Extreme Boarding and Skiing
Backcountry skiing and boarding demands the maturity required to accurately understand personal limits. The top of 14,162 foot Mount Shasta is not the place to test or improve your abilities. Interpreting weather and avalanche danger, planning runs, correctly gauging physical limitations and preparation for adequate safety contingencies are required skills and your responsibility. Half way down Whitney Glacier is no time to find out the climb and altitude has unexpectedly diminished your strength. Bad personal decisions will not only put your own life in danger, but the lives of our mountain rescue teams. By comparing the routs below to the topo maps showing common routes you can get a good idea of what has been successfully accomplished. Deviating from these routes should never be attempted without qualified professional assistance experienced with this mountain. Shasta Destination Management recommends using a PLB (personal locator beacon) keep in mind however that Mt Shasta is 14,162 feet, and that weather at times makes rescue imposable. Mountaineering skills, knowledge of backcountry challenges such as tree wells, and other dangers are required.
Mount Shasta Ski and Snowboard Routes
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Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
- Avalanche Gulch via Thumb Rock
- Avalanche Gulch (Left of Heart Variation)
- Cascade Gulch to summit via upper Whitney Glacier
- West Face Gully
- Whitney Glacier (from Whitney Creek)
- Whitney-Bolam Ridge
- Bolam Glacier (from Bolam Creek)
- Bolam Glacier (from North Gate)
- Bolam Gully
- Hotlum-Bolam Ridge
- Hotlum Glacier (from Brewer Creek)
- Hotlum-Wintun Ridge to upper Wintun Glacier
- Wintun Glacier (from Brewer Creek)
- Wintun Ridge (from Clear Creek)
- Clear Creek Route (Southeast Ridge)
Other Ski Mountaineering Routes:
- Lower Avalanche Gulch (below Helen Lake)
- Lower Cascade Gulch (from Horse Camp down to Everett Highway)
- Old Ski Bowl
- Sun Bowl / Powder Bowl
Shastina Routes
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Avalanche Gulch via Thumb Rock
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6900 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7300 ft (2200 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 11 miles (18 km )
- Quality
- Effort 10.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: This is the standard route for perhaps 90% of those who attempt to climb or ski Shasta, resulting in severe overcrowding on sunny weekends. It provides the shortest year-round route to the summit of Mount Shasta, although the routes from Clear Creek on the southeast side are somewhat easier. There is some steep snow which must be negotiated as the route passes to the right of the Red Banks, and this area often becomes windblown and loses its snow cover early in the spring. An excellent option is to ascend this route, and then ski down via the much steeper bowl located to climber's left of the Heart, a prominent snow-free rock patch in upper Avalanche Gulch. This bowl is just west of the Red Banks and it is possible to drop into it via a number of extremely steep chutes though the westernmost Red Banks chimneys. (See Amar Andalkar's ski trip report from June 1999.)
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Avalanche Gulch (Left of Heart variation)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6900 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7300 ft (2200 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 11 miles (18 km )
- Quality
- Effort 10.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: This is the standard route for perhaps 90% of those who attempt to climb or ski Shasta, resulting in severe overcrowding on sunny weekends. It provides the shortest year-round route to the summit of Mount Shasta, although the routes from Clear Creek on the southeast side are somewhat easier. There is some steep snow which must be negotiated as the route passes to the right of the Red Banks, and this area often becomes windblown and loses its snow cover early in the spring. An excellent option is to ascend this route, and then ski down via the much steeper bowl located to climber's left of the Heart, a prominent snow-free rock patch in upper Avalanche Gulch. This bowl is just west of the Red Banks and it is possible to drop into it via a number of extremely steep chutes though the westernmost Red Banks chimneys. (See Amar Andalkar's ski trip report from June 1999.)
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Cascade Gulch to summit via upper Whitney Glacier
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6900 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7300 ft (2200 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 15 miles (24 km )
- Quality
- Effort 11.0
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: This route traverses north from the Sierra Club Cabin, leaving the crowds behind as it heads into the huge bowl of Hidden Valley, between Casaval Ridge and the southeast flank of Shastina. It then climbs to the 11900 ft saddle east of Shastina, from where it is possible to go west to Shastina's summit or climb east to the summit of Shasta via the upper portion of Whitney Glacier. A steeper variation heads directly up the West Face Gully from Hidden Valley, topping out at 13400 ft at the top of Casaval Ridge, and then following the standard route to the summit. During winter or early spring, it is possible to descend the lower portion of Cascade Gulch (below Hidden Valley) all the way down to the Everett Highway at 5000 ft, with a car shuttle back to Bunny Flat.
