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Quality in the Mountains: Evergreen Spa at Mount Shasta Resort by Jessica Skropanic -- Mount Shasta, California
"I have never had a massage that was so carefully designed for me using so many techniques; Elora really "read" my body."
t is hard to find a place that better represents the beauty of Northern California than the Sierra Mountain range. Situated at the foot Mount Shasta in a gorgeous Alpine valley, Mount Shasta Resort bills itself as a family destination resort.
Rising out of the morning mists and cuddled on all sides by peaks, it seems to appear out of the mountain itself. With a beautiful golf course, four tennis courts, gorgeous accommodations, and access to dozens of outdoor activities including fishing, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, horseback riding, and hot air balloon rides, it is a place where couples and families find a superb vacation home with something to suit just about everyone's taste.
EVERGREEN SPA
The Evergreen Spa is located between the main resort building and the chalets, near the tennis courts. Actually a converted chalet, the spa has a fireplace, comfortable furnishings, and an overall friendly and welcoming environment. There are few products for sale, and plans to bring in lines of organic essential oils.
Spa Director and Massage Therapist Elora (She goes only by her first name) described the spa's philosophy: "We are a service organization. We're here to support and to listen." She went on to describe the importance of treating the whole person, not just the physical body. Listening to the client say whatever he or she wants to tell the staff is high on her list of priorities. Because much of the spa's clientele comes from the residents of the town of Mount Shasta, she is quick to point out that "What's said in here stays here. You have to do that in a small town." In addition to her extensive training in massage therapy and Reiki, Elora has a master's degree in psychology.
My own treatments started with the one-hour combination massage, an excellent massage fitted to the needs of the client. The luxurious full body treatment incorporates several massage modalities. ($90.00 / 60 min.) Elora used her extensive and intuitive knowledge to create a perfect treatment just for me, combining hot stone, deep tissue, craniosacral work, an essential oil treatment and reflexology. The oils were lightly scented (nothing overpowering), and I was always asked if the stones or towels were too hot or if I was comfortable. Modesty was respected in every way as well. I have never had a massage that was so carefully designed for me using so many techniques; Elora really "read" my body.
Before my massage I examined Elora's special and beautiful hot stones. They were nothing like the smooth oval rocks sold by the dozens and obviously manually altered. She spent two years finding these naturally shaped and smoothed stones in the Sacramento River. They still heated evenly but were mostly larger and longer than the standard hot stones. They felt heavenly and held their heat longer, too. Interestingly, they seem to imitate the empty space around the human body, corresponding well to our natural curves.
Other massage treatments include the Swedish massage with Craniosacral Therapy ($75.00 / 60 min.), a Hot Stone Therapy with Massage which reduces stress and enhances circulation and joint mobility ($90.00 / 60 min.), Craniosacral Therapy ($80.00 / 60 min.), chair massage ($40.00 / 30 min.), and deep tissue massage ($90.00 / 60 min.). The Raindrop Aromatherapy with Massage includes layering of several essential oils along the spine and other areas of the body that can assist with structural and electrical alignment. ($90.00 / 60 min.) Evergreen's Medical Massage is a rehabilitation massage addressing soft tissue injuries and chronic pain. It focuses on increasing range of motion and joint mobility while decreasing pain and adhesions. ($90.00 / 60 min.)
Ear candling is a natural treatment that removes wax buildup in the ear by creating a vacuum using a dripless hollow candle. I turned on my side and Elora put a soft doughnut of clay on my ear, followed by a tin pie plate with a hole in it. Then the tip of the conical candle was gently inserted into my ear. Elora did some reflexology massage on my feet and hands to assist in the process as the candle burned down. There was no pain, just a slight warm and rather pleasant sensation, and a little sound when the wax was removed. Then the process was repeated with the other ear. It was amazing to me how much wax was clogging my poor ears! The Ear Candling with Reflexology treatment includes a hand and foot reflex treatment for $75.00 for 60 minutes.
My next treatment was a facial. My esthetician, Pam Garnett, chatted with me about my skin, and then proceeded to give me the Mini Facial which exfoliates and hydrates the facial skin. ($40.00 / 30 min.) It was the first facial I've ever had that didn't leave my sensitive (and downright temperamental) skin feeling heavy. The products she used were light and never Îdrowned' my skin and the facial massage also helped my sinuses.
