By Brian Gillis

The Shasta season is in full swing right now. Conditions on the southern side of the mountain are ripe and ready for harvesting. It’s getting warm out there real fast so get it while it’s still good!

Snow at the Bunny Flat trail head is dwindling day by day. As of Friday May 4th, there iw patchy snow at the trail head with a few inches of skinnable muck melting down by the minute. The rest of the Avalanche Gulch route was in good condition.

Know before you go: Mt Shasta Climbing Advisory

The snow conditions above Horse Camp were perfect with a solid frozen surface good for hiking up. On the ski down, we enjoyed perfect corn. A few late season storms have left the Red Banks and Trinity Chutes loaded with rime. Falling ice was a concern on the way up and I spoke with one gal that took a softball size chunk off the cheek.

Misery Hill was sufficiently covered however the underlying scree and talus has begun to poke out in certain locations. Skiing from the Summit Plateau was scratchy above the Red Banks. Anything below the Red Banks area was sublime with perfect corn the entire way down to Horse Camp.

“Now is the time to get the best conditions on the mountain. Due to the less than half of the normal snowpack Mount Shasta usually receives, the window of best climbing and skiing conditions will be short.” – Mt Shasta Avalanche Center

The Northgate trail head has just opened this week. The Clear Creek and Brewer Creek trail head’s are still a few weeks away from opening with patchy snow coverage lining the roads.

Road Status:

  • Brewer Creek: 5.4 miles from Pilgrim Creek road (McCloud side) / 3.4 miles if approached from Highway 97
  • Clear Creek: 1.8 miles
  • Northgate: OPEN

Also Watch: Skiing Off Lassen Peak In Mid-July Looks Mighty Tasty

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