Test your mountain climbing skills – Where is your Summit?

First time visitors to Mt. Shasta are drawn to the 14,179’ mountain that towers over the town, and while some are content to watch the mountain, others choose hiking and climbing adventures on the slopes of the popular mountaineering destination.

Whether you’re a first time climber, an experienced alpine enthusiast, or a family looking to enjoy the lower slopes, you can find an option to suit you. First time climbers should climb with a guide service. The popular beginners’ route, Avalanche Gulch, is often climbed in two days, with a base camp established at Lake Helen and a steep climb up to Red Banks that requires crampon and ice axe skills.

Shasta Mountain Guides (SMG) takes climbers all over the mountain, from beginner routes in Avy Gulch and the West Face to more difficult routes. Steep, exposed Casaval Ridge and the Hotlum Glacier, with big crevasses, seracs, and ice falls, prepare climbers for conditions on Mount Rainer or Denali.

Chris Carr, co-owner of SMG, said that most of their clients are first-time climbers and that Mt. Shasta is the perfect peak for newcomers to the sport. If you’re thinking of climbing the mountain, Carr recommends a diligent training routine to prepare for the physical demands of climbing.

Plenty of families climbing together, and Carr said, “for the adventurous family this is a great challenge and experience for them.” This year’s climbing season is likely to extend well into the summer. Carr said Avalanche Gulch should be good through July, if not longer, and the Hotlum-Bolam route will be ideal June through September.

“It’s going to be a great season. All of the routes that we climb and guide are in excellent condition,” Carr said.

If learning to use crampons doesn’t appeal to you, explore lower elevations of the mountain by hiking. Day hiking from Bunny Flat to the Sierra Club cabin will take you into the tall trees and delicate landscapes of the sub-alpine forest. You can also hike to Hidden Valley, which Carr called “an incredible location to spend the day, and a reasonable hike in the summer from Horse Camp.”