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Mt. Shasta, at 14,162 ft., is the second highest volcano of the Cascade Range (only Mt. Rainier, at 14,411 ft. in Washington State, is higher). It is a giant of a mountain, rising more than 10,000 feet from its base to the top. It is considered a sacred mountain by Native Americans, and a magic mountain by other worshippers. Mt. Shasta is visible for hundreds of miles to motorists traveling along I-5. Shasta is home to the largest California glacier--the Whitney Glacier, a river of ice 2 miles long--although the glacier had shrunk alarmingly in recent years (global warming, anyone?).
(Right): Many climbers ascend Mt. Shasta from the Bunny Flat area at the
end of Everitt Memorial Highway. From the parking lot, it is
about a 2-mile hike to Horse Camp and the lodge maintained by the
Sierra Club. But in winter and in early spring, the lodge may be
under snow!
(Left): Along Avalanche Gulch, the "tourist" route on Mt.
Shasta. Although a straightforward snow plod, the altitude and
the effort take their toll on a lot of weekend warriors trying to
"bag" the mountain.
(Left): Looking down from the Red Banks (at 13,000 ft.), the prominent
band of rocks visible all the way from the start of the ascent.
The slope steepens just before this spot, and appears to flatten
thereafter. But to most climbers' dismay, Misery Hill
awaits--there are still 1,000 feet of climbing left from here,
and the slope is only slightly flatter!
(Right): Summit of Mt. Shasta. The mountain's sheer size and bulk
create their own weather. By late morning or early afternoon,
clouds move in to cover the upper half of the peak, so summiting
before 11 AM is well-advised. The presence of lenticular clouds
(flat, flying-saucer like) portend storms. From the summit, one
can see Mt. Lassen to the southeast, the Trinity Alps and Marble
Mountain Wilderness to the west, and to the north, the Oregon
Cascade volcanoes.
A few feet from the summit, one notices the strong smell of sulfur and the warmth from the hot springs bubbling under. John Muir, in his Steep Trails, describes spending a perilous night at the summit having been caught unprepared by a snowstorm. Muir and a friend took partial shelter from the storm by laying down amidst the heat of the sputtering fumaroles, worrying, on one side, about acid-gas inhalations and scalding gas jets, and biting wind and cold on the other.
Other useful information:
The Fifth Season is a local outdoors shop located in downtown Mt. Shasta (city). The shop is the usual first port of call for those intending to try their luck on the mountain. The place rents crampons, climbing helmets, ice axes, and carries a full line of outdoor gear and clothing. Inside is a board with the latest route conditions, as reported by those who have just climbed Mt. Shasta. The Fifth Season also provides recorded ((916) 926-5555) local-weather information. I'm not in any way associated with the shop, I just find the staff therein generally helpful and knowledgeable. The number is (916) 926-3606.
A permit is now required to enter the Shasta Wilderness Area. These permits can be easily obtained from a booth outside the Mt. Shasta Ranger District office on 204 West Alma Street (a few blocks from The Fifth Season).
The Sierra Club now encourages "donations" for use of campsites in the Horse Camp area. A volunteer is usually around to keep the area spic-and-span, in addition to maintaining a solar compost toilet. I think they deserve a donation, don't you?
There is a youth hostel half a mile down the road from The Fifth Season, near the KOA campground where, for $1 or $2, one can take a hot shower--a luxury that one is usually willing to pay 5 times that amount. I don't remember the name of the place, but it's a right turn from the Earl Scheib billboard, and it has a garden in front.
Those with slightly more mountaineering experience may want to consider taking the Casaval Ridge instead of the Avalanche Gulch. The Casaval route provides mixed climbing and infinitely better views than those from the Gulch.
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