WEST COAST REGIONAL RAINBOW GATHERING MEMORIAL DAY WEEK
CAMP OUT
Noon, Wed. 23 May to Sat. 26 May 2007 - Seed Camp (Set-Up)
Sunday 27 May to Saturday 02 June 2007 - Main Week of Gathering
Sun 03 June to Noon, Wed. June 6, 2007 – Clean Up
HOWDY FOLKS!
[place photo Rainbow Light here for flyer]
The California Rainbow Family has consensed to a Peace, Healing, Networking, and Enlightment Rainbow Gathering to take place in the beautiful Mendocino National Forest. This is a non-commercial gathering totally free and open to all. Please be prepared to be self-sufficient with water and food. A Central Kitchen will be available but depends upon contributions of supplies. Always bring more to share with others. Please share from your Heart and what you uniquely have to contribute to be All Ways Free and in cooperation. RESPECT THE LAND. Pack it in pack it out. No individual fires allowed, period. Fires permitted only in designated community areas. We plan to have workshops on several subjects including Yoga, Intentional Communities, Interpersonal Communication, and planning workshop councils for the upcoming "Jefferson West Ecotopia Gathering" (A 10-year follow-up to the 1997 Shasta Bio-Regionalist Gathering). We are also said to have an hour of a silent prayer circle at high noon on Memorial Day (Monday).
Directions FROM US Highway #101 on the West, take CA State Highway Route 162 east towards Covelo and Round Valley. This turn-off is midway between Willits and Laytonville. Those coming from the North on US 101 may take the gravel county road as a cut-off from Laytonville to Dos Rios if desired. Major name brand gasoline stations are in Willits and Laytonville.
Once you are in Covelo keep going on CA SR 162 (turning right or East just past the Ranger Station) until you leave the valley floor and the road curves up through the canyon until you are at M1 and crossing over the Middle Fork of the Eel River. (Covelo is the last point for any supplies, including a couple no-name gas stations and stores. see website "covelo.net" for more resources.) At the M1 intersection - This is where the pavement ends, and there is a Forest Service workstation on the right. Beyond this you are at the base of an uphill grade that is a wide smooth unpaved road. This is FH7. You will see a sign “Mendocino National Forest” along with a road marker “FH#7” Follow this road approximately 13 miles. Side Note - People coming down from the heart of the Coast Interior and Trinity County can also Mina Road (County Road) from Zenia and Kettenpom, on down to Covelo.
From the Mendocino National Forest sign going 11 miles into the national forest is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Please do not stop, park, or go to the bathroom during this stretch. Please respect!!! (jump to continuing instructions below from Mendocino Pass)
FROM the EAST (Redding, Red Bluff, Chico, Marysville) There are two routes from I-5. They are not advised for night travel and have forks that at night may be confusing. Make SURE you FILL-UP at a fuel station at I-5, since there is nothing but one pump country stores just beyond, and NONE once you enter Mendocino National Forest.
From Willows - Take CA State Route 162 to the end at Elk Creek. Turn right (North) on the County Road 306 and go about 3.5 miles until you are near an Indian Rancheria. On your left watch for Alder Springs Road, FH7 (formerly known or marked as County Road 406). The marker should indicate Forest Highway 7. This road is paved up to Alder Springs. Beyond that watch very carefully and follow the FH7 signs, going past Plaskett Meadows and Black Butte for approximately 65 miles until you come to the Seven Troughs meadow area with the 7 foot tall red spring box. If you reach Mendocino Pass, you have gone a couple miles beyond.
