Harvest Time in Manton

I picked merlot and cab grapes at Indian Peak Vineyards on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend with about 49 other volunteers who enjoyed this year's cooler weather, comraderie and lunch. Friendly banter rang out from amateur pickers in neighboring rows with such comments as "I thought that was you... I recognized the butt." A wonderful tradition at Indian Peak, this year's pick was far more bounteous than last year's when a severe late frost in April greatly reduced the yield. Fred Boots, Indian Peak owner, further rewarded the work crew this year by serving up his excellent homemade meatball and spaghetti dinner that evening, with plenty of wine and beer to go around. This event has become so popular that reservations must be made in advance to work! Go figure. No pay, but excellent fringe benefits do apply. Fred and Donna Boots have turned a backyard hobby into a career and shown us all how to "follow your dreams."

Most of Manton's other small family owned and operated vineyards are currently picking, and when not picking they are serving the ever-increasing number of visitors at local tasting rooms. I was quite surprised to turn in Rob Carrillo's driveway last Tuesday with the intention of picking up a couple more bottles of his tasty gewurztraminer (my wife's favorite after work summer wine), but a huge tour bus was disgorging passengers at 11 in the morning. "What is Manton coming to," I thought. Later, I made the rounds to the four tasting rooms open every Saturday and Sunday: Indian Peak Vineyards, Alger Vineyards, Ringtail Vineyards and Shasta Daisy Vineyard, all on Forward Road. I left my business cards at each for those visitors who decide after a couple glasses of wine they would like to move to Manton (Tom Knight-Manton Realty). Little by little, wine lovers are discovering Manton's award-winning wines, wine competing successfully against the "big boys" in the prestigious Chronicle Wine Competition.

One giant boost to Manton's recognition as a wine-producing region is the just-published brochure available from Rolling Hills Casino (on I-5 in Corning) called Tehama Trail, An agricultural journey through Northern California's Tehama County, also available online at www.tehamatrail.com. The map and info included is an excellent guide to what is now being called "Manton Volcanic Wine Country." For those who have never been to Manton, one look to the east tells the story: a splendid view of Lassen Peak, over 10,000 feet in elevation, the southern-most Cascade volcano, complete with bubbling mudpots, sulphur works, boiling lakes and even a geyser. With significant eruptions from 1914 through 1917, Lassen may well some day again provide more excellent volcanic soil for grapes. But for the moment, it is dormant.

The grape harvest in Manton is likely to continue well into October, particularly for late harvest varietals which may end up as dessert wines quite similar to Spanish ports. Donna's Dessert Wine at Indian Peak Vineyards is one of the most popular, but others are getting into the act, such as Ringtail Vineyards Sweet Petite. Be sure to ask for a taste of these delicious after-dinner treats when you visit. For those planning to explore the Manton Volcanic Vineyards, you may wish to visit a convenient website for more info on lodging, fishing, and of course, the wineries: www.visitMANTONca.com. Excellent tours are available by a highly knowledgeable local at www.northstatewinetours.org. And if, after a visit and sampling of the excellent local vintages you wish to relocate to Manton and start your own small family winery, please check out local listings at www.mantonproperty.com. Tom Knight, at your service.

The crush is taking place now, but the fall colors have yet to begin. November, particularly around the time of Thanksgiving, is perhaps the best time to visit Manton for color in the vineyards and black oaks. No need to wait that long for a visit. The biggest annual event of the year in Manton is about to occur: The Manton Apple Festival takes place on Saturday, October 3rd. If you like fresh foothill-grown apples or anything you might imagine made from apples (especially outrageously good homemade apple pies), this is the place to be. Follow the signs to the Manton School for a day of great food, live music and everything apples. It's a free community event not to be missed. The wineries will be hosting special tastings on this day as well. You won't soon forget a visit to Manton, home of Manton Volcanic Wineries and the annual Manton Apple Festival!

Wildflowers Galore in Manton

While the grass just outside Red Bluff is rapidly turning brown and the annual Round Up is over, Manton is prime time for wildflowers, particularly the deep pink western redbud which lines many roads in town. Some of the best views are on Wildcat Road near Black Butte, but my favorites are on Rock Creek Road heading east with the snow on Lassen and Brokeoff as a backdrop in the distance. Soon appearing will be the native white dogwood in the creek canyons, particularly where Ponderosa Way crosses Digger creek, and also on Forward Road near the mill pond. For those willing to get out of the car and walk through the woods, there are many natives blooming. The lavendar squaw carpet is wrapping the ground like a big Easter egg. The brilliant yellow mariposa lilies people call gold nuggets are popping up everywhere. There are many others, the names of which I have yet to learn. Just a word of caution: the first new red/green leaves of poison oak are shiny with a full dose of oil. Stay away! My clothes go directly into the washer when I get home.

