| MT. SHASTA ASCENT | Click here for trip report | ||
| June 1-2, 2002 | |||
| Distance (miles) | Elev (ft) | Comments | |
| 0 | 6860 | Bunny Flat Trailhead | Start Saturday, June 1 at 7:00am. |
| 1.5 | 7880 | Horse Camp | |
| 3.5 | 10443 | Lake Helen | Camp here Saturday night, June 1. |
| 12400 | Red Banks | 3:00am alpine start June 2nd. | |
| 13800 | Misery Hill | ||
| 6 | 14162 | Summit | |
| Elevation Gain: | 7302 | feet | |
| 1-way Distance: | 6 | miles | |
| Average %Grade: | 23.0 | % |
I along with two other fellow climbers reached the summit of Mount Shasta (14,162ft/4316m) around 9:15am, on a clear, sunny, almost windless Sunday, June 2, 2002.
After questionable weather (thunderstorms & hail) Friday night into Saturday early morning, we decided to try it out and make it to Helen Lake (10,443 ft) on Saturday, June 1st. We started hiking from the Bunny Flat trailhead at 8:15am. Five hours later all three of us (Mike, Steve and I) were setting up camp at Helen Lake. We went to bed at 5:30pm. I got up around two or three hours later to pee and the sky was clear and full of stars. This was very good. No clouds, just a crisp clear night. Mike's alarm went off at 3:15am Sunday. By 4:15am, we were walking out from our camp. It was a great experience to witness Mount Shasta's shadow unto the west and town below. Steve and I climbed through one of the Red Banks chimneys while Mike went around towards the ridge that comes off Thumb Rock. We took a good rest above Misery Hill and from there it was just a few more steps towards the summit. We shook hands, took pictures, signed the register, and enjoyed the views.
I thought the snow below the Red Banks was close to perfect to plunge-step down, so that's what I did. I also tried glissading. As I was approaching Helen Lake, I saw a helicopter land and pick up an injured climber, who apparently fell around the Red Banks and was unsucessful to self-arrest and dislocated his shoulder. He was taken up by a CHP helicopter.
Broke camp and by 3:00pm we were back at the Bunny Flat parking lot, where we saw the snow-pod modules by Peter Rieke (incapacitated climber) and team. We drove back to town (Mt. Shasta City, CA) and got a hotel. Took a shower, rested in bed while watching the Sweden vs England 2002 World Cup game, and later went out to eat at Lalo's. I ordered the Fajita Chicken Tostada and it was great. Next day, we drove back home.
Some pictures from the Mount Shasta June 2002 climb via the Avalanche Guclh route
:
