Late January Lenticular Sunset

Posted by bubbasuess on January 28, 2023
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Lenticular Clouds, Mount Shasta, Truchas Ridge. 3 Comments

Sunset light illuminates a lenticular cap on Mount Shasta.

Last weekend the changing weather conditions around Mount Shasta produced one of the better and longer-lasting lenticular formations that has manifested this season. The sustained winter weather has meant that the frequency and scale of lenticulars around the mountain has not been great this year. The few times there have been decent formations, they have been a bit more fleeting than in the past, often dissipating before the sunset light could really highlight them.

The cloud was not present at dawn but by midmorning it was forming over the mountain. Unfortunately, between a belt of clouds just around treeline and the cloud’s propensity to belch out to the west a large plume of cloud the lenticular had a low visibility from the west. I headed north to the Edgewood pools and got a nice view of the cloud, though the wind meant that a clear reflection was not to be had. It was, nonetheless, a good perspective on the formation.

The cloud was particularly stormy on the west side, where the large plumes continued to erupt to the east. It seemed that the turbulence that helped form the spectacular cloud was also kicking up a lot of snow. Hidden Valley and West Face Gully looked like pretty inhospitable places at this time.

It was hard to pull myself away from the ever-changing spectacle but I resolved that if the cloud persisted to the evening, I would head out to Truchas Ridge for the sunset.

Conditions at the ridge were awesome, though the ground was a bit muddy in places. The north-facing aspect of all the hills were still covered in snow and the nearby lake was quite full. It all provided a gorgeous sight, especially when playing foreground to the awesome peaks that lie to the east, west and south.

In the end, the lenticular collapsed a bit, making it less interesting than it had been and partially obscuring Mount Shasta in the process. In spite of this, the entire scene, come late afternoon and sunset, was fantastic and made for one of the prettier sunsets I had seen in a while.

Epic Rainfall Around Mount Shasta

Posted by bubbasuess on January 6, 2023
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Lenticular Clouds, Mount Shasta. Leave a comment

Turbulent skies over Mount Shasta.

The extraordinary storm conditions that have persisted for the last two months not only show no sign of abating in January, but are becoming even more powerful. This means that increasingly significant rainfall continues to pour down on the western United States. The Mount Shasta area is at the center of the incredible storm system and the effects are easy to discern when looking at the creeks, rivers and surrounding landscape. It is a blessing, after being in the throes of drought for the last few years.

A glorious inter-storm sunrise in the frozen Shasta Valley.

After Christmas, the Mount Shasta area had a significant rain storm that dropped a copious amounts of rain. It brought the return of the Shasta Valley reflecting pools and swelled the creeks and rivers that flow around the foot of Mount Shasta. Though it was cold, the freezing conditions weren’t to last long beyond New Years and a new storm system with even more rain was inbound.

Wednesday night the storm crashed through the area with powerful winds and a truly epic amount of rain. The wind was so fierce, I observed it driving the rain upward! The water fell from the sky all night and by morning, everything was incredibly waterlogged, far exceeding the mount of water that fell during the post-Christmas storm.

While the storm continued in Mount Shasta, a short jaunt north into the Shasta Valley revealed blue skies and a sky filled with magnificent lenticular clouds. The puddles and pools, already large from the first storm, were now swollen and multiplied beyond anything I have ever seen. This was by far the most water I have seen in the Shasta Valley.

The creeks and rivers were also in remarkable condition. I headed over to Parks Creek to check its status. While it was already engorged by runoff from the first storm when I had checked it a few days earlier, now it was a torrent. Rather than the normal, mild-mannered creek that flows through the rocky channel, it was now a raging river, with far more water than even the Shasta River might normally have.

Of course, the Shasta River was even larger, a truly impressive beast of a waterway at this time. While it is often hard to recognize it as a “river”, at least in its upper areas before it is charged with the numerous large springs that emerge in the downstream in the Shasta Valley, at this time there was no mistaking this as a large and powerful river.

