Mt Whitney Zone
Posted By: WanderingJim Anyone been up Shasta recently? - 06/28/19 04:31 AM
So I have next week off and had to scrap my original plan since Tioga Road isn't fully open and the trails up there are just not doable.

So I'll switch to a backup plan and do 4-5 days on Yosemite's North Rim and then hightail it to Mt Shasta to spend 3-4 days there.

Bunny Flat to summit and back.

Anyone been up there recently and have any info?

Due to the heavy snow, the conditions are supposedly more like early June instead of early July.

I'd start on Shasta, but I already have the permit for Yosemite and it should also help me acclimatize.
(Yes, while I'm complaining about the snow in Yosemite, I'm also planning on trekking up the snow on Shasta.) smile
Posted By: Steve C Re: Anyone been up Shasta recently? - 06/28/19 05:05 AM
Tioga Pass is fully open starting Monday, July 1.
Posted By: WanderingJim Re: Anyone been up Shasta recently? - 06/28/19 01:19 PM
Originally Posted By: Steve C
Tioga Pass is fully open starting Monday, July 1.

Yeah, just saw that.
But trail conditions still won't work for my original plans.
Posted By: marksilas Re: Anyone been up Shasta recently? - 07/02/19 06:11 AM
I climbed Shasta via Avalanche Gulch on June 27. I had never been there before (live in Colo.), so can't compare it to other years. Was on snow most of the route, but didn't have any problems. My 71 year old partner and I started at 4am and made the summit at 11:15am. Got back to Bunny Flats at 4pm.
Posted By: AdventureUSA Re: Anyone been up Shasta recently? - 07/09/19 09:31 PM
I attempted Shasta via Avalanche Gulch with a buddy on 6/7. Snow was very slushy from Bunny Flats and hardened as you got up to Helen Lake. Got up at 3am and were hiking up to the top of Red Banks by 3:45am in our crampons. We ended up turning around at 7:30am due to high winds, along with 40-60 others near the top of Misery Hill. As far as I know, there were no summits that Saturday. We were able to glissade some of Red Banks to Helen Lake camp, but it was still quite icy. I think we arrived back there around 10am. Past Helen Lake we glissaded probably 75% of the descent. It was fun but your butt sure gets cold after a while. We were at the car at 1:30pm. It was an amazing trip, and I'm glad we went. Excited to try again next year.
Posted By: WanderingJim Re: Anyone been up Shasta recently? - 07/14/19 09:01 PM
Well, ended up doing Old Big Oak Flat Road Trailhead to Snow Creek in Yosemite last week.
https://wandering.earth/index.php/2019/07/14/yosemite-july-2019/

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Then I did go up to try my luck this year with Shasta.
https://wandering.earth/index.php/2019/07/14/mt-shasta-july-2019/

Didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped, but was a nice combination with my Yosemite trek.
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Posted By: Steve C Re: Anyone been up Shasta recently? - 07/14/19 11:48 PM
> Well, ended up doing Old Big Oak Flat Road Trailhead to Snow Creek in Yosemite last week.

Isn't that hike about 20 miles? Long hike! Is the Half Dome picture from Eagle Peak?

Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Posted By: WanderingJim Re: Anyone been up Shasta recently? - 07/15/19 12:10 AM
Originally Posted By: Steve C
> Well, ended up doing Old Big Oak Flat Road Trailhead to Snow Creek in Yosemite last week.

Isn't that hike about 20 miles? Long hike! Is the Half Dome picture from Eagle Peak?


First HD pic is from Eagle Peak, other two are from North Dome.

Going by the trail distances on NatGeo's map it's a little over 30 miles from Old Big Oak Flat TH to Mirror Lake TH. A few little hops from the main trail (Top of El Cap exploring and to the top of the falls) added a little too.

34 is what my GPS (and legs smile ) told me.

Yosemite Falls Trail to Snow Creek may be closer to 20 miles.
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