Perfect weather, great companionship, and over 7,000 ft of elevation; what more could we ask for? After waiting an extra week for the avy danger to subside, our five member team began the six hour journey to Northern California and our date with the alluring Mt Shasta. If Mt Rainier is the “granddaddy of them all,” Mt Shasta is certainly the grandmamma. Unlike my grandma however, she’s no pushover.
Mt Shasta from Bunny Flat Trailhead
We spent the first night camping at the Bunny Flat trailhead (6,950’). Clear skies, a warm breeze, and the melodic sounds of a local Native American drum beat are all it took to send us off to la-la land. Early Saturday morning, we started our four hour approach to our high camp at Helen Lake (10,500’). We had originally planned to ascend Green Butte Ridge, but poor snow conditions and recommendations from both the local rangers and a friend that attempted (and bailed) the route the week before, convinced me that we’d have a better chance getting our summit via the standard Avalanche Gulch route. Thankfully, the decision paid off!
Our route leads to the ridge in the upper right of the image
Warm temperatures forced a 3:00am alpine start. If not for the constant chatter from the French team camped next to us, we might have actually slept that night! However, when you sign on for Avalanche Gulch, you get the privilege of camping with all sorts of characters in “tent city”. For some, this departure from the serenity of a typical alpine adventure is a deal killer, but for us it was an opportunity to share a common experience with people from all over the world and from all walks of life. Fun stuff!
Gloria surveys the scene from our high camp at Helen Lake (10,400')
The steep, 2,000’ climb up to the Red Banks starts right out of camp. We maintained a steady pace, and as we crested the ridge we were greeted by a beautiful pink sunrise. Half way to our goal and still going strong! At this point, I turned the reigns over to Travis Klaas, a recent climb school grad. Travis is a capable young man, and after telling him my compelling “old bull-young bull” story, I was confident he could lead our team up the next section without incident. This was to be his first summit, and he was certainly excited. Ya done good, kid. Within a short time we were on the plateau leading up to the summit pinnacle. A short twist and a turn later, we were all standing on top!
Summit celebration!
The summit was superb, and after 15 minutes we had it all to ourselves. We ate our lunch, signed the summit register, took a few photos, and eventually made our way back to camp. After a short rest, we donned our heavy packs and jumped into the nearest glissade chute we could find. 2,500’ later, it was time for snowshoes and the final leg back to the car. Sweet success!
Congratulations to my dear wife Gloria, Greg Phillips, Travis Klaas, and Lynn Kropf. You definitely earned it!
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