June 13, 2010, Mt Shasta, California

New and old friends converged on Mt Shasta in the pm on Saturday.  Bivy at trailhead, not too noisy.  Foot walkers getting an earlier start than skiers, but together again at Helen Lake for the Avalanche Gulch route.  The gulch proper in the firing range of golf to softball size ice chunks hurdling at high speeds.  Dangerous condition, stayed way right to avoid most of it.  Tiring being in the scope for so long.  Khahn took a couple for the team, ouch!

We all made it to the summit in pretty darn fine style, especially Laura and Justin who was getting their first real taste of mountaineering, stellar effort for sure.  A 13k freezing level forecast did not seem to do much to the upper mountains rime and ice.  Not too pretty getting off that thing, but on skis ;-)

Melted water while waiting for the slopes to soften.  Ants in our pants got us going and we headed off to the Whitney Glacier.  Nicely covered and a sweet run.  Booted from Shastina col to top of Shastina and skied S and down zig-zag and into Cascade Gulch and Hidden Valley.

Long drive there and back, punctuated by nights in Eugene at in-laws.  Skied from and to the car.  Great coverage.  Great company.  Camera left on video so not many pics.