Mt Shasta Summit Climb 3 Day

A three day, two night mountaineering expedition on the largest volcano in the Cascade Range: Mount Shasta! We hike to camp, where we'll teach a thorough snow school to build efficiency and safety techniques needed to climb Shasta with a guide. The next day, we'll get a predawn "alpine" start to attempt the summit and descend back to camp. After a hot dinner we'll get a full night's sleep before packing up camp and returning to the trailhead on day 3. The 3 Day program is perfect for most climbers and provides a more thorough snow school and much needed rest after the long summit day. All participants on this program should be in excellent mountain fitness.
Sunset on Mt Shasta in California
Skier hiking on the summit of Mt Shasta during a Blackbird Guides Summit Climb 3 Day trip
Skier in a tent at Helen Lake on Mt Shasta in California
Climber climbing with crampons on Mt Shasta in California
Skier hiking towards the summit of Mt Shasta
Skier arcing a turn on Mt Shasta
Skier hiking towards the summit of Mt Shasta
Two skiers hiking near the summit of Mt Shasta

A three day, two night mountaineering expedition on the largest volcano in the Cascade Range: Mount Shasta!  We hike to camp, where we'll teach a thorough snow school to build efficiency and safety techniques needed to climb Shasta with a guide.  The next day, we'll get a predawn "alpine" start to attempt the summit and descend back to camp.  After a hot dinner we'll get a full night's sleep before packing up camp and returning to the trailhead on day 3.  The 3 Day program is perfect for most climbers and provides a more thorough snow school and much needed rest after the long summit day.  All participants on this program should be in excellent mountain fitness.

Route options include: Avalanche Gulch, West Face, Brewer Creek, Clear Creek. 

 

    Sunset on Mt Shasta in California
    Skier hiking on the summit of Mt Shasta during a Blackbird Guides Summit Climb 3 Day trip
    Skier in a tent at Helen Lake on Mt Shasta in California
    Climber climbing with crampons on Mt Shasta in California
    Skier hiking towards the summit of Mt Shasta
    Skier arcing a turn on Mt Shasta
    Skier hiking towards the summit of Mt Shasta
    Two skiers hiking near the summit of Mt Shasta
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Skier hiking on the summit of Mt Shasta during a Blackbird Guides Summit Climb 3 Day trip
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Skier in a tent at Helen Lake on Mt Shasta in California
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Climber climbing with crampons on Mt Shasta in California
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Skier hiking towards the summit of Mt Shasta
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Skier arcing a turn on Mt Shasta
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Skier hiking towards the summit of Mt Shasta
    • Load image into Gallery viewer, Two skiers hiking near the summit of Mt Shasta

    Dates

    Available Dates

    April 28-30, 2023
    May 5-7, 2023
    May 12-14, 2023
    May 19-21, 2023
    May 27-29, 2023
    June 2-4, 2023
    June 9-12, 2023
    June 16-18, 2023
    June 23-25, 2023
    June 30-July 2, 2023
    July 7-9, 2023
    July 14-16, 2023

    Prices

    Refer to prices on overview page

    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.

    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. 

    Equipment

    Shasta Alpine Climbing Equipment List

    Gear Guide / Packing List

     

    Avalanche Gear (depending on season)

    • Avalanche Beacon - Digital Avalanche Transceiver; Black Diamond Guide Recon BT
    • Avalanche Shovel - Collapsible, Aluminum Shovel; Backcountry Access BT2 Shovel
    • Avalanche Probe - Quickdraw Style Probe; Backcountry Access Stealth 300

    Technical Gear

    • Climbing Helmet - CE Rated Helmet; Petzl Sirocco or Black Diamond Vision
    • Headlamp - LED headlamp with fresh batteries; Petzl Actik Core
    • Climbing Harness -  Light Alpine Harness; Petzl Altitude, Mammut Zephyr Altitude
    • Two Locking Carabiners - Petzl Attache, etc
    • Crampons, Steel 12 Point - Steel Crampons Compatible with Your Boots; Petzl Vasak
    • Lightweight Ice Axe - A light axe for mountaineering; Petzl Glacier, BD Raven
    • Gaiters (optional) 

    Head and Neck Layers

    • Sun Hat - A Baseball Hat; Blackbird Mountain Guides Logo Hat
    • Sunglasses - Dark Lens Glasses with Side Coverage; Julbo Shield
    • Goggles - Ski Goggles with a Storm Lens; Julbo Aerospace Reactive
    • Warm Hat - Lightweight Warm Hat that Fits Under Your Helmet
    • Neck Gaiter - Light to Midweight Neck Gaiters; Buff or your favorite Face Masks 

