Home > Trip Reports > June 20-21, 2009, Mt. Shasta, Hotlum-wintun route

June 20-21, 2009, Mt. Shasta, Hotlum-wintun route

6/20/09
US elsewhere
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Posted by windloaded on 6/22/09 1:42pm
A few folks asked for a TR, sounds like there may be a couple groups headed to Shasta from the NW next week.

Arrived at the trailhead about 4pm Sat.  Folks drinking beers in the sun post summit and ski were reporting that it was €œall-time€.  We made our way from Brewer Creek trailhead to about 8000€™ along the overly circuitous trail before the forecasted front (shortwave to pass through overnight) showed up with some rain and wind.   Camped at 8000€™ in the lee of a ridge and trees. 

Up.
Morning came in with surrounding low clouds, but a clear mountain.  Skins were on at 8000€™ and we were able to link two snowfields with one short lateral carry over rock.  Around 9000€™ terrain steepens a bit and it was a mixed bag between people skinning or booting as solid freeze left skin grip a little lacking.  Grip got better after a little sun.  Most everyone was crossing into the Wintun glacier about as high up as the route allows at ~ 11,400€™.   Temp jumped up as we entered the chute and got out of the NW wind.  The bootpack up from there to the summit was pretty disorganized and had higher steps than is really comfortable, but it still beat out breaking own trail.  Probably a total of 20-25 people on the route sunday.

Down.
Skiing off the top at 1pm was icy/over-firm from 14k to 12.5k.  Wasn€™t a particularly hot day and the wind didn€™t help.  It softened up lower and we had pleasant turns down the Wintun from 12.5 to about 9.5.  Below ~9.5 suncups and skier-embossed snow takes over.  We found a snowband that crossed over the W-H ridge somewhere around 9-9.5k and then bumped our way down the suncups back to camp.  Some of the N. aspects were less affected, but didn€™t soften up for us.  Suncups really didn€™t look fun for people that had camped higher up and had to ski down 'em with full packs. 

Not quite 'all-time', but still a good ski.
Thanks for the report, yes there are a number of us up here in Pugetopolis who are thinking of escaping our return to normal off and on rainy weather to visit the sunny south, 545 mile drive to Brewer Ck trailhead, at least gas is not back to $4/gallon yet.

skiied it this morning, good corn (except for the suncups down low).

author=silaswild link=topic=13694.msg57204#msg57204 date=1245773032]
Thanks for the report, yes there are a number of us up here in Pugetopolis who are thinking of escaping our return to normal off and on rainy weather to visit the sunny south, 545 mile drive to Brewer Ck trailhead, at least gas is not back to $4/gallon yet.


Go! :).

author=silaswild link=topic=13694.msg57204#msg57204 date=1245773032]
Thanks for the report, yes there are a number of us up here in Pugetopolis who are thinking of escaping our return to normal off and on rainy weather to visit the sunny south, 545 mile drive to Brewer Ck trailhead, at least gas is not back to $4/gallon yet.


Do it! I did. Summited 6/18. Drove down from Bellingham WA then to Tahoe for some climbing. ended up being a 2000+ mile trip. Totally worth it.

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june-20-21-2009-mt-shasta-hotlum-wintun-route
windloaded
2009-06-22 20:42:28