Evergreen also offers a Classique Facial which includes cleansing, exfoliating, healing and hydrating the facial skin. ($75.00 / 60 min.) Additional face therapies include the Hydrating Ampoules which dehydrated skin that needs extra moisture ($15), the Oxygenating Treatment for replenishing lost vitality ($15), the Brightening Treatment which lightens hyper-pigmentation ($15), and the Glycolic Exfoliation which dissolves dead skin cells, rejuvenating after sun damage and aiding oil-control for acne prone skin ($15).
Garnett also does manicures and pedicures, permanent makeup services, and - her favorite - waxing. (She must have a really good Îpull'.) I experienced one of her expert pedicures. Pedicures were never my favorite treatment because I thought my feet very bumpy and ugly from a history of ballet and ice skating. Garnett reassured me that everyone thinks their feet are uglier than everyone else's and that I should not fear. (Elora also provided encouragement, suggesting that I had issues with my feet, and should be kind to them. Well, it's true. I've always thought I had flippery feet.)
Garnett's pedicure was leisurely, and she displayed patience and attention to detail and health. She used a variety of items to gently remove and smooth calluses, all of them soothing. She also used massage to relax muscles and to increase healthy circulation. Her focus was not on just having pretty toenails, but on having healthy feet and legs. My feet felt so relaxed and looked so smooth and healthy, I didn't want to put my shoes on.
Other spa services include tinting and waxing. They offer an Aromatherapy Steam Bath in a single-person steamed sauna ($15.00 / 20 min.). Unusual treatments include the Shirodhara - from India - a treatment of warm aromatic oil poured onto the forehead that stimulates the pituitary gland and helps to balance the endocrine system. The oil is also massaged into the hair and scalp, and a foot massage is included. ($90.00 / 60 min.) The spa also caters to wedding parties and groups.
Multi-treatment packages include: -The Day Retreat: Facial, massage, eye brow design, paraffin hand treatment, manicure and pedicure. Four hours of pure pampering. $210.00 -Party Essentials: Manicure and pedicure with eyebrow design or tint. $75.00 / 90 min. -The Relaxation Package: Facial and massage. $120.00 / 90 min. -Tinting Package: Lash and brow tint. $25.00 / 30 min. -The Couples Body Treatment: Share the experience of a Swedish Massage treatment. $175.00 / 75 min. -The Raindrop & Hot Stone Therapy: $200 / 7f min.
LODGING
The resort offers privacy and breathtaking views in one- and two-bedroom Craftsman-style chalets. Each chalet is Îhome complete' with a fully appointed kitchen with cherrywood cabinetry, a range with oven, full-size refrigerator, microwave, toaster, and coffee maker. There is a lovely dining room just off of the living room and kitchen. Living rooms each have a gas log fireplace, television, direct dial phone, and queen-size sleeper sofa. And some chalets offer decks with views of the Siskiyou Lake. Chalets accommodate 1-4 and 2-6 people. Rates start at $144 per night off-season and $169 per night during the high season (Mid-May to Mid-October).
My chalet was spacious and immediately invited relaxation. The couches in my one-bedroom were situated in front of the fire and were so comfortable I doubted my ability to stand up again. The bathroom had a separate but connected bathing area. Furnishings were distinctly Southwestern and Pacific Northwest. The wood accents gave the rooms a cozy warm feeling and the views of the woods, the mountain and Lake Siskiyou from the giant windows were gorgeous and the deck great for lounging. A wonderful addition was the spacious mud room/entryway with a closet for storage of skis, fishing equipment, etc, a place for sitting to remove wet boots, and a coat closet.
The lodge also has a hotel with rooms that look out on the forest near Lake Siskiyou. These private rooms are furnished with two queen beds, a sitting area, television, convenience refrigerator and coffee maker. Each room has a bath with large shower, is 500 square feet, and accommodates 1-4 people. Premium woodland rooms include a king-size bed, Jacuzzi, and sitting area. They accommodate 1-2 people. Rates start at $99 per night off-season and $119 per night during the high season (Mid-May to Mid-October).
SPECIALS AND PACKAGES
The Romantic Getaway is available through May 12, 2006 and includes a one-bedroom chalet, champagne with keepsake glasses, and dinner for two from the resort menu. $183.00 per couple per night. Two-bedroom chalets are also available.
