Mt Shasta Summit Climb
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your mountaineering to the next level on this giant Cascades volcano!
- Routes - We offer trips up and down multiple routes including Avalanche Gulch, West Face, Brewer Creek, Clear Creek. Your guides will choose the best route based on weather and climbing conditions.
- 3 Day Program - Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- 2 Day Program - Mountaineering Skills Review - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Summit Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll take in the views and descend the route back down to camp.
This program requires at least 2 participants to run.
Looking for a Private or One Day Summit Climb? Go to Mt Shasta Summit Climb - Private.
Here's the schedule for a 3 DAY CLIMB:
- Day 1 - Arrival & Tour to Camp - 8:00 am meetup with your guide in town. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. Your guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any final adjustments before we caravan to the trailhead. The rest of the day will be spent hiking to camp and learning about camp craft.
- Day 2 - Mountaineering Skills Training - We'll get an early start on the day, having breakfast with hot coffee or tea, and prepare any food for the day before gearing up and heading out. In this course we'll cover:
- Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe Techniques including Self Arrest and
- Team Arrest (for Glacier Travel)
- Crampon Techniques
- Mountaineering efficiency including the Rest Step
- Descending techniques for mountaineering
- Basics of rope team travel
In the evening, we'll prepare an early dinner and head to bed
- Day 3 -Summit Attempt 3:00-5:00am quick breakfast followed by an early alpine start. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp. We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags, and descend to the trailhead.
Here's the schedule for a 2 DAY CLIMB:
- Day 1 - Tour to Camp & Mountaineering Skills Review
8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day then tour to and set up camp. 12:00pm Mountaineering skills review. 5:00pm Dinner and bed. - Day 2 -Summit Attempt
3:00-5:00am early alpine start with a quick breakfast. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags and descend to the trailhead.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Basic Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are required for the 2 Day Program. Alternatively, you can build those skills during the 3 Day program or attend our Intro to Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending .
- Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week.
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes & Gear
- Tent
- Stove & Fuel
- Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Meals
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Shasta Alpine Climbing Gear List
- Avalanche & Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Additional Mountaineering & Camping Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
Know Before you go
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
- Custom Scheduling: Choose your dates and plan around your availability.
- Tailored Experiences: Itineraries and objectives are adjusted to suit your goals, experience, and fitness.
- Cost-Effective for Most Large Groups: Private programs are typically more cost-effective for groups of 3 or more.
- Flexibility Comes at a Price: For groups of 1-2, private programs are generally more expensive.
- AIARE Courses: AIARE course pricing is based on a group of 6. Running these as a private program with fewer than 6 participants will increase the per-person cost.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
- Fixed Dates & Costs: Scheduled programs have set dates, itineraries, objectives, and pricing.
- Great for Solo or Small Groups: Ideal for individuals or small groups looking to share costs with others.
- Affordable for 1-2 People: Scheduled programs are typically less expensive for groups of 1-2.
- Less Flexibility: Dates fill quickly, and group programs require adapting to the skill level and pace of all participants
- Group Atmosphere: Meet others with similar interests and make some new backcountry buddies!
Note: Any scheduled program can also be run as a private program with customized dates and rates.
Both options offer exceptional guiding and experiences. Choose what works best for you!
ITINERARY FOR 3 DAY CLIMB
Day 1
8:00 am Meet your guide at the in town. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any last minute adjustments needed. Caravan to the trailhead.
The rest of the day will be spent ascending to camp and building camp where you will learn about camp craft.
Day 2
Snow School
In this program we'll cover:
- Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe Techniques including Self Arrest and Team Arrest (for Glacier Travel)
- Crampon Techniques
- Mountaineering efficiency including the Rest Step
- Descending techniques for mountaineering
- Basics of rope team travel
Early dinner and bed
Day 3
Alpine Start. Your guides will set the time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast.
Summit Attempt. This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
Descent. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route.
Pack Up Camp and Return to Trailhead. We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags and descend to the trailhead.
ITINERARY FOR 2 DAY CLIMB
Day 1
8:00 am Meet your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. The guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any last minute adjustments needed.
8:30 am Ascend to camp and build camp.
12:00pm Skills review. Prior experience is helpful, as we will provide a review of crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel.
5:00pm Dinner and bed. We’ll review the plan for the following day, pack what we can to prepare and get to bed early to set ourselves up for an alpine start for the summit attempt.
Day 2
Alpine Start. Your guides will set the time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast.
Summit Attempt. This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
Ski Descent. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route.
Packing Up Camp and Return to Trailhead. When we get back to camp, we’ll break it down, pack up our bags and descend to the trailhead. We’ll aim to be down by early afternoon.
