[TR] Mount Shasta - Avalanche Gully 5/28/2010

[AlpineK]

Trip: Mount Shasta - Avalanche Gully

 

Date: 5/28/2010

 

Trip Report:

In early May some friends and I started talking about cool things to ski over Memorial Day Weekend. A number of peaks made the list, but after multiple views of NOAA weather A Blitz brought up Mount Shasta. Weather in Washington wasn't so hot, but the northern California the forecast looked better. In the end we decided to drive south.

 

We left early on the 28th and made it to the Forest Service office in Shasta in time to get a permit. From there we drove to Bunny Flats then skied to the Sierra Club Horse Camp that night.

 

The sun was out the next morning, but looking up at higher ridges you could see the wind was whipping up high.

[img:center]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TASiqlD52II/AAAAAAAAAds/VDDRHukHXTk/s912/2-Shasta-form-Horse-Camp_Pa.gif[/img]

 

[img:center]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TASirOtR2xI/AAAAAAAAAd0/ogqu18XZW4o/s512/4-Below-High-Camp.gif[/img]

 

About two thirds of the way to the Helen Lake camp we met up with the winds. Winds were in gusts which you could see coming. That gave some warning to dig your poles in till they passed.

 

At Helen Lake there were a few campers already there. We dug a camping pit to combat the winds then hung out. More and more people arrived to camp. In the afternoon winds died down and we went for a ski up the hill above camp. We got a nice afternoon ski in calm warm weather.

 

[img:center]http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TASi9zIM1fI/AAAAAAAAAeA/nkp1iXIlW-w/s512/7-Climb-5-29-Ski.gif[/img]

 

You can see how Helen Lake was building to a small city in the photo

[img:center]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TASirazUdbI/AAAAAAAAAd8/odS2NOtn1cE/6-Down-to-Camp-5-29.gif[/img]

 

That night in camp everybody was entertained by some fellow who brought an inter-tube or equivalent sliding device took it up on a steep slope on skiers left of camp then launched. The dude lost his hat on the slope as he disappeared down the slope out of sight. A FS Ranger in camp walked over to see if the guy was ok. He told us later the fellow lay on the snow at the bottom of the run for a bit but then got up and walked away.

 

 

Early in the morning of the 30th we were kind of slackers in camp, but we started skiing towards the top about 4AM. Clouds were in and the warm weather was gone, but overall a decent day. Snow had hardened and ski crampons helped.

 

[img:center]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TASi-FzlCgI/AAAAAAAAAeI/9ZpU3l13Msg/9-In-Clouds-5-30.gif[/img]

 

After climbing the slope, Misery Hill, we skied the ridge to the summit plateau then ditched our skis at below the final summit tower

 

[img:center]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TASi-jNEj6I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/x_ViI2XFL0g/11-Summit-1.gif[/img]

 

On the summit the sun came out. We had a nice ski down Avalanche Gulch

 

[img:center]http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TASjgmmOQ3I/AAAAAAAAAek/m3MbJKIzQYo/15-Descent.gif[/img]

 

[img:center]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TASjg_wS8MI/AAAAAAAAAeo/8z9cGHVrmnI/16-High-Camp_n_Below.gif[/img]

 

At camp we packed up then skied Lower Avalanche Gulch

 

[img:center]http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rxgbPHdbZ9I/TASjnY9pD0I/AAAAAAAAAew/OvsK62pzHik/19-Clouds_summit-Tracks.gif[/img]

 

From there we skied to the car. We talked about camping near the car. Given all the people and snowmobiles we changed our minds, so we drove north.

 

Skiing was fun. It wasn't corn snow, but it was nice. The area has 140 percent of average snow pack this year.

 

I'd never skied on Shasta, so the standard route was fine this time. If I went there again Left of Heart and the West Face Gully look like good lines to ski.

 

 

Gear Notes:

Ski crampons were nice to have. We were the only ones who had them, and I had to explain the concept to a few people.

 

Approach Notes:

Right now you can ski from the car. I hear most years folks end up packing skis for a ways on the route.

[coach]

My crew and I most likely saw you up there on the 29th. I remember seeing that guy tube off Sargent Ridge. We were the first group out of Lake Helen on Sunday morning. We left for the summit around 1:15 AM. It was a great day to climb. I am glad to see you guys summited.

[Rock/Ski]

Watched several Helicopter rescues on 6-12-10. One Guy slid approx 1500 ft + from near Red Banks to Helen Lake. The conditions are very icy above 11,000Ft.

 

The climbing Rangers had 6 Rescues in 1 day and they are expressing their frustrations on the Shasta Climbers Website.

 

Knowing how to self arrest as soon as you are falling will save you a slide for life.

I turned around at 12,300Ft up in the Trinity Chutes because of falling ice and the skiing didn't get good till back down to 11,000 ft or so. The coverage was awesome for this time of year and it looks like a great season for all!

 

 

 

 

Edited June 23, 2010 by Rock/Ski