    Upper Body and Hand Layers

    • Long Sleeve Base Layer - Lightweight, Synthetic/Wool; Patagonia SunHoody
    • 2 Insulating Top Layers - Light to Midweight Insulation Layers; Patagonia R1 & NanoAir
    • Puffy - Midweight Down or Synthetic with Hood; Patagonia Fitzroy or similar
    • Hardshell Jacket, Hooded - Waterproof, Light, Gore-Tex, NOT insulated; Arc’Teryx Alpha FL
    • Light Gloves - Light to Mid Weight for Warm Temps; Flylow John Henry Gloves, BD Tour
    • Midweight Gloves - Mid to Heavy Weight for Cold Conditions; BD Legend
    • Sports Bra - Wool/Synthetic

    Lower Body and Foot Layers

    • Socks - Midweight Wool/Synthetic, 2-3 pair; Darn Tough Via Ferrata
    • Underwear - Wool/Synthetic, 1 extra pair
    • Long Underwear - Wool/Synthetic “Long Johns”;  Patagonia Capilene Air
    • Softshell Ski Pants - Breathable, Weather Resistant Pants; OR Trailbreaker II
    • Vented Hardshell Ski Pants - (Conditions dependent) Waterproof Pants for Extreme Weather

    Camping & Backpacking Gear

    • Sleeping Bag - Down or Synthetic Rated to 0F-20F; Feathered Friends Egret UL 20
    • Sleeping Pad - Insulated Inflatable Air Mattress; Therm-a-Rest NeoAir X-Therm, X-Lite
    • Compression Stuff Sack -  To Pack Sleeping Bag; Ultralight Compression Stuff Sack 10L
    • Backpack - Lightweight, Simple 45-60 Liter Pack; Patagonia Alpinist 50, BD Speed 50 - MUST FIT ALL OF YOUR GEAR, FOOD, and  YOUR SHARE OF GROUP GEAR

    Food and Water

    • Dinner - Your Favorite Freeze Dried or “Just-Add-Hot-Water” Meal for Each Night in the Field
    • Breakfast - Your Favorite Freeze Dried or “Just-Add-Hot-Water” Meal for Each Morning in the Field
    • Hot Drinks - For After Dinner and During Breakfast; Instant Coffee, Decaffeinated Tea, Hot Cocoa, Tang, Whatever You Prefer
    • Half Liter Nalgene Bottle - A Hard Sided Water Bottled that Can Act as your Mug For Hot Drinks and Water Bottle During the Climb; Nalgene 16oz Wide Mouth Bottle
    • Soft Water Bottle 1.5L - Flexible Water Bladder; Hydrapak Flux 1.5L

    ***Please bring at least one hard sided water bottle.

    • Water Treatment or Filtration - Katadyn BeFree Filter Connects to Hydrapak Flux Bottles 
    • Bowl - Reuse your Freeze Dried Dinner Bag as Your Bowl, or Bring Another
    • Spoon - 9” Long Handled Spoon (For Eating Food in a Bag); GSI Essential Spoon Long
    • Snacks - Snacks and Lunch food  for each day of the trip

    Other Essentials

    • Sun Screen (SPF 30 minimum)
    • Lip Balm (with SPF)
    • Hand Sanitizer
    • Toilet Paper
    • Blister Kit for Blister Prevention

    Optional

    • First Aid
    • Chemical Hand Warmers
    • Hydration System - Flexible Water Bladder with Hose; Hydrapak, Camelback, Platypus

    Group Gear

    Blackbird Mountain Guides will supply all of the group gear for the trip, including:

    • Slingfin Tents (Designed and Headquartered in Berkeley, CA)
    • Stoves
    • Fuel for Stoves
    • Ropes
    • Snow Pickets (if required)
    • Rock Protection (if required)
    • Guide’s First Aid Kits
    • Wag Bags (Solid Human Waste Disposal Bags)

    Know Before You Go

    Location

    Mt Shasta, CA

    Elevation

    7,000-14,179'

    Difficulty ⚫⚫⚫⚫⚪

    Mount Shasta is a strenuous physical challenge.  Skiers climb over 7,000 feet before descending the largest stratovolcano in the Cascade Range.  It requires efficiency with climbing technique and excellent endurance.

    Trip Length

    3 days

    Policies

    We highly recommend Trip Insurance. Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy.

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    $1,095.00
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