One of the most interesting places in California off the grid is covered by snow about 6 months a year

 This area might be called "The Medicine Lake Region near Mt. Shasta. For example, you can stand in the middle of Medicine Lake some years because usually it isn't very deep but this year it might be pretty full. But, in order to get there you have to drive 60 miles into the wilderness from Mt. Shasta and Interstate 5 down old Highway 89 which is kind of a trip in itself. Then you pass McCloud which is a very historical town that was once a Sawmill for the area. Then you have to go towards Medicine lake which as soon as you leave Highway 89 you likely won't get ANY cell phone signals at all.

So, in McCloud you should go to the Forest Service station there and buy a Forest Service Map of the area because (you really don't want to get lost out in this region because you might never be found.

For example, even in the summer I have driven out here and seen only one car drive by me all day. So, any illusion that someone might rescue you without any cell service at all might not work for you to survive this. So, being prepared with Water and food and tent and sleeping bags is important because even if it is 100 degrees or more during the day there likely it is going to go down near or past freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit during the nights.

However, there is a lot that is interesting to see and explore there too like the Jot Dean Ice Cave which if you look for the signs you can often walk down into it if you are careful. Just remember the rocks in there are often volcanic and sharp. I remember falling and having to be very careful just before I lowered myself onto an underground frozen waterfall in that ice cave. There are also Lava tubes all over the place some safe and some not. Just don't get lost or have something cave in on you while spelunking in some of them. 

If you drive far enough past Medicine Lake there are roads I took with my then 2000 RX300 Lexus sometime between 2000 and 2010 all the way from Lava Beds National Monument:

Lava Beds National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)

National Park Service (.gov)

https://www.nps.gov › LABE

Dec 20, 2023 — Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geological and historical. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the ...

 

all the way to McCloud and Mt. Shasta with my wife and daughter too then. However, my daughter now is grown and living Austin Texas now and working there.

 

There is also something called Glass Mountain near Medicine Lake that is composed primarily of Obsidian rocks that local Tribes chipped their arrowheads for hunting deer and such with for thousands of years into the past. So, all in all it's a very interesting place as long as you realize there is NO cell service there (unless you have a satellite phone) and you are prepared with a forest service paper map to survive the experience without getting lost too much.

 

However, if you are up for the adventure of maybe not seeing another person or maybe one person during the whole day with no cell service at all you might really enjoy and adventure like this one! 

Oh by the way, don't go into this area without a full tank of gas because you can likely drive 50 miles into this area and you will never see a gas station, a store, or any signs of civilization at all sometimes. So, be prepared if you go into this area. It's wonderful if you are prepared physically and psychologically for this but just pretend you are climbing Mt. Shasta because this is a really different experience than being in any city or suburban area. The only civilization you will see during most of this is a few signs and paved roads.

 

Also, it might be 110 degrees outside or anything from 70 to 115 during the day but when you go into an Ice Cave (it's called an ice cave for a reason) because year around there is often ice there. So, this means that often caves are below freezing year around. So, if you are not prepared for all the changes with helmets with head lamps or ropes so you don't get lost or long pants or jackets often you might get hypothermia and start hallucinating from the cold underground (even though it might be 115 in the daytime outside. So, be prepared if you go inside deep into ice caves with everything you need not to bump your head on low hanging sharp rocks (by having a helmet) and having a head lamp) so your arms are free for climbing too and wearing pants and a jacket often underground so you don't get hypothermia and start hallucinating. That's all you need is to hallucinate underground from the cold when you don't know where you are in the first place! 

Also, animals like Bears and mountain lions and raccoons or rattlesnakes might like it cooler underground too so be on guard underground where you put your hands or where you go.

I found this great list of things to remember if you are caving so you survive doing this:

begin partial quote from:

 

https://nps.gov/labe/planyourvisit/caving.htm

 

Cave Safely - Tell someone where you are going, when returning. Don’t go alone. Stay on trails. Wear helmet, long pants, sturdy footwear. Caves my be cold. Watch for low ceilings, uneven footing. Bring several lights.

Safety First, Right?

Being underground is an entirely different experience from most visitor's day-to-day like above ground. You don't know what it's like until you've done it, and there's a few things you must do to keep yourself and your family safe while exploring. Here's a few things we have noticed that get people into trouble:

• Don't rely on your cellphone as a flashlight. Bring several "real" sources of light. We recommend both a headlamp and a handheld flashlight for each person. We often have flashlights to borrow at the Visitor Center.
• You have to protect your head with a helmet. The #1 injury we see are nasty cuts and bumps on the head, all of which are preventable and will definitely ruin your day. Basic helmets can be purchased from the bookstore in the Visitor Center at a fairly low cost.
• Keep your children close. There are steep stairs, uneven cave floors, and deep drop offs due to collapsed lava tubes. Little children may not recognize these as hazards. Please keep an eye on your children and do not let them wander ahead of you.
• Pick the right cave. Some caves are easier than others, depending on lots of factors - how high the ceiling is, how complex and confusing the cave's passages are, how rough the floor is for walking or scrambling, etc. Scroll down to see how we've ranked each cave so you can choose the right one for you. We recommend everybody new to caving starts at Mushpot Cave, a short walk from the Visitor Center and the only cave we have illuminated with lighting.