Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Mt. Shasta advice, please

Hi, folks-
Sorry for the non-Whitney topic, but I'm posting here because a) I can't find an active Shasta message board; and b) this board is filled with knowledgeable hikers.
I'm planning a trip to Shasta in two days. I've never been there, so I figured we'd take the traditional Avalanche Gulch route. We thought we'd take it easy by staying at Horse Camp the first night, hiking to Helen Lake the second day and attempting the summit the following morning.

Questions:
1. Is there a mosquito problem at Horse Camp?
2. The Sierra Club website for Horse Camp recommends hanging food in trees to protect against varmints. Is this necessary?
3. I've seen Moosie's picture of Helen Lake on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend (see below). I'm hoping it won't be anything like this on a weekday. To those who have been to Helen Lake - where is the "best" (i.e. most wind-protected) place to pitch a tent?



Thanks in advance.
Emory

1. I have never had a problem with mosquitoes any time of year.
2. Yes, small rodents due tend to nibble their way into food stuffs. You may also have this problem at Helen Lake. However, if you keep a clean camp you will reduce or eliminate this problem.
3. The weekday is the best time to go to avoid the weekend crowds at Shasta.
4. There is no good place to pitch your tent at Lake Helen to avoid wind. YOU MUST THOUROUGHLY GUY OUT YOUR TENT. You may have no wind or you may have hurricane force winds ANY TIME OF THE YEAR! Do not leave your tent while setting it up even if there is no wind while you are setting it up since wind gusts can come out of nowhere.

Hope this helps

Thanks, I appreciate your experience and advice.

I'll leave the bug repellent at home (that'll save some weight; besides, I hate that sticky feeling.)

I have heard stories about tents taking off like kites from Helen Lake, so I got the REI snow and sand anchors (they're like little nylon parachutes.) The reviews say they're bombproof when buried.

I've done Shasta many times, and The Man covers it pretty wall.

Shasta, at least Avalanche Gulch, is a very popular route, so don't expect solitude and you won't be disappointed.

I've done Shasta a couple of times, my advice is to learn to love steep snow and ice. It is one of the most challenging climbs I've done, hands down. Get started really early and look forward to steep snow, lots of it. On the other hand, you will be able to glissade like the whole way down! On this climb don't forget your ice axe, it could really save your ass!
Good luck.

PS don't worry about bugs, you'll be above the treeline quickly, and I recommend that you not stay at horsecamp, it is way too close to the trailhead, it is a great place for a break, but if you find that you are too exhausted to continue any further, remember that the climb only gets harder, way harder, and you may not summit unless you are prepared for a 3 day climb.