Our Tour to Cascade Gulch on Shastina
After a great day riding the Konwakiton Glacier on Mount Shasta we decided to hang around for another day. Spending the night at the Bunny Flats Parking lot we woke up with the first light of the day. By then the lot was filled with people preparing to climb Mount Shasta. It was chaos as people threw there gear into there packs and we saw everyone moving towards the Avalanche Gulch route. From our vantage point we had a clear view of our internded ski route of off Shastina. Our plan was to access the summit via a low col then riding down the last ribbon of snow on the west face.
Before long it was time to start moving as we didn’t want to ski Shastina too early or two late. If we dropped in too soon it would be ice and later it would turn to slush. Saying goodbye to Jason and Christy we went right while everyone else went left. Soon enough we were on our own and doing a low angle traverse towards the Hidden Valley.
Ski Touring up the Hidden Valley to the Summit of Shastina
Once in the Hidden Valley we had a clear view of our route to the top of Shastina. It would be straightforward and easy all the way to the top and if all went according to plan we would be able to skin the entire way. It was wild because there was more then 100 people climbing Mount Shasta but there was no one to be seen.
Climbing up we followed the main drainage to minimize sidehilling. By now the surface of the snow had softened enough to make skinning easy. While it was now late May the whole area was still buried under a deep snowpack. Although it wouldn’t be our descent route it would have been a great ski non the less.
Before long we were making the final traverse to the low col. To the East the summit of Mount Shasta rose another 2,000 feet making Shastina feel small in comparison. With a mellow sidehill we were finally on the last ridge and gaining elevation fast.
Arriving on the Crater Rim of Shastina
After another 10 minutes of skinning we were finally on the summit crater of Shastina. Looking below us and to the east was the Whitney running off the north side of Mount Shasta. There were numerous steep couloirs down onto the glacier but we were focusing on the south side.
After taking in the view for 30 minutes it was time to get moving. We felt that the snow had softened enough as we transitioned to descent mode. Our plan was to descend to the Hidden Valley before doing a low angled traverse back to the car. Amar was going to be able to ski while I would probably have to transition to skinning.
After a few minutes of riding along the summit of Shastina we needed to search for the Cascade Gulch. While the snow was soft it was far from smooth as it had been hammered by find. Making our way around rocks we were able to find the right notch to ski down.
Riding down the Cascade Gulch
Since we had climbed up near the Cascade Gulch we knew the route went from top to bottom. Looking down the line it rolled over and there was scree on both sides. If we didn’t know better it would seem like the line didn’t go. Dropping in we were happy to find perfectly edgeable snow and descending fast.
Finally we made our way over the roller and had a full view of the Cascade Gulch. While the first 1,000 feet was a strip of snow it would soon open up in the Hidden Valley. We could tell that the high ridge had a thin snowpack but we would head over to the main valley. We could tell it was pretty fast so we would have to keep up speed to go as far as possible.
Soon enough the terrain opened up and we were making our way into the Hidden Valley. It had been a great descent off of Shastina and a good alternative to Mount Shasta. Following the route below we would make our way all the way to treeline before heading towards Bunny Flats.
Before we made our way into the valley we turned back one last time to check out our tracks. It was great to see two sets of turns heading down the small ribbon of snow. While every other south facing slope was melted out we were still able to get a line off the summit of Shastina.
Riding Down the Hidden Valley Back to Bunny Flats
Soon enough it was time for the last 2,000 feet to the valley below. Making big turns on the upper face I made sure to keep up speed on the lower slopes. Following the main valley it benched off towards the south and before long it was time for the final traverse. Amar was able to stick to skinning I had to transition.
After around 6 hours of ski touring we were back at the Bunny Flats Parking lot. Throwing our gear in the back of Amars car we checked out the forecast and came up with options were to go next. With the weather looking better in Northern California we decided the best option would be to head south. We still had a few hours of sunlight so we would drive to the southern parking lot of Lassen Peak.
It had been a great rest/touring day heading up Shastina after our day on Mount Shasta. It was my first time heading up Shastina and it was a great trip exploring a new volcano based out of the same parking lot for Mount Shasta.
Ascent/Decent 5600 feet
Over 9 miles