May 18, 07 Mt Shasta, Hotlum-Wintun Ridge
5/15/07
US elsewhere
4414
5
When we got to the ranger station to buy our permits he said we wouldnt be able to get anywhere close to the trailhead because of the condition of the road. Well good thing I have a 4x4 truck with winch because we were able to get to the snow line at 6400 ft, about 1000' below the trailhead. We skinned up to about 9000' and camped for the night. There was no wind which made for peaceful sleeping.
We started skinning up at 1:30 It was a great night to be out, not a sliver of the moon and only about 35 degrees. The skinning was going pretty good for a while until my skins slipped and I slid quite a ways. After that we switched to crampons for the rest of the ascent. We were moving pretty fast which allowed us to take a couple power naps on the way up. I think we got to the summit some time around 11 and it was very windy up top. A fellow summiter asked us if the carpet on our skis was to slow us down. I thought that was quite funny.
The descent near the top was a little crusty because of the wind but it started to soften up really nice a little lower down. At least 4000' of really good corn snow all to ourselves. This was my first attempt at this route and I definitley recommend it.
We started skinning up at 1:30 It was a great night to be out, not a sliver of the moon and only about 35 degrees. The skinning was going pretty good for a while until my skins slipped and I slid quite a ways. After that we switched to crampons for the rest of the ascent. We were moving pretty fast which allowed us to take a couple power naps on the way up. I think we got to the summit some time around 11 and it was very windy up top. A fellow summiter asked us if the carpet on our skis was to slow us down. I thought that was quite funny.
The descent near the top was a little crusty because of the wind but it started to soften up really nice a little lower down. At least 4000' of really good corn snow all to ourselves. This was my first attempt at this route and I definitley recommend it.
Hey ! way to punch in there and grab the goods. Two years ago i did the same thing and was stymied by stong winds. Our consolation was powder skiing below10000 to the north. It 's a great trip. Did you actually use the winch?
I've been eyeing that route for the near future too... any more details about the road? (for me and my winch-free little front wheel drive Escort...)
My trip was in early june and there were snow banks that my Izuzu went though that wouldn't be doable by escort. Perhaps tahoefreeride would give more info on road. Also there is usually a Shasta thread running on TTips. The ski gear shop in Shasta city also has good info.
The road had many snow drifts across it. I was able to drive through most of them by driving back and forth in 4wd to make a rut that I could drive through. There was one that was quite deep and about 60 to 80 ft across. I got as far in it as I could and then we winched through the rest. There was a few downed trees that we had to move, nothing too big just a couple feet in diameter. On the way back down I was able to drive through all my previous tracks without getting stuck. At 6400' the road pretty much becomes impassable.
Wow! I'm impressed. I'm one of the people who helped you at the ranger station. Thanks for the report. Skiing looks awesome. :D
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