The Winternet Special is available through April 30, 2006. Reserve any 3 nights or more and receive a 30% discount on your entire stay. Lodging nights must be consecutive. This cannot be combined with other packages.
The 2005/2006 Ski Spectacular is now available through thru April 15, 2006, weather permitting. Lodging accommodations are as low as $64 for double occupancy. Weekday tickets to Mount Shasta Board and Ski Park (http://www.skipark.com) are available at discount rates with lodging. Call the reservation office at 800-958-3363.
The Stay În' Play Golf package is offered through March 31, 2006. Stay in one of the chalets at the regular price starting at $154 or in a Woodland Room starting at $106, and play all of the golf you wish (this does not include cart rental).
THE HIGHLAND HOUSE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Many of the locals of the town of Mt. Shasta make regular trips to the resort for golf and spa services, but the biggest draw for them seems to be the resort's restaurant. Located in the main resort building, it is open year-round and gives diners wonderful views of the mountains and forest. A dramatic skylight in the vaulted ceiling with wood accents echoes the mountain view. Highland House features a champagne brunch buffet, a full-service lounge, banquet facilities, and during the summer guests can dine on the patio.
Dinner specials include staples including steaks the size of your plate, tender and cooked to perfection, along with more creative dishes such as shark. My husband had the latter and, having eaten shark on many occasions in Europe, found it to be prepared superbly and served in an appealing manner. Salads are fresh and colorful, and the clam chowder was some of the best I've ever tasted. When we expressed difficulty in making choices, our server smiled and said, "Chef Don enjoys creating new dishes." Beware: portions are large!
No visit to Highland House is complete without an attempt at finishing the house specialty dessert, a chocolate bomb. This confection is an arrangement of raspberry and white chocolate mousses inside chocolate cake coated with - what else - more chocolate! It really is intended to serve two, but some eager visitors attempt to deal with it on their own. Other desserts include a variety of rich, moist cheesecakes.
The Sunday Brunch features high quality meats and all of the basic fare like potatoes, sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and quiche. It also includes a choice from the kitchen menu such as French toast, pancakes, and Eggs Benedict. All were made with high quality ingredients and the service was fast. But what made the brunch unique were the huge salad bar and the equally large pastry/dessert table with not only the usual cinnamon rolls, fruit and Danish, but elegant slices of cheesecake and chocolate confections.
The lounge fare is good too. We were still so full from out previous night's dinner that we didn't feel hungry until the following afternoon. We decided to order lounge meals to take back to our chalet. The fish and chips were especially good, and were fried perfectly and made - as with all of the food we tasted at the resort - with excellent quality ingredients.
Anne Rivera, Food and Beverage Director (also the owner of the popular Has Beans coffee house in Mt. Shasta), supervises the restaurant, the lounge and all catering. She praises her staff, who well deserve it. They are efficient, knowledgably and friendly - chatting sociably with regulars and visitors who express the desire, and advising visitors where to go for the best fishing spots, golfing equipment, etc.
GOLF
The resort has a 6,100-yard par 70, 18-hole tree-lined course professionally designed by Sandy Tatum and Jim Summers at an elevation of 3,500 feet above sea level. The holes are unique with three sets of tees and yardages and services include a golf shop, practice range, group outings and tournaments lessons, carts, rental sets, and a snack bar.
Packages include the Birdie Package, which includes your lodging, green fees, cart seat, range balls, a gift package, and lunch in the snack bar. The Eagle Package includes everything in the Birdie Package, plus a complimentary beverage, club storage, and replay round each day.
For banquet and wedding information, email: events@mountshastaresort.com or call (800) 958-3363, or write: Mount Shasta Resort 1000 Siskiyou Lake Blvd. Mount Shasta, California 96067
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EVERGREEN SPA
My own treatments started with the one-hour combination massage, an excellent massage fitted to the needs of the client. The luxurious full body treatment incorporates several massage modalities. ($90.00 / 60 min.) Elora used her extensive and intuitive knowledge to create a perfect treatment just for me, combining hot stone, deep tissue, craniosacral work, an essential oil treatment and reflexology. The oils were lightly scented (nothing overpowering), and I was always asked if the stones or towels were too hot or if I was comfortable. Modesty was respected in every way as well. I have never had a massage that was so carefully designed for me using so many techniques; Elora really "read" my body.
LODGING
THE HIGHLAND HOUSE RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
GOLF
RESERVATIONS
