Hike Mt. Shasta

Black Butte seems peripheral while Mount Shasta and a sunset sky cast a great reflection.

January 2023 was an interesting month in Northern California. With a series of powerful storms hitting the state in rapid succession, the drought stricken region received far more than its average amount of precipitation. Many parts of the state, especially in the Sierra Nevada, there is substantial snowpack, far exceeding the average depth for this time of the year. In some areas, the snowpack’s depth is exceeding the April 1st average. This date is important because it typically marks the end of the significant precipitation season when the snowpack is at its greatest depth before the spring thaw comes. Here in Mount Shasta, conditions would fall in the former category, with above average depths but not quite as high as those parts of the Sierra that really got hammered. The snowpack and other circumstances are such, however, that some interesting things have occurred on the mountain that are worth pointing out.

Needless to say, when the storm finally cleared out, Mount Shasta was quite white, with a deep accumulation of snow. Only a few rocky crags looked to be free of ice. This is one of my favorite of the mountain’s many appearances, when even Thumb Rock and Shastarama are blanketed in ice. This state can linger for a while when temperatures are cold. With the passing of this storm, this was the case with Mount Shasta. Everything was overwhelmingly snowy and it would take a few days for the temperatures to go up and the interesting phenomena on the mountain to manifest.

The avalanche area is just below the horizon, immediately left of center.

First among these is the large avalanche that happened at the head of Cascade Gulch, which lies in the saddle between Mount Shasta and Shastina. This was a pretty significant avalanche and was clearly visible to the naked eye from in town. Though there are frequent avalanches on the mountain, this one seemed larger and more evident than most.

The avalanche started at the very head of Cascade Gulch, just below 12,000 feet. It looks like the maximum descent about 400 feet below the head, with a great deal of snow collected at a tight point along the gulch at the terminus. A wall of snow where the slab gave way is evident. Though it began fading as the sunlight and warmer (but certainly not warm!) conditions effected the snow, it was still visible prior to the next wave to storms arrived.

Sunset light on the Cascade Gulch avalanche.

Another interesting phenomenon could be seen nearby on Mount Shasta. Although substantial amounts of snow fell on some areas on the mountain’s west face seemed strangely bare while other parts had unusual accumulations.

A strange mound of snow streaked across the west face of Mount Shasta. 

I first noticed these odd patterns while the snow was still fresh and many of the mountain’s crags were still blindingly white with snow and rime ice. Though there was a patch below the summit that seemed strangely bare, the most intriguing sight was a long mound of snow that extended from one of the windows on Casaval Ridge northward, across Mount Shasta’s west face. It was an odd formation and one I had never noticed on the mountain before.

Another perspective on the strange streak accumulation on Mount Shasta.

It seemed that the wind must have whipped the snow into this odd band across the west face. The mound looked deepest immediately adjacent to Casaval Ridge, where it piled up between the ridge and one of is large spurs that descends down into Hidden Valley. Beyond the spur, the snow mound continued to the north, finally dissipating as it neared the area above the saddle between it and Shastina (where the avalanche occurred.

Parallel bands of bare rock developed on either side of the snow mound.

A few days after the storm cleared, the temperatures warmed up a little but the wind continued to rip through the area. This combination revealed another interesting phenomenon on Mount Shasta. The mound of snow, which was an unusual accumulation, became highlighted by the absence of snow on the mountain both above and below the band. Despite the deep snowpack, there was suddenly very noticeable areas on Mount Shasta that had no snow on it at all.

The absence of snow on the west face contrasts against the deep pack in Avalanche Gulch.

If I were to venture a guess, both the mound of snow and the bands of bare rock are the result of some strong winds scouring Mount Shasta. First they caused the mound to appear, piling the snow up deep, then it sheared the thinner areas on either side of it. The result was a strange pattern on Mount Shasta, especially considering how much snow it has on it.

The amount of snow was particularly evident once Everitt Memorial Highway was finally plowed and one could drive up to Bunny Flat. Needless to say, the drive is impressive. I haven’t seen that much snow on the mountain in 5 years, since the big storm in January 2017. The amount of snow evident along the road really put the bare patches on the mountain’s west face into perspective. They are bare not because only a little snow fell but because the wind has been unusual powerful. It certainly has give the mountain a unique post-storm appearance.

One last thing of a more personal note. There has been a trio of red firs on Mount Shasta that I have always enjoyed framing with the mountain. They provided a nice foreground and contrast to the massive peak. This past year I noticed one of the trees looking a little worse for the wear. I would guess it is one of the trees that has been stricken by the drought. When I headed up to Bunny Flat the morning it was first opened, I noticed the tree had fallen down. I am not necessarily saddened by this, but I felt like its passing should be noted. Hopefully the two remaining trees will carry on the legacy for many years to come!

As always, there is much afoot around the mountain but the mountain remains. We’ll see what happens next!