Though the Shasta River flows mostly through private land, there are a few good places to observe it. Most of these are around the community of Edgewood. It is certainly worth heading out and seeing this unappreciated river, especially when it has such a strong flow.

At nightfall, I found myself in the valley again. Though the mountain was not totally visible, it was oddly quiet. Dark clouds brewed, promising yet more rain. This is what the thirsty land needs and it is a blessing that such is being provided. To provide some idea of how much impact these storms are having, Shasta Lake has risen 15 feet (at the time of this writing) since Christmas Day. It is rising roughly 3 feet per day over the last few days. I believe this trend will continue for a while yet.

While heading up to the animal hospital on Friday, I had to stop and take a few more pictures, as a new batch of lenticulars continued to dominate the sky over Mount Shasta. The mountain itself was visible, though partially covered by the storm that was bringing rain to the areas on the south side. The Shasta Valley always amazes me in the way it manages to stay dry while the entire region surrounding it is pelted with rain and snow.

This is the next 5 storms due to slam into the west coast over the next several days.

Here they are identified by Rogue Weather , a great resource for local weather conditions. That is quite an array of storm systems. It seems that we are not even close to the end of this wild weather.

 

 

Mount Shasta 2022 – A Year In Images

Posted by bubbasuess on January 1, 2023
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Mount Shasta. 2 Comments

The year of our Lord 2022 has come and gone. The year was another good one at the foot of Mount Shasta, though not without its trials and challenges. Drought, fire, mud flows and a host of other things all seasoned life by the mountain. Between working out on Truchas Ridge and the opening of our animal hospital in Yreka, I did not get out nearly as much as I normally do, but life has its seasons and hopefully next year will have more time spent high in the mountain, both around Mount Shasta and further afield. Thus, through hardships and blessings, the year ends with hope for the year to come. On to the retrospective!

January:

The first month of 2022 started with a lot of snow, a storm that carried over from December. After nearly a week of precipitation, the storms came to an end, the sun came out and all of a sudden, it felt like spring! Still, Mount Shasta was its usual, spectacular self, producing lenticular clouds and other awesome spectacles to marvel at. Surely, after a few weeks of dry, warm weather, the rain and snow would return…

February:

The shortest month did not provide the answer to the question as to whether the weather would return. The month was warm and dry and only a light dusting of snow at the end of the month saved it from being a total loss in terms of winter weather. The snow that fell in December began to melt off in earnest. The Shasta Valley continued to be the place to go to get outside and explore. The high desert terrain holds rocky mysteries and spectacular vistas bit and small. All in all, it felt like time to start getting back outside. The Hike Mt Shasta kids certainly thought so and decided a campfire dinner was in order!

March:

March continued the dry conditions until the latter half of the month. A large storm move through the area and finally left some snow. While the storm raged around around Mount Shasta, the Valley offered great views of the mountain, unencumbered by much of the storm. Lenticulars heralded the coming weather. We made multiple trips out to the ridge, and took in some awesome sunsets. It was a good month, but the lack of precipitation

April:

April brought more snow than had fallen since the first days of January. The snow even came down at lower elevations, blanketing the Trinity Divide, the Castle Crags and even in town. It may have been spring but it felt more like winter than nearly any point in months. However, by the end of the month, higher elevation places like Orr Lake were palatable and it was time to head out and start camping again.

May:

Once again, the month was a wet one, with more precipitation falling in a spring month than had fallen in the winter. Nonetheless, it felt like spring. The air was warm, the grass green and the sunshine in between storms felt bright and optimistic. It was a great month around the mountain.

June:

The rainy conditions continued into June. If I recall, 4 out of 5 weekends all had rain. In spite of this, the high country had little snowpack from the winter and so it was wide open to get out and hit the trails. This is a great time of year to hike or backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail. The section from Gumboot to Parks Creek is particularly awesome, with lakes, rugged terrain and fantastic views of Mount Shasta.

