Climb and ski 14,179' Mt Shasta with one of the world's most accomplished ski racers - Daron Rahlves.
On this two-day trip we'll camp, climb and ski Mt Shasta via the Hotlum-Wintun or the West Face, depending on conditions and trailhead openings. Mt Shasta is stacked with incredible options for ski descents and the "Hot-Tun" and West Face options are two of our favorites.
On Day 1, you'll join Daron Rahlves and IFMGA Mountain Guide and Blackbird Owner Zeb Blais for a gear check before we set off for camp. After setting up tents, we'll share a meal and get to bed early in preparation for the summit.
Day 2 is our summit day. We'll begin the day before dawn with a hot breakfast, timing our ascent for optimal snow conditions from the summit. From the top, we'll have a massive 7,000' ski descent on ski terrain that ranks among the 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America (Avalanche Gulch).
Closing Dinner. We'll celebrate our trip in style in the town of Mt Shasta. Food is on Blackbird!
This will be a challenging, rewarding and completely unique experience with Daron Rahlves and Zeb Blais. Daron and Zeb are looking forward to sharing this amazing peak with you!
The trip has a 3-person minimum per trip and a maximum of 4 skiers/riders.
About Daron Rahlves
- Daron Rahlves - Wikipedia
- Daron Rahlves - Instagram
- How to Win Birds of Prey Downhill (Outside)
- Daron Rahlves vs Jeremy Heitz - Gnarliest Ski Race Ever
Prerequisites
This two day itinerary requires:
- Advanced to Expert Skiing Ability. You should feel comfortable on steep, off-piste terrain in variable snow conditions. The routes we will be steep and may have less than ideal snow surfaces.
- Proficiency with Ski Mountaineering Skills. These skills include ice axe arrest, cramponing, rest step, ski crampons and skinning efficiency on firm slopes as well as advanced-expert downhill skiing ability. Please reach out to make sure you have the requisite skills for this program or book our one-day Ski Mountaineering Skills in advance of this program.
- Excellent Fitness. We'll ascend over 7,000' of elevation on variable terrain, using skins, ski crampons and boot crampons before skiing back down. All this will be with a backpack containing food, water, layering and technical equipment for the day.
- Snow Camping Experience. Basic experience with snow camping will make this trip much more enjoyable!
Please reach out to info@blackbirdguides.com or call 530-414-7778 to schedule a skills day before the trip in Tahoe or on Mount Shasta.
Dates
Available Dates
Prices
Prices are as follows:
| Mt Shasta Skiing Price List | |
| Ski Touring & Ski Mountaineering Private | |
| Private Rates | Per Person / Per Day |
| 1:1 | $495 |
| 2:1 | $375 |
| 3:1 | $335 |
Itinerary
ItineraryEquipment
Shasta Ski Mountaineering Gear Guide
Gear Guide / Packing List
Backcountry Touring Gear
☐ Alpine Touring Skis or Splitboard - Light to Midweight Setup with “Tech Bindings”
☐ Alpine Touring Boots or Splitboard Compatible Boots; Scarpa F1
☐ Ski Poles - Lightweight, Adjustable Poles with Baskets; BD Expedition 3 Poles
☐ Climbing Skins - Mohair Mix is Best; Black Diamond GlideLite Mohair Mix,
☐ Ski Crampons - Specific to your Skis/Board;
☐ Ski Strap - Voile Ski Strap or Similar
Avalanche Gear
☐ 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/Ski Helmet - Dual 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
☐ Triple Action Locking Carabiner - Edelrid HMS Strike Triple FG Locking Carabiner
☐ Double Length Sling - Sewn Runner; Black Diamond 10mm Dynex Runner
☐ Belay Device - Tube Style Belay Device; BD ATC Guide, Petzl Reverso
☐ Crampons, Steel - Steel Crampons Compatible with Your Boots; Petzl Vasak
OR Crampons, Aluminum - Aluminum Crampons, Compatible with Your Boots
Please ask your guide which is appropriate for your objective
☐Lightweight Ice Axe - An ultralight Axe for Steep Terrain; Petzl Ride, BD Raven Ultra
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
***These Are Required as Covid-19 Face Coverings
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; Darn Tough Via Ferrata
☐ Underwear - Wool/Synthetic
☐ 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 Stuffsack 10L
☐ Backpack - Lightweight, Simple 50 Liter Pack; Patagonia Alpinist 50, BD Speed 50 - MUST FIT ALL OF YOUR GEAR AND FOOD
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 Dutring 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
Optional
☐ First Aid/blister Kit
☐ 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)