Mount Shasta Mountaineering School

This Shasta mountaineering school and North Side summit climb is designed to prepare aspiring mountaineers for high-altitude peaks around the world.

With two days of skills training on Mount Shasta‘s Hotlum Glacier, it is the perfect opportunity to learn mountaineering skills here in California. The Northeast Side on Mount Shasta holds numerous complex routes that cross massive sheets of ice; perfect for glacial travel, crevasse rescue and snow travel skills work.

MOUNTAINEERING SKILLS YOU WILL LEARN:

• Introduction to Mount Shasta‘s alpine environment
• Glacier anatomy and hazard recognition
• Overview of equipment
• Moving over steep snow
• Crampons and Ice axe use
• Diagonal and direct ascent and descent
• Self arrest
• Crevasse rescue
• Basic rope-work
• Knots and hitches
• Snow anchors and load transfers
• Belaying and rappelling + raising and lowering
• Guided vs non-guided rope-work
• Strategies to increase security

GLACIER TRAVEL AND CREVASSE RESCUE DAY ON MOUNT SHASTA:

Traveling on glacial terrain can be inherently dangerous, difficult and complicated due to the variable nature of the terrain, the limited ability to scope out the hazards in advance and the serious consequences of falling into a crevasse. Even a minor fall into a crevasse can negatively affect the safety and success of the adventure.

Preventing a fall, or limiting the potential severity of a fall, into a crevasse while moving efficiently is the goal of glacier travel and requires practice and attention to detail. Further; if a fall does occur, rapid, organized and safe rescue is the goal of crevasse rescue.

MOUNT SHASTA SUMMIT BID

After spending the last two days developing the skills necessary for a successful summit of Mount Shasta, it will be time for our own summit bid. An Alpine Start will kick off our day, as we move under the cover of the stars towards the summit. We’ll utilize all of our new skills as we climb the beautiful North Side route of Mount Shasta. After a short celebration at the summit of Mount Shasta, one of California’s most iconic peaks, we’ll begin our descent back to base camp where will we get some much needed rest before trekking back to the trailhead the following day.

The Hotlum Glacier is our first choice for this itinerary. However, depending on conditions, our guides will occasionally select a different route to accomplish the same goals.
Interested in this trip with a ski descent? Check out our Mount Shasta West Face Ski!

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN OUR MOUNT SHASTA MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL:

– Food on the mountain
– Group Gear: Tents, Camp Kitchen, etc. (Does not include bowl, fork, spoon, sleeping bag, or sleeping pad)
– Ropes and other Technical Equipment (Does not include mountaineering boots)
– Wilderness Permits
– Tahoe Guide Fees