Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Shasta beta?

Does anyone have or know where to find recent beta on Mt Shasta route conditions? the Mt Shasta Avy conditions page is the best I've found so far

thanks
mark

Have you tried summitpost.com and their forums?

I think this is your best bet for the time being on current conditions:

http://www.shastaavalanche.org/advisories/advisories/climbing-advisory

Try the Fifth Season climbing report at 530-926-5555

Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't see anything useful on summitpost, but I'll call fifth season's phone report as well as the ranger station up there. the shasta avy conditions page seemed pretty general, but then maybe its really just straight forward at this time. go up, avoid avy terrain.

thanks

If you want anything useful from summitpost you'll have to post a query. There are a lot of Bay Area folks on SP that go to Shasta frequently, and there's a regular (telewoman) who lives there and generally has up-to-date info.

Speaking of Shasta... It'll almost be a group climb with at least five of us heading up for Memorial Day Weekend. It's still Permit Required, but no quota, isn't it?

No quotas, max 10 person per party, arrive and climb on any day with self issue wilderness pass and $20. summit pass at trailhead or at ranger station, no parking fees.

20 dollar summit pass??

"To stand on this mountain it will cost you 20 dollars please!"

Actually, you need the $20. summit pass to go above 10k'

Thanks. I seem to remember $15, but it's been a long time since I've been up there. I wonder how many close friends we'll have up there on a holiday weekend?

What route are you taking up? Conditions are probably going to be different depending on the route. Do a ridge route then you don't have to worry about avy danger. You just have to worry about the lack of snow and wind. The terrible wind!

We were thinking about Green Butte Ridge from Bunny Flats (climbers right of Avy Gulch) to avoid avy conditions, but we're open to other route suggestions (2 day climb) I'm wondering what snow conditions are like up there. is there any sense in taking snowshoes or skis or is it just crampons and ice axe? Current forecast is looking iffy according to 5th season. Hopefully it will stabilize before next weekend.

I've done Casaval Ridge in winter of '05 and liked it. It is the prominent ridge climber's left looking up Avalanche Gulch and can been seen from far away. It is continuous, steep at certain parts and aesthetically appealing. It is a winter route is most enjoyable with a lot of snow. The gear you take depends on conditions.

http://www.summitpost.org/route/155538/casaval-ridge.html - info

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/521914683TZIMCk - some of my pictures from Dec. '05

Richard P., I am planning on attempting MT Shasta Memorial Day weekend as a multi-day climb. I plan to go up Avalanche Gulch, and camp at Lake Helen. I am hoping to have one more climber buddy driving up with me, other wise I'm going solo. Or at least as solo as you can get climbing on Memorial Day weekend...

Hope to see you and any other MT Whitney message board regulars up there!

White Tundra

Scott McCay

Depending on conditions, we're probably headed for the West Face. (I'm sure hoping that I can carry skis up this time.)

I can imagine what the camping will be like at Helen Lake on a holiday weekend. (Might be a fun party though.)