Big Mountain Dreams?
Start on Shasta!

Sky High Views of Shasta

Alpenglow Expeditions’ owner and founder, Adrian Ballinger, recently went on a flight around Northern California on a scoping mission. He was met with sweeping panoramic (and snowy!) views of one of the more impressive volcanoes in the Cascade Range: Mt. Shasta. With over 7,000 feet of vertical relief from trailhead to summit, this peak is a phenomenal location for climbers of all experience levels. Whether this is your first glaciated peak or a party lap you take with your friends on skis every year, the mountain’s beauty–and challenge–is undeniable.

Why Mt. Shasta?

Mt. Shasta also serves as a place to test your skills, gear, and team dynamics, while dialing in your systems to prepare for larger objectives both in the United States and beyond. This mountain is a great place to get used to carrying heavy loads, practice your layering and self-care systems, and understand how to travel on glaciers safely and efficiently. If you’re dreaming of bigger peaks, whether it’s a stratovolcano in South America or a Himalayan giant, Shasta is a great place to start.

What Experience Do I Need?

Alpenglow expeditions offers a variety of trips on Mt. Shasta, with the goal of having an objective for every mountain-goer, regardless of climbing experience. None of our programs require extensive mountaineering experience, just a strong level of hiking or uphill skinning fitness. It is important to note that if you’re looking at our Mt. Shasta Ski program, this particular excursion does require 25+ days of ski touring. Our Mountaineering School, West Face, and Avalanche Gulch climbs do not require any prior experience.

How Should I Prepare?

If you want to hone in the basics before arriving at the trailhead, such as proper crampon and self-arrest techniques, we highly recommend our Intro to Mountaineering and Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue courses as a place to start learning these techniques. Especially if you envision yourself climbing larger peaks, it’s incredibly important to learn these skills from individuals with the qualifications to teach them!

All of our guides are certified through the American Mountain Guides Association, and we are one of the few guiding businesses that is fully accredited by them. Some of our guides have gone even further to receive their full pin with the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA), which is essentially the equivalent of getting your PhD in guiding. We love to brag about our guides, and we hope you come climb with us to see what truly makes the Alpenglow Expeditions experience so special.