Mount Shasta 

Mount Shasta is a, potentially still active, volcano (last confirmed eruption was circa 1250) at the southern end of the Cascade mountain range in northern California. Its elevation is 14,179 feet (4,322 meters). The mountain and surrounding area are part of the Shasta–Trinity National Forest. It is the subject of a large number of myths and legends particular in relation to spiritualism and, as a result, is a place of pilgrimage.

According to local indigenous tribes it is inhabited by the spirit chief Skell, who descended from heaven to the mountain’s summit. Skell fought with the Spirit of the Below-World, Llao, who resided at Mount Mazama, (just over the border in Oregon) by throwing hot rocks and lava.

But it’s not just Native Americans who have stories about the mountain. It is also thought to be the location of a hidden Lemurian crystal city, called Telos, inhabited by advanced beings from the lost continent of Lemuria. In 1899, Frederick Spencer Oliver published his book ‘A Dweller on Two Planets’, which claimed that survivors from the sunken continent of Lemuria were living in Mount Shasta. They were to be seen occasionally walking on the surface dressed in white robes.

In 1931, Harvey Spencer Lewis wrote a book about the hidden Lemurians of Mount Shasta. In William C. Meisse’s 1993 book. ‘Mount Shasta: an annotated bibliography’ describes Lewis’s book as “responsible for the legend’s widespread popularity”.

In 1904, JC Brown a British prospector, claimed to have discovered a lost underground city beneath Mount Shasta. He had been hired by the Lord Cowdray Mining Company of England to prospect for gold in the Sierra Nevada. On his second trip to the region he discovered a cave which sloped downward for 11 miles. In the cave, he claims to have found a settlement he called “the Village” and finding among its dwellings, streets and ornate altars 27 skeletons of beings up to 10 feet in height; an embalmed king and queen. Golden shields adorned the walls and he found artefacts and statues as well. Adjoining chambers were filled with strange drawings and undecipherable hieroglyphics. Another chamber held the bones of what appeared to be more giants.

Apparently fearing his employers would lay claim to his discovery, he waited for 30 years until his retirement. And in June of 1934, he organised an 80 people strong group of prospectors in the Californian town of Stockton. But sometime in the night before the schedule departure, he mysteriously disappeared and was never heard from again. The Stockton police investigated the incident and came to the conclusion that Brown was probably kidnapped. Without Brown to serve as a guide, the expedition did not happen.

In the Spring 1953 edition of the Siskiyou Pioneer, Marcelle Masson related a legend from the Wintun Indians concerning a race of fierce giants inhabiting the caves around the mountain.

In recent times, Mount Shasta has been the site of numerous sightings of unexplained lights and UFOs. Many of the stories relating to Mount Shasta sadly lack hard evidence. Nonetheless, the volume of reports seems to suggest that there is something unusual about the area. I think Rekha Sharma (Canadian actress) puts it well when she said, “I believe there’s other forms of intelligence in the universe. I’ve seen and heard some pretty convincing UFO stuff. Besides, if we’re the most intelligent things in the universe… well, that’s just depressing”.