skyway Road", ending up just 0.3 miles east of the confluence point, at [42.00106,-121.99443].

The hike to the confluence point was easy, along terrain that slopes gently towards the west. Nonetheless, the terrain - like the roads nearby - is very rocky. I sprained an ankle (fortunately, not seriously) as I walked towards the point. If it weren't already obvious from the site's proximity to Lava Beds National Monument and Mount Shasta, it was very clear that this area has seen volcanic activity quite recently, in geologic terms. The confluence point itself lies on a rock-strewn slope, in a stand of pine trees.