Hundreds of students from various universities converged on Lake Shasta over the Mother’s Day weekend to drink, party and enjoy the lake. The Sheriff’s Office reported a fairly peaceful weekend on the lake, with no boating-related injuries or accidents. There were 11 medical assist calls for mostly minor injuries, with one person hospitalized for alcohol intoxication. The Forest Service estimated around 1,600 students on the lake over the weekend. Most of them left by Sunday afternoon, but an astonishing thing happened that few expected. Five houseboats carrying around 40 Oregon State University students stayed an extra day specifically for cleanup, picking up trash and abandoned camping supplies in order to leave Slaughterhouse Island and other areas in better shape than they found them. Authorities are looking ahead to Memorial Day weekend, when larger student crowds are expected.
– Steve Gibson