From Corning (County State Blue and Gold Route A8) or From Orland (CA State Route 32) continue heading West on these county roads once you have filled-up. You will pass Paskenta on A8 and pass the Newville Jct. on the Black Butte Lake road from Orland. Back in the canyon you will see Round Valley Road marked as M4. You will then follow this up a switchback road into the pines. Take M4 all the way to the end at Mendocino Pass. There you intersect with FH7 and make a left turn (South) and up this main dirt road following the instructions another few miles up the road to the big red Spring Box at Seven Troughs Meadow. (continue with instructions below)
[HISTORIC and CULTURAL NOTE: M4 is the Nome Cult Trail of Tears see http://www.covelo.net/tribes/pages/nomecult/tribes_nome_cult.shtml
for some interesting and lesser known California and Native American History]
Approximately 12 miles past M1 and the Eel River Forest Service Maintenance Center you will see Mendocino Pass Saddle (some say this is sort of a Vista Point pull out). Continue right (South on the ridge road) up hill and keep going about another mile until you see a Large Red Spring Box beside a meadow area. This is Seven Troughs Meadow. Beyond this point FH7 is the main road to Alder Springs, and I-5 at Willows.
Next to the Spring Box there might be a FS road marker “22N08” Go another 500 yards past the Spring Box and you are at Welcome Home. Please no parking near the spring!!!! (There is also a back door road for CALM and large kitchen or handicapped drop-offs, not listed here). Our site is a primitive, unimproved (or "dispersed") campsite known as Atchison Campground. Please - no motorized vehicles down to this site, since the road also goes past private ranch land.
WEATHER:
Since the beginning of the year, weather has been unusual and at times unpredictable. We are currently expecting a forecast of hot day time temperatures in the 80s. At night temperatures should be in the 40s. If you have been sitting inside at a desk job or school all winter, or living in Coastal Fog be prepared with some sun screen, sunglasses and protection for high altitude UVs by day. At night bring some warm layered clothing and blankets if your sleeping back isn't made for cold. Sudden rain could turn to light snow at this elevation, but is not predicted, nor would it probably stay on the ground now.
RIDESHARING and PUBLIC TRANSIT:
We STRONGLY URGE Ride Sharing and are using KindRideShare dot net first, backed up by Humboldt and SF Bay Craigslist. Parking will be limited near the site, also people taking busses will need a ride. Public Transit IS available on US 101 to Willits from a variety of sources. AMTRAK Thruway and Greyhound both stop in Willits. SF Bay Area Regional Connections connects with Mendocino Transit Authority busses at the Santa Rosa Transit Center and Cloverdale.
DRIVE SAFE, HAVE YOUR CAR FULLY LEGAL, AND SEE YOU THERE!!!!
WHAT TO BRING:
PETS ARE DISCOURAGED! If you must bring your Dog please keep them on a leash with their own food and poop clean-up. This worked well last year in Colorado where it was strictly enforced, eliminating dog fights, unnecessary vet bills, and chances of canine diseases.
WORKSHOP MATERIAL:
Don't forget pens, pencils, notebooks, song sheets, and anything else you want to share, or take notes with. Bring a little extra, such as note pads and golf pencils for those who forgot.
PROTECT YOUR HEALTH:
- Make sure you stay hydrated... Drink plenty of fluids.
- Do not dig trenches without asking and checking first. There are springs in the area that are both our water supply as well as some nearby feed private residences down the mountain. Stay out of spring areas. Take a clean bucket for washing and go at least 300 feet away. Do not camp near springs either.
- Use your own Cup, Bowl and Spoon! Wash them properly and your hands before and after each meal.
- Clean-up begins the moment you arrive with separate recyclables immediately. Pack out as much of your own items as possible.
- Alcohol* and any substance abuse is strongly discouraged. Remember Thomas Jefferson's philosophy at Monticello: "Work hard and productive by day, save the libations until after a hearty dinner for the social enjoyments and the past times of the evening hours." (* We are in Wine Country, and the best of fine local wines and home made ales in past local Gatherings or Potlucks of this area have only been drank directly with the evening meal in sensible moderation).
- Do not take photos of people without specifically asking first. Photos are okay for memories and scrapbooks only if there is respect for privacy.
CELL PHONES:
Ask yourself if you really need to be carrying one, along with other extraneous items. However, as for reception, you will need direct line-of-sight with Covelo down in Round Valley to receive any signals up on the mountain. Private hand-held 2 way radios may be useful. Silence your electronic equipment in circles, councils, and workshops.
!!! WE LOVE YOU - WELCOME HOME!!!
(If there is anything that was missed here, watch for it to be added online.)
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