How to get there:
The natural starting point for this
climb is the small village of Shasta at the base
of this impressive mountain. Route description:
Day 1, we drove from San Francisco and hiked
up the lower part of the glacier to a relatively
flat area where we pitched our tent for the night.
Day 2, With crampons and ice axe, but no rope necessary,
one hikes straight up the ice towards some red cliffs
at the horizon. Passing these, still on the ice, one
approaches the final slopes of the mountain. At the very
end one traverses a fairly flat area before making the
very last climb to the highest point of the mountain.
Return the same way, we had a great glissade, controlled
by axe (or backpack) back down to the tent. After a good
dinner in Shasta we hit the road with a late return
to the Bay Area. Comments:
Mt. Shasta is very impressive, since there is no other
mountain nearby. The smell of sulphur near the summit
reminds all climbers that this is a volcano.