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
West Face Gully
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6900 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7300 ft (2200 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 13 miles (21 km )
- Quality
- Effort 10.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: See Above
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Whitney Glacier (from Whitney Creek)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 5500 ft (1700 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 8700ft (2650 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 16 miles (26 km )
- Quality
- Effort 12.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: The Whitney Glacier is the largest glacier in California, extending over 2 miles (3 km) in length down the northwest trending gap between Shasta and Shastina. The route follows the Whitney Creek drainage directly onto the terminus of the glacier, and follows its entire length to about 13800 ft, just below the summit plateau. The uppermost portion which heads east to the plateau is quite steep, but this may be avoided by continuing southeast and joining the standard route at the base of Misery Hill. The Whitney Glacier is heavily crevassed, with a major icefall above 11000 ft, so it is best skied in early season when the crevasses are covered by a deep snowpack. A variation which avoids the crevasse hazard follows the Whitney-Bolam Ridge, just northeast of the glacier, above 10000 feet. It is also possible to traverse to the ridge to avoid the icefall and then rejoin the glacier above.
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Whitney-Bolam Ridge
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 5500 ft (1700 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 8700 ft (2650 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 15 miles (24 km )
- Quality
- Effort 12.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: See Above
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Bolam Glacier (from Bolam Creek)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 5500 ft (1700 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 8700 ft (2650 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 16 miles (26 km )
- Quality
- Effort 12.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: The relatively-uncrevassed Bolam Glacier is the best of Shasta's eight glaciers for skiing. Access from North Gate is short and straightforward, but in early season when that road is snow-covered it may be easier to take the longer approach from Bolam Creek. Several variations are possible on the upper portion, including the very steep Bolam Gully which leads to the upper portion of Hotlum-Bolam Ridge. For a continuous ski descent from the summit, it is best to follow gentler gullies which lead from the upper Bolam Glacier southeast to the summit plateau. The Hotlum-Bolam Ridge itself is the standard north side climbing route, but the uppermost portion becomes windblown and loses its snow cover before summer. Numerous snowfields adjacent to the ridge below 13000 ft remain skiable well into summer, although on the east these merge into the heavily crevassed Hotlum Glacier.
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Bolam Glacier (from North Gate)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 7000 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7200 ft (2200 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 13 miles (21 km )
- Quality
- Effort 10.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: See Above
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Bolam Gully
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 7000 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7200 ft (2200 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 12 miles (19 km )
- Quality
- Effort 10
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: See Above
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Hotlum-Bolam Ridge
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 7000 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7200 ft (2200 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 12 miles (19 km )
- Quality
- Effort 10
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: See Above
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Hotlum Glacier (from Brewer Creek)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 7200 ft (2200 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7000 ft (2100 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 11 miles (18 km )
- Quality
- Effort 10
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: The Brewer Creek trail provides quick access in late spring and summer to several routes on the northeast and east sides of Shasta. The Hotlum Glacier is the most voluminous in California and makes a fine climbing route, but is diminished in quality as a ski route due to its numerous crevasses and icefalls, along with generally unskiable cliffs at its head. Numerous snowfields nearby offer fine skiing well into summer, including the ones which line the north side of the Hotlum-Wintun Ridge. This is an exceptional ski route, a very natural and direct line with just the right pitch, steep but not too steep. At 12400 ft, the ski route crosses the ridge onto the north edge of the Wintun Glacier, which is relatively crevasse-free. This route is skiable continuously from the true summit down to 8000 ft well into July, even in mediocre snow years. (Detailed route info and trip report from July 2000 coming soon. This was an superb trip, 6200 vertical feet on great snow.) The northern lobe of the Wintun Glacier itself may be descended directly to snowfields south of Hotlum-Wintun Ridge, although this requires a longer traverse to return to the trail.
