Mount Shasta

[nyker Profile 14er Peak List (49) 13er Peak List (3)Trip Reports]

For those who have climbed Shasta, what are the date ranges to get a good snow climb up there in decent consolidated snow conditions?
I know it depends on the year's snowfall, etc, but it appears early May-mid July are rough bookend dates, but am open to hearing any thoughts.

[apasquel Profile 14er Peak List (9) Trip Reports]

nyker...I am climbing Shasta in mid June. Let me know if you are going to be in area around same time.

[mfariss44 Profile 14er Peak List (46) 14ers Skied (2)14ers in Winter (2)13er Peak List (2)]

We climbed the Avalanche Gulch route in late June 2009 and snow conditions were excellent. We were able to put crampons on a little below the base camp at Helen Lake and kept them on until the summit.

[nyker Profile 14er Peak List (49) 13er Peak List (3)Trip Reports]

ok, cool thanks guys. Apasquel, I will let you know if our scheduling can match up!

[yedi Profile 14er Peak List Not Entered]

Anyone done (or doing) the Cascade Gulch route? I'm thinking of doing Shasta next summer and would like to do Shastina as well. Seems like Cascade Gulch is the standard route for tagging both, but I'm wondering how sketchy that traverse is between the Whitney Glacier bergschrund and the West Ridge.

[mountainramble Profile 14er Peak List Not Entered]

Hidden Valley is the perfect camp for both Shastina and Shasta. The climb up the Whitney Headwall is very steep and needs to be protected. If you do not plan to bring tech. gear you can simply rejoin the West Face Route after your Shastina Climb. I was up there last week and it is nice!

[yedi Profile 14er Peak List Not Entered]

Hidden Valley is the perfect camp for both Shastina and Shasta. The climb up the Whitney Headwall is very steep and needs to be protected. If you do not plan to bring tech. gear you can simply rejoin the West Face Route after your Shastina Climb. I was up there last week and it is nice!

Thanks, mountainramble. So you'd just start up from the saddle between the two peaks and then stay south of the West Ridge instead of north of it?

[mountainramble Profile 14er Peak List Not Entered]

Yes, traversing under the crumbled cliff ban that separates it from the Whitney brings you to several small gullies that connect at the top with the "West Face" Route. It is easier to traverse lower first then climb than it is to work your way through the crumbled scree mess that makes-up the ridge proper. All of this is visible from camp in Hidden Valley (which has open water in spring). I tried to send a photo of that exact climb from last week but the file is too big and my computer skills are too small.

[yedi Profile 14er Peak List Not Entered]

Thanks so much. Very helpful info.