I failed to mention that the apple orchards on Alfalfa Hill are in full bloom. Last Sunday I was admiring the beautiful blossums in Bob Lenkner's apple orchard and wishing he were still around to enjoy them. Bob and I were members of the Manton Volunteer Fire Department together. At that time he was a Captain, so I always called him Captain Bob even after he became Chief. Much of the credit for the new fire station is due Bob. The flag was flying at half mast when I drove by, a fitting tribute. Bob was very active in the Grange and Manton Community Church. He will be missed. As much as I enjoy the wildflowers in Manton this Spring, I am reminded by Bob's passing that what really matters to me are the wonderful residents of our little town who contribute so much to the life of the community. Farewell Captain Bob!

A White Christmas in Manton

This year Manton truly resembles a Hallmark Christmas card. The ground and the roofs of homes are white with the sparkling crystalline blanket of new snow, with more on the way. The continuing cold temps have kept the roads icy and the woods white. Time for some fresh eggnog... pass the brandy please! To all those residents who have taken the time and trouble to climb ladders and put lights along the eves: THANK YOU. The relection of the lights on the frontyard snow is breath-taking. And I also appreciate the manger scene in front of the old fire station, a reminder of the origin of Christmas and the hope brought into the world with each new baby. The holidays are a joyful time of family reunions and parties with friends. Gratitude is the state of mind and attitude of heart we renew this time of year. The winter solstice has just passed, so in these dark stormy days we can at least cling to the notion that the days are starting to get longer once again. But for now, the snow is so very welcome. We need every bit of the moisture we can get in this third drought year, so the song in my mind is "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow." All is quiet in the vineyards now, so picturesque, the endless rows of pruned vines in white winter rest. As we take time out from our busy lives to be together, let us give thanks for all our blessings and remember to do somthing for those less fortunate who really need our support this year more than ever. After all, the old saying goes "it is more blessed to give than receive." More satisfying too. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

Fall Color "Treat"

As young "trick or treaters" fine tune their costumes, Mother Nature is already displaying her best garb. It's my favorite time of year in Manton, and as anyone who heads up in the hills now will discover, a visual treat is in store. The apple trees of Bonnie's Orchard at the corner of Forward and Graham Roads are a flurry of green and gold. The black oaks are yellowing and the roadside western redbud along Rock Creek Road are fabulous shades of red, orange, copper and maroon. Down in the cool creek bottoms the large leaf maples are lemon bright and the elusive dogwood is crimson. There's more to come. Japanese maples in my yard are deepening in color, but the flowering pear is still mostly green... just a few renegade reds showing up here and there. For the most part the vineyards are still green as well, which means the show will go on from now until Thanksgiving. It's a great time to visit Manton and tour a few of the local wine tasting rooms such as those at the Alger Vineyards or Indian Peak, both on Forward Road just uphill from the Manton School. For those who might be interested in a tour of properties available for purchase, Manton Realty is available to guide you. Contact Tom to set up an appointment at mantonland@frontiernet.net. Happy Halloween!

Flowers Marching Uphill Following Water

June is such a great month to be in Manton. Leaving Red Bluff on 36 the grass is brown and dry, almost all the way to Manton. But head east up the hill from Manton Corners on either Rock Creek Road or Forward Road and you will return to the emerald world of green. Numerous flowers line the road, one of my favorites being the pink wild peas. Last week while driving on Forward Road I noticed hundreds of yellow iris. It is spring NOW at Forwards Mill.

Up in Lassen Park it is still more like winter. The loop road through the park opened early this year, but was recently closed due to a late spring storm. It may be open again now, but if you go, take a sweater or jacket because the wind can still be biting. Eventually spring will come to the park, usually in July. The largest migratory deer herd in California follows the green grass up the hill, just as the native Americans used to do. The southern Yana tribes knew when the deer left the rapidly heating lowlands it was time to break camp and seek cooler climes higher up.

With the Governor declaring this week that California is in a drought he is only stating the obvious to those of us who have lived in the state for more than fifty years and cannot remember a drier spring. A friend who lives in San Francisco called me yesterday to ask if I knew of any property for sale in Manton which has tillable land and WATER. It is clear that we are running low on oil, food, and now water. Yikes! It's enough to make even a normal person think about becoming a survivalist.

Water is definitely a critical consideration when moving to the country. Manton is blessed to be situated in the Battle Creek Watershed, a unique water resource due to its proximity to Lassen Peak, the southern-most Cascade volcano. For whatever reason, Lassen Peak seems to get far more snow than the High Sierra. The snowmelt creates year-around springs, of which there are
at least nineteen in the Manton area. The lava tubes underlying Manton carry this cold clear water many miles from Lassen Park before they surface in areas like Bluff Springs and Eagle Canyon. Wells drilled in the Manton area can vary greatly in depth, depending on the distance from the surface to these underground water sources.

Water ditches are another water resource in Manton which is somewhat typical of the California foothills. These are diversions from area creeks such as Battle Creek (north and south forks), Digger Creek, Bailey Creek and Rock Creek. P. G. & E. has the largest ditches which you can't miss when driving around Manton. These water diversions lead to penstocks for the numerous small hydro power plants in the Battle Creek Watershed. Some diversions on local creeks have served domestic needs for decades, the largest and best known being the Boole Ditch which is sourced from Digger Creek. Our house and trout pond receive water 24/7 from this system.

In conclusion, as cool spring turns to hot summer and the wildflowers retreat up the mountain, thoughts of dependable water in this drought year become more pressing. Manton is uniquely situated in a very favorable and enviable position: an abundant water supply in both lean and fat rainfall years. Not a bad place to be! And to answer my city-slicker friend: YES, there are places currently for sale in Manton with abundant water. Call me to find out where.

Vernal Pools on Manton Road at Easter Time

Here we are, already experiencing days longer than nights with the vernal equinox just celebrated March 20th. I always feel better knowing that the days are growing longer and warmer. There's still plenty of snow in the high country, but the earth is waking from its winter sleep. In the valley we have been enjoying weeks of yellow mustard and the various shades of pink seen in flowers of almonds, quince, peach and redbud. Now the white blossums of buckbrush, pear and prune are getting going. Driving east from Red Bluff towards Mineral on Highway 36 we see the oaks sporting their first new leaves of the year, a pale lime green color, as opposed to the much darker green of the tall lush grass just beneath them. Last year for the first time I noticed that the shades of green will soon be reversed: the grass will become a lighter shade of green as the warmer winds of Spring blow, while the oak tree leaves will darken with age. The grass and the trees just switch! Another thing of note... the roadside ponds are full, and though the whistling swans (also called tundra swans) that grace Hog Lake (with the fabulous view of Mt. Shasta in the distant north) have flown back towards the cooler climes of Alaska, there is a special treat for those who turn at Dale's onto Manton Road: ten miles of vernal pools which can best be described as one giant Easter egg. The lower pastures are brilliant yellow with butter & eggs (that's the flower's name), buttercups and yellow tidy tips, while the slightly raised portions have purple flowers, the names of which escape me. There are several places to pull off the road and walk out into this fantasyland of flowers. Manton locals look forward to this treat every year on their weekly grocery trips to Red Bluff. Also included, free of charge: panoramic views of two snow-covered volcanos, Shasta and Lassen. In fact, there is snow on all the mountains this time of year: Burney Mountain, the Siskiyous, the Trinity Alps and the Yolla Bollies. You could easily believe you are in Montana or Wyoming as you cruise along through this fabulous panorama without a car in sight, but no, it's just Manton Road and one of California's best kept secrets! Enjoy it while it lasts, because it will all be gone by May Day.

Finally Winter! Try Eskimo Hill for Fun in the Snow.

The wind is howling. All the news is about the BIG STORM. Blizzard warning for Shingletown! Well, it's about time isn't it? We need the precip now if we want to water the tomatoes next summer. Once all this wintery chaos subsides we can go out with mittens and warm jackets to play in the new snow. One of the best places to go with kids near Manton is Eskimo Hill, a Shasta County Winter Recreation Area on Highway 44 just a mile east of the north entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park. This NOT for skiers or snowboarders. It IS for sliding on inner tubes, plastic disks and all manner of one-person devices for whisking down the slippery slope. We took our grandchildren there just after Christmas and they had a ball. Parents and grandparents are advised to bring folding chairs, cameras, water and some food to nibble on while watching the action. We noticed that some folks even brought firewood and warmed themselves at adjacent picnic tables. CalTrans keeps the road open nearly all the time, but it's good to carry chains just in case. Plan on an hour or two before retreating to lower elevations for a hearty bowl of soup or hot chocolate. Julia's Diner in Manton is great. Shingletown has Firehouse Pizza and the Shingle Shack Cafe. Take your time on the road and you'll have a great time!