Hike Mt. Shasta

With autumn in full swing, the conditions around Mount Shasta continue to get more and more interesting. This is the normal pattern of the shoulder seasons as the long dry/wet seasons give way to their respective counterparts. In particular, this was the case a few days ago, when I headed to Echo Point at Truchas Ridge. I have had great luck photographing Mount Shasta from this spot (it’s awesome, how can anyone not have great luck here?) and with the fog  I was hoping to replicate my past success by augmenting the beautiful conditions with a lenticular cloud.

When I first reached Echo Point, the fog was flowing eastward, out of Echo Basin. I was actually worried that maybe I had missed my opportunity with the fog and it was permanently receding for the morning.

My fears were definitely unfounded, as the mist rolled back in, filling the basin and, at times, starting to turn my view of Mount Shasta opaque. I started to wonder if there was going to be too much fog.

The fog continued to sweep through the basin, getting thicker and thicker. Unfortunately, it really began to overtake Echo Point right when the color started to get good. The opportunity I had hoped for had arrived but was just beyond my reach. Nonetheless, it was fascinating to watch the waves of fog lap up against the ridge. It seemed like the aspiration of some terrific being, breathing the fog in and out of the basin beneath me.

Finally, the mist settled just enough for Mount Shasta to be seen clearly above the vaporous sea. The free floating lenticular had dissipated but the one on the mountain’s summit had grown considerably. This corresponding retraction and growth is something I have observed quite a bit with lenticulars. Unfortunately, I did not observe it very long this time. A deep wave flowed toward me and completely swept over Echo Point, ending my view of anything not a few dozen feet from me.

A few moments later, the small disc of the son suddenly burst out of the fog. It was so thick that I could look at the sun with no filter.

The sun’s intensity grew as it climbed higher in the sky and into areas where the fog was thinner. It was soon too bright to look upon but not so powerful enough to scatter the mist. Everything glowed.

The sun finally climbed above the fog and for a brief moment the very top of Mount Shasta was visible above the god. The lenticular on the summit had grown even more but was soon swallowed up once again by the fog. Such was the nature of the morning.

All in all it was a disappointing morning in terms of photography but it was still quite spectacular in its own way. I couldn’t help thinking that it was a waste of an opportunity for a good eclipse!

Heading back home, I left the fog and entered the domain of the incoming storm. The mountain and its lenticular crown were briefly visible before the clouds obscured it, much like what had been done by the fog. The storm turned out to be a strong one. Lots of rain, 70 mph winds, broken branches and a toppled steeple at one of the churches. That pretty much marked the end of the fall color, since most of it is now lying on the ground. Still, fall persists and we might get some more pyrotechnics in the sky.