Casaval Ridge: There is snow in CA

Sun setting on Mount Shasta and Shastina to the West.

With the sparse snowpack in the Eastern Sierra this winter, I decided the plan should be to head north to the snowy peaks of the Cascade Range.  Many of the ski resorts in the North Cascades are boasting over 500 inches of snowfall for the year.  Crystal is currently at 557" and Mount Baker, which hasn't even counted any of the snow from April yet, is at 777".  While there is sure to be a bit of the normal marketing bias in those numbers, the trend is lotsa snow!

With Matt Paul riding shotgun, we headed decided to truck past Lassen straight to Mount Shasta.  Lassen looked fat, but we were on a mission.  After spending a quick night out at Bunny Flat, we got an early start.  We began skinning at 4:30am and we could already feel the warm breeze blowing out of the west.  The temps in town were expected to be 80 degrees F so we wanted to get on top early and catch the snow right when the corn was perfect.

Skinning up Avalanche Gulch with the snow already soft below 9,000'.

The snow was already soft in the lower elevations, so we decided to skin up Avalanche Gulch until the snow got firm enough to boot pack up Casaval Ridge, one of the most classic lines on the second tallest Cascade Volcano.  

Matt climbing runnels on the way to the Second Window.

The bootpacking started off a little punchy as we ascended toward Casaval Ridge's Second Window.  Soon enough, the snow became firm and supportable and the climbing became more consistent and fun.  

Chris Carr, owner of Shasta Mountain Guides, and SMG guide Matt Paul, climb on Casaval's west side.

Tents dot the rim of Lake Helen at 10,400'.

The affects of the past few days of heat and sun had left their mark on the south and eastern slopes of Avvy Gulch.  We were hoping that trend would help us in our search for the best agricultural product California offers: Corn!

Chris fights rime ice to gain a steep section of the ridge.

As we got higher on the mountain, the winds increased.  The snow was not even hinting at softening up.  Corn snow, or no, the climbing was great and we kept cruising up.

Some epic rime ice formations below the Catwalk.

Chris climbs around the rim of the Trinity Chutes.  The next person to catch this in corn is going to be psysched!

Chris and Matt entering the Catwalk.

Ascending the steep and rimed Catwalk.

SMG Guide Dane Brinkley tops out on the Catwalk.

When we ascended the summit plateau, the wind was blowing around 30 mph, enough to push you around a bit.  There was no way it was going to soften anywhere on the upper mountain.  The massive rime and deep blue skies were incredible though.
 

Dane and Matt topping out on Shasta's rimed summit block.

As temping as the Trinity Chutes were, we opted to ski the West Face's smoother less runnelled snow.

Chris rips some hardpack on the West Face.

There's a whole season of corn skiing ahead on Mount Shasta.  Now all we need is a little high pressure.  Get some.