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- Push Your Limits - Take your mountaineering to the next level on this giant Cascades volcano!
- Routes - We offer trips up and down multiple routes including Avalanche Gulch, West Face, Brewer Creek, Clear Creek. Your guides will choose the best route based on weather and climbing conditions.
- 3 Day Program - Mountaineering Skills Training - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- 2 Day Program - Mountaineering Skills Review - Including crampons, ice axe arrest and glacier rope travel
- Summit Attempt - This will be a long day, gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes.
- Descent - Once we reach our high point, we’ll take in the views and descend the route back down to camp.
This program requires at least 2 participants to run.
Looking for a Private or One Day Summit Climb? Go to Mt Shasta Summit Climb - Private.
Here's the schedule for a 3 DAY CLIMB:
- Day 1 - Arrival & Tour to Camp - 8:00 am meetup with your guide in town. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day. Your guide will discuss the route up to camp and we'll make any final adjustments before we caravan to the trailhead. The rest of the day will be spent hiking to camp and learning about camp craft.
- Day 2 - Mountaineering Skills Training - We'll get an early start on the day, having breakfast with hot coffee or tea, and prepare any food for the day before gearing up and heading out. In this course we'll cover:
- Mountaineering Gear
- Ice Axe Techniques including Self Arrest and
- Team Arrest (for Glacier Travel)
- Crampon Techniques
- Mountaineering efficiency including the Rest Step
- Descending techniques for mountaineering
- Basics of rope team travel
In the evening, we'll prepare an early dinner and head to bed
- Day 3 -Summit Attempt 3:00-5:00am quick breakfast followed by an early alpine start. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp. We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags, and descend to the trailhead.
Here's the schedule for a 2 DAY CLIMB:
- Day 1 - Tour to Camp & Mountaineering Skills Review
8:00am meetup with your guide at the trailhead. We'll do a quick gear check and review the plan for the day then tour to and set up camp. 12:00pm Mountaineering skills review. 5:00pm Dinner and bed. - Day 2 -Summit Attempt
3:00-5:00am early alpine start with a quick breakfast. Your guides will set the start time based on warming for the day and the weather forecast. Prepare for a long day, where we gaining over 4,000’ of elevation over various snow surfaces and steep slopes. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route back down to camp We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags and descend to the trailhead.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Basic Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are required for the 2 Day Program. Alternatively, you can build those skills during the 3 Day program or attend our Intro to Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending .
- Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week.
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes & Gear
- Tent
- Stove & Fuel
- Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Meals
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Shasta Alpine Climbing Gear List
- Avalanche & Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from Blackbird
- Additional Mountaineering & Camping Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from:
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsMount Shasta Summit!
Had a fantastic experience summiting Mount Shasta with my guide, Sean! He was easy to get along with, very knowledgable, and had a calm, encouraging demeanor. The climb itself was a real challenge, but worth it. The whole experience was positive and getting to the top felt like a genuine accomplishment that will give me the confidence to start taking on more overnight camping and hiking alone.
Laura L.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsGreat value
I did the crevasse rescue course and it went great, I learned a lot and feel much more comfortable. I especially appreciated how it was a small group - 3 students and 1 guide. Our guide Jan was great - he was very knowledgeable but also kept things laid back and wanted us to enjoy the day. Highly recommend!
Molly D.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsSet me up with a perfect custom skills program - highly recommend!
I'd been trying to setup a way to learn some snow skills basics for awhile, and most companies were just not very responsive for what I wanted, and I actually couldn't make it happen. Then I emailed Blackbird - and not only was it great to finally get some conversation going by email/phone, they were able to set me up with the type of program I was looking for. I was setup with Jon as my guide and felt like I was in very capable hands the entire time - covering all the topics relevant for my goals. While I'm comfortable enough camping and hiking in the wilderness, I had zero experience with crampons, ice axes, safety aspects etc, along with navigating more challenging and steep terrain. We started off covering some initial information that went well enough to tackle a couple objectives - which were far more challenging than I'd originally thought possible for myself. But he really nailed it, and picked a plan which let me push what I could do while still feeling comfortable. Plus I appreciated his patience, encouragement and positivity as I sorted out my practice of these new skills. Overall highly recommended!
Tobin S. - Rated 5 out of 5 starsIncredibly knowledgeable guides!
Incredibly knowledgeable guides. It was my first time on a serious mountaineering trip, and our guide Jason was a great resource for our attempt at the Shasta summit. Despite insanely cold and snowy weather for May we had a great time!
Thomas M.Verified Buyer
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