July:

Surprisingly, the wet conditions continued into July, with a sizable storm hitting over Independence Day weekend. Lenticulars and lightning were aboundant and made the first days of the month pretty exciting. However, by the time the storm passed and the new snow on the mountain had faded away, Mount Shasta was left bare, a reminder of how little snow fell during the winter.

August:

Another powerful storm left a small bit of snow around the top of Mount Shasta, continuing the streak of new snow falling on the mountain. Other than that, the month was hot and dry. That didn’t stop the sunsets from being colorful, beautiful and worth getting out and enjoying.

September:

September was a monster. It wasn’t too deep into the month when the Mill and Mountain Fires erupted, leaving destruction in their wakes. The efforts to contain the fires was swift and furious and effective but not before life and property were lost. The Mountain Fire also flared back to life after a week of dormancy, adding to the conflagration’s drama. Thankfully, a merciful rain and snow fell not too long afterward, squelching the flames. The storm was large and Mount Shasta looked like its normal, midwinter self, even though the calendar still said it was summer. Most of the snow was gone in a week but the upper flanks of Mount Shasta had vestigial patches that lingered until more snow arrived.

October:

Though normally autumnal paradise, October was warm. Not hot, but warmer than normal and it made a good month to continue heading up into the high country and exploring lost lakes and rarely seen peaks. Meanwhile, the glaciers on Mount Shasta continued to spew debris and alter the landscape. Mud Creek in particular had been active all summer and this continued into the year’s tenth month.

November:

Snow fell almost immediately as November began. After the first tranche, it was gloriously fall for about two weeks in Mount Shasta. The trees finally began turning color, the days were warm and bright but the sun’s lower angle made for magnificent light. However, the snow soon returned and gave the land a much need drink. Winter came early in 2022 and hasn’t let up yet.

December:

The winter conditions continued all through December. Snow, rime ice, rain have all been abundant this month. It was a good end to an odd year.

May the Lord bless as we charge into 2023!

It Snowed On Mount Shasta In Every Month Of 2022

Posted by bubbasuess on December 30, 2022
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Lenticular Clouds, Mount Shasta. 3 Comments

The first snow of December covers Mount Shasta’s lowest flanks..

A remarkable thing happened on Mount Shasta in the year of our Lord 2022. Despite the drought conditions, it somehow managed to snow on Mount Shasta every single month of the year. The fact that snow fell in the fall, winter and spring months is not unusual. Snow falling during a summer month isn’t even that odd, though it is rare. However, new snow covering the mountain (at least its upper flanks) in each of June, July, August and September is exceptional. In the 15 years I have lived at the foot of Mount Shasta, I can’t remember seeing this happen. I would  be curious if anyone remembers this happening at some point in the past.

The really strange thing, aside from the thing itself, is the rhythm with which the snow has fallen on the mountain. The truth is, this was not a good year for snow. Most of the the snowpack we had fell in December of 2021. It was deep and produced a good bed for the rest of the year. It snowed 5 days into January of 2022 and then the storm stopped and things really dried up. Oddly enough, February, normally among the wettest months of the year, we got only the lightest of dustings of snow on Mount Shasta. Still, there was fresh snow on the mountain. It almost doesn’t count but fresh snow was present. Late March saw a decent storm but short in duration and didn’t leave a deep snowpack. By the time we reached the end of March, it was discouraging how dry the three typically wet months had been. The heart of the winter was behind us and we were still waiting for winter!

While the first three months of the year were strange for the paucity of snow, the next few months were strange in their own way. April brought one brief snow at lower elevations but lots of rain. That rain, naturally, turned into snow at higher elevations. For a short window, it snowed enough to make it feel like midwinter again. May continued the trend, bringing more rain at the lower elevations and snow at the upper elevations. It rained on Memorial Day weekend, which began a remarkable run of wet weather.