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Hotlum-Wintun Ridge to upper Wintun Glacier
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 7200 ft (2200 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7000 ft (2100 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 12 miles (19 km )
- Quality
- Effort 10
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: See Above
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Wintun Glacier (from Brewer Creek)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 7200 ft (2200 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7000 ft (2100 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 13 miles (21 km )
- Quality
- Effort 10.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: See Above
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Wintun Ridge (from Clear Creek)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6500 ft (2000 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7700 ft 2300 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 13 miles (20 km )
- Quality
- Effort 11
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: The Clear Creek Route (Southeast Ridge) and the neighboring Wintun Ridge are the least difficult climbing and skiing routes to the summit of Mount Shasta. Access is somewhat long, however, until the road to the trailhead melts out in late spring. Unfortunately, the routes are best skied in early spring, since their southeasterly aspect and somewhat exposed position leads to an early loss of snow cover compared to the north side routes or Avalanche Gulch. When the snowpack is deep enough, these routes offer a variety of broad open slopes and bowls with somewhat less avalanche hazard than the steeper routes above.
Summit Ski Mountaineering Routes:
(in clockwise order starting from the south)
Clear Creek Route (Southeast Ridge)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6500 ft (2000 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 7700 ft 2300 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 13 miles (20 km )
- Quality
- Effort 11
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: See Above
Other Ski Mountaineering Routes:
Lower Avalanche Gulch (below Helen Lake)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6900 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 3500 ft (1100 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 7 miles (11 km )
- Quality
- Effort 5.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: The lower portions of Avalanche Gulch below Lake Helen (10400 ft) provide moderate ski terrain in a variety of open bowls above Horse Camp. This area has much less avalanche hazard than the steeper slopes above, although massive avalanches from high up in the appropriately named Gulch can still reach this lower elevation terrain during severe avalanche conditions.
Other Ski Mountaineering Routes:
Lower Cascade Gulch (from Horse Camp down to Everett Highway)
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6900 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 1100 ft (350 m) -3000 ft (-900 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 5 miles (8 km ) one-way
- Quality
- Effort 2.0
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: This is the easiest way to do car-shuttle skiing on Shasta. Follow the normal route to Horse Camp, then traverse north a bit and descend west into the lower part of Cascade Gulch and follow it the way down to the Everett Highway at 5000 ft, where a car can be left ahead of time or one could hope to hitch-hike back to Bunny Flat. Since so little effort is expended to reach Horse camp, this route could easily be repeated several times in one day.
Other Ski Mountaineering Routes:
Old Ski Bowl
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6900 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 4000+ ft (1200+ m)
- Roundtrip Distance 9+ miles (14+ km)
- Quality
- Effort 6.5
- Ascent
- Descent
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Ascent Descent Notes: A variety of ski terrain can be accessed from winter into late spring via the unplowed portion of the Everitt Highway, which leads from Bunny Flat to the site of the former Mount Shasta Ski Bowl. This ski area closed in 1978 following an avalanche which destroyed most of the lifts. The East and West Bowls of the former ski area provide a variety of moderate terrain which steepens considerably as one heads north towards Shastarama point. The new Mount Shasta Ski Park is located 2.5 miles (4 km) to the south, and is an easy downhill ski run from the Ski Bowl. The Sun and Powder Bowls lie just west of the Ski Bowl and Green Butte, and are accessible easily from the road a mile past Bunny Flat.
Other Ski Mountaineering Routes:
Sun Bowl / Powder Bowl
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation6900 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 2300 ft (700 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 5 miles (8 km)
- Quality
- Effort 3.5
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: See Above
Shastina Ski Mountaineering Routes:
Cascade Gulch to Shastina Summit
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation6900 ft (2100 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 5400 ft (1650 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 11 miles (17 km)
- Quality
- Effort 8.0
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: This is the standard route to climb Shastina, the prominent satellite cone on the west flank of Mount Shasta. Follow the description above to the Shastina saddle, then head west less than a half-mile to the summit of Shastina, which consists of several small overlapping cinder cones with prominent craters. Lakes can be found in three of these depressions, but these are always snow-covered until mid-summer.
Shastina Ski Mountaineering Routes:
Diller Canyon to Shastina Summit
- Ranking
- Starting Elevation 6000 ft (1800 m)
- Elevation Gain/Loss 6300 ft (1900 m)
- Roundtrip Distance 7 miles (11 km)
- Quality
- Effort 8.0
- Ascent
- Descent
Ascent Descent Notes: Diller Canyon is the massive gorge on the west flank of Shastina, the path of numerous pyroclastic flows which inundated the townsite of Weed over 9000 years ago. Snow drifts accumulate in the shelter of the lee (south) side of the canyon, providing a steep and direct ski line from the summit of Shastina into late spring. A maze of old logging roads provide access to above the 5000 ft level, just south of the canyon.
