We resceduled the Shastina climb from Memorail Day to the next weekend due to weather. Whit picked me up and we drove to Rogue River.
We stopped by Depot St. Burger and Malt Shop in Rogue River and had a great burger and fries after a long drive.
We camped at Valley of the Rogue State Park and then drove the rest of the way to Mount Shasta. Where I met Robert and Steve and Howard.
We met at the Mount Shasta Forrest Service office where wet met Jennifer and Cloudy to finish up our climbing team and myself and Whit went to The Fifth Season a long time outdoor equipment shop to buy our annual passes to climb Mount Shasta.
We left the Bunny Flat trail head at 10:30ish and headed for Cascade Gulch.
The trail stopped by The Sierra Clubs Horse Camp with a spring that we used to fill up water as well as the Shasta Alpine Lodge which climbers can use in an emergency.
The Alpine Lodge was errected in 1922 and the Horse Camp was the starting place for John Muir for his climb in 1874.
Cloudy at the Shasta Alpine Lodge, there is a fireplace and stove to be used is emergencies.
We camped at Hidden Valley where there were plenty of dry bivy sites and we could see the climbing route of Shastina and Shasta via the West Face. There were a couple of other groups there including a guided group.
We woke up early and Robert decided to climb up the Lighting Bolt Couloir which is pictured above. It is the most direct route up Shastina.
We made up to the top and Shastina with Steve down at our camping spot as he was dealing with a little altitude sickness he decided not to climb with us.
Summit shot myself on Shastina elevation 12,330 ft. is Mount Shasta's little sister with Shasta in the background.
We were planning maybe to do Black Butte on our off day but that didn't happen this time maybe next year.
We glissaded down the Cascade Gulch after a 1,000 ft. of rock scree decent. Then Jennifer, Howard and Steve left to go back to Portland with Steve getting a hotel room in Mount Shasta City. We camped and left in the morning and met Steve for lunch at The Goat Tavern which is a must for those visit Mount Shasta City. They had a number a local beer and a great burger menu, I had the Ruben with garlic fries.
After lunch Whit and I got some more food and sunscreen at the store and then went back up to Bunny Flats to camp. It is free to camp there, but there is no water so we had to stock up before at the store. The next day we left Bunny Flats at 9 A.M.
Whit had climbed up many routes including Denali and South America including Aconcagau.
We made camp at Helen Lake which was around 10,000 ft. evelvation. I slept alright but there was no getting rid of the sun rays. I tried to make some shade using a garbage bag.
Avalanche Gulch route goes up the snowfield past The Heart the rather large outcropping of rock fall. Because of the low snow pack we went up the Red Banks columns instead of going around Thumb Rock as there were crevasses.
The shadow of Mount Shasta early in the morning. We left Helen Lake around 3:30 A.M.
Castle Crags State Park is a well known climbing area I hope to visit maybe next year.
Red Banks columns.
The snow was perfect for using the high-dagger technique for my ice ax.
Whit climbing up the Red Banks.
The beginning of Misery Hill getting closer to the summit.
From the top of Misery Hill a great view of Shastina and lake Stinson.
We are climbing up the final push.
Summit shot of Mount Shasta elevation 14,179 ft.
We glissaded down part way to Helen Lake and then camped before heading out in the morning and then more glissading down to Horse Camp.
We ate at the original Black Bear Diner in Mount Shasta City, I had the 1/2 pound bacon cheeseburger and the Black Bear serves breakfast all day. It was a great trip with great weather.
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