A storm brews before the 4th of July.

In June, it rained nearly every weekend. Storm after storm rolled through the area, raining on the weekends and leaving fresh snow on Mount Shasta. Indeed, strange as it is to say, far more snow fell on the mountain in June than it received in February. This pattern continued into July, storming on 4th of July weekend and fresh snow, once again falling on the mountain’s upper elevations. At least it was cool during the 4th of July Run! During this stretch of wet weekends, it rained 5 out of 6 consecutive weekends from Memorial Day weekend to the 4th of July weekend. Only one weekend saw no precipitation. Nearly every single one of these weekend storms left a little snow on Mount Shasta’s upper flanks. Not only did the fresh snow give the mountain a more wintery appearance in June, the cooler weather help stretch the December snowpack just a little further into the hot summer.

August arrived and I assumed, justifiably, that there would be no new snow on Mount Shasta. Yet, defying expectations, a powerful thunderstorm hit at the beginning of the month and, shockingly, it left a light layer of snow on the highest 3,000 feet on the mountain. I was stunned while driving to a Boy Scout meeting during the deluge and seeing the clouds part enough to see the mountain and its new snow.

It looks like winter but it’s still summer!

When September arrived, I had a suspicion that it would snow, as we often have some light dustings on the mountain by the end of the month. However, I had not anticipated the copious snow that would fall at the end of the month. Rather than a dusting, it was a full winter storm! This storm could not have come at a better time, as it put the kibosh on the fires that were still smoldering in Weed and the Little Scott Mountains. It was a striking thing to go from 100 degrees and watching the fires being fought in difficult conditions to snow within just a few days. This was, of course, indicative of how unpredictable the weather has been all year long.

Of course, October, normally a reliable snow month, almost slipped by without any snow. It was also quite warm through the whole month. It was a great time to be outside but I was secretly hoping we would get precipitation. I was starting to get a little concerned but, finally, at the end of the month a small storm passed through and left snow on the mountain.

What was surprising was that on Nov 1st, the snow arrived in force. It began snowing the first day of the month. However, after a few days it tapered off before another wave hit. To say we were unprepared for this amount of snow this early in the month is an understatement. Even the trees, which had not yet shed their leaves, were unprepared and there were broken limbs everywhere. It was quite a storm!

Rime ice around Mount Shasta.

Though the storms continued through November, they came with renewed vigor in December. Near the middle of the month, another big storm hit the area and the snow was definitely “Sierra cement”. This is heavy, sloppy, high water content snow. That is perfect for a drought-stricken area. It’s also a blast to clear. December hasn’t let up either. After the snow came freezing fog, which left magnificent rime ice displays. Though we had more snow, it finally transitioned to rain and poured from the sky in great amounts, filling the dry Shasta Valley with great reflection pools. It was marvelous!

All in all, a great, albeit strange, year. The current winter weather pattern leave the year on an optimistic note.

Mount Shasta snow every month of 2022 (click to enlarge):

May the Lord bless us with more rain and snow all winter long and into the spring!

A Deluge Around Mount Shasta

Posted by bubbasuess on December 29, 2022
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Mount Shasta. 4 Comments

Flooded fields of the Shasta Valley provide an evening reflection.

Northern California saw significant rainfall a couple of days after Christmas. Normally rain would not warrant a post on its own but the downpour had significant impact on the water situation in the area. Needless to say, it is all positive, since the state has been in drought conditions for a while.

Mount Shasta at sunset on the night before the night before Christmas.

Prior to the rain, Mount Shasta had already had plenty of snow and then the freezing fog had left a spectacular rime ice display. Christmas itself had no precipitation and somewhat warmer temperatures so the snow at lower elevations and the rime ice all began to melt. It’s amazing how quickly a lot of snow can disappear once it gets just a few degrees above freezing.

The day after Christmas had some excellent clouds and very windy conditions heralding the coming storm. Although the clouds hung low in Mount Shasta, a short jaunt up to the Shasta Valley yielded sunny skies and great views of the storm-presaging lenticular formations. The wind was cold and powerful. The forecast called for over 2 inches in the next 24 hours. That kind of rain would swell the creeks and could, if I was lucky, bring my beloved puddles back to the valley. All that was left was to wait and see what happened.

One good place to gauge the storm’s output is Parks Creek. It’s easy to get to a creek crossing and the creek is one of the largest to flow into the Shasta Valley. It was not surprising when the creek’s volume had trebled. The Shasta River was also flowing heavily. I can only imagine how quickly Lake Shastina was rising.

The snow at my house was melting quickly before the rain but with the heavy deluge, it melted even faster. All told, in 24 hours we got about 2.25 inches. That is a fair amount of rain for this neck of the woods.

When the storm broke, I headed back to the valley and was gratified to find that there was a lot of water everywhere. My puddles had finally come back! That had not formed at all last year and with one big storm they were finally back. Not only that but they were massive and copious. With more weather on the way, they will likely last all winter long (at least I hope so)!

Naturally, I headed back out at sunset. Though Mount Shasta was hidden in cloud, it was still a glorious sunset and made all the better by the colorful reflections.

I went back the next morning to try to capture the sunrise in the pools but it was too windy. Nonetheless, the spectacle was still quite rewarding, as there were beautiful clouds reeling around the mountain’s summit. They were heralding yet another round of precipitation, which ended up bringing 3 more inches of snow. Now the forecast is for another 1.5 inches of rain and then a lot of snow next week. This is exactly the kind of winter we need to be having. Thank you Lord!

Rime Ice Around The Mountain

Posted by bubbasuess on December 17, 2022
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Mount Shasta. 7 Comments

Fresh snow and winter fog glow in the early morning light.

The large storm from the first weekend in December finally passed and left a week of contrasting weather. There was a striking difference in conditions north and south of Black Butte Summit. That line held pretty firmly most of the week, dividing the southern area where sunshine abounded with the area to the north, where a dense, frigid fog filled the Shasta Valley and lapped at the flanks of Mount Shasta. When the fog finally receded, it was a glorious retreat and it left some of the most striking and beautiful rime ice conditions I have seen around Mount Shasta in a long time.

Before getting to the rime ice, it is worth accounting for the conditions at the end of the storm. Suffice to say, it snowed a lot and by the time it was done, there was over 2 feet of snow at my house. The final, large deposit left about 15 inches and it was a wet snow with high water content. That is exactly the kind of snow we need but it made for miserable clearing. Despite this, it was beautiful.

The snow was certainly copious. I had to clear my house and the cabin across the street, since we were hosting our clinic’s Christmas party there that night. I had my work cut out for me…

By the time I was done, not only did it feel like the Christmas season, it really looked like the Christmas season!

On Mount Shasta, the conditions were lush. The snow blew around the mountain in flurries and the dense blanket of snow glowed in the light of the rising sun.

It had been a long time since the mountain had been this white. Last winter the snow was dry and powdery and never seemed to accumulate, just blowing away right after it had been laid down. This snow was different. It was thick and sloppy and clung to the mountain and the trees in the cold temperatures.

On Black Butte Summit, which is roughly the divide between the Sacramento and Klamath River watersheds, the conditions were a bit different. A heavy fog had set in on the north side of the pass and filled the Shasta Valley. At the pass, however, the fog was perpetually breaking up and sailing past Mount Shasta like small clouds. In the mornings, it proved to be a pretty sight, as the wisps of fog caught the light of the rising sun.

While snow drifts cover parts of Black Butte but the trees were frozen in rime ice.

It was as the fog gradually retreated that the unusual artistry of the season was revealed. The first place where it was obvious was on Black Butte. In addition to accumulated snow drifts, rime ice covered the the rocky crags and trees. Rime ice forms when freezing conditions (usually really cