Mt Shasta Summit & Ski Descent - Private

A Private guided option for a Mt Shasta summit and ski descent that is custom built for your team. This is our most popular Shasta ski mountaineering trip on the largest stratovolcano in the Cascades & includes ski mountaineering skills. We choose from Avalanche Gulch, West Face, Brewer Creek, and Clear Creek routes.
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear

Ski one of the 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America or build your ski mountaineering skills on a private ski trip on Mt Shasta.
From fast and light pushes to multiday skills seminars, we can build the perfect program to fit the needs of your team.

  • Our private programs are for just you and your team, so we move with the speed of your team.
  • Programs can include ski touring, ski mountaineering with a summit and full descent of the mountain and/or ski mountaineering skills.
  • Ascent and descent options include: Avalanche Gulch, West Face, Brewer Creek, Clear Creek.

We'll build a custom itinerary for your group based on your objectives, skills, and preferred length of trip!

Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your trip:

  • Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.

  • Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.

  • Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing and skiing

  • 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.

  • Ski/Split Touring, Avalanche, & Ski Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

Here's what's included with your trip:

  • Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
  • Shasta-Trinity National Forest Permit
  • Shasta Summit Pass - $25
  • Ropes & Gear - for ski mountaineering training
  • SlingFin 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
Not Included
  • Meals
  • Transportation
  • Ski & Splitboard Gear
  • Avalanche Gear
  • Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
  • Guide Gratuities

Shasta Ski Mountaineering Gear List


Know Before you go

SKILL LEVELIntermediate Advanced
ELEVATION7,000’-14,179’
LocationMt Shasta

Price $1,095.00
Private Programs
Duration: 1-5 Days
View Full Itinerary
Private Programs

Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.

Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.

SCHEDULED PROGRAMS

Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.

Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.

PRIVATE PROGRAMS

Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.

Contact us
Full Itinerary

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:

  • Ski 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.

Ski Descent. Once we reach our high point, we’ll descend the route and ski the variations holding the best snow!

 

Pack Up Camp and Return to Trailhead. We’ll break down camp, pack up our bags and descend to the trailhead. 

Ski one of the 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America or build your ski mountaineering skills on a private ski trip on Mt Shasta.
From fast and light pushes to multiday skills seminars, we can build the perfect program to fit the needs of your team.

  • Our private programs are for just you and your team, so we move with the speed of your team.
  • Programs can include ski touring, ski mountaineering with a summit and full descent of the mountain and/or ski mountaineering skills.
  • Ascent and descent options include: Avalanche Gulch, West Face, Brewer Creek, Clear Creek.

We'll build a custom itinerary for your group based on your objectives, skills, and preferred length of trip!

Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your trip:

  • Expert Resort Riding Skills - Including steep and consequential off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.

  • Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.

  • Basic Ski Mountaineering Skills - Including ice axe, crampon, and basic rope skills are encouraged, but not required. Build those skills during the program or attend our Ski Mountaineering Skills course prior to attending and spend more time climbing and skiing

  • 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.

  • Ski/Split Touring, Avalanche, & Ski Mountaineering Gear - Come prepared with your own gear or rent from us
Shop Recommended Gear OR Visit our Rentals Page

Here's what's included with your trip:

  • Experienced AMGA Trained Guide
  • Shasta-Trinity National Forest Permit
  • Shasta Summit Pass - $25
  • Ropes & Gear - for ski mountaineering training
  • SlingFin 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
Not Included
  • Meals
  • Transportation
  • Ski & Splitboard Gear
  • Avalanche Gear
  • Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
  • Guide Gratuities

Shasta Ski Mountaineering Gear List

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