June 18-21, 2011, Mt Shasta North/South sides

Joined a large group at the Northgate trailhead to climb and ski the Hotlum-Bolam route. Camped at a bit under 10,000' and skied surrounding slopes on the first day. Tremendous wind on the summit, huge halo around the sun, and then a lenticular descended over the whole mountain. Next day was clear, warm, and windless in camp. By the time we got to the top though we found the winds - 60+ mph at the saddle leading to the summit plateau. I turned around along with another, but most of the group went on to summit (on hands and knees). We skied down the Bolam Glacier, awesome and chalky at the top, then icy for a long ways before finally hitting the cornfields. Descended to within 150' of the trailhead lot!

Came back two days later to ski the south side solo. Skinned from Bunny Flat to Lake Helen in something over 2 hrs, switched to crampons for Avy Gulch, then skins again to the summit plateau. Summited after 5 hrs 45 min - clear skies, little to no wind. Skied nasty, icy garbage to Misery Hill, found good snow on east facing slopes away from the ascent path, then worked my way to the top of the Trinity Chutes. Skied the central chute (just skier's left of the big gendarme) in perfect conditions. Easy entrance, steep turns at the top, a little mellower farther down, then endless corn turns down the gulch and to the camps. Softer after that, but decent enough all the way back to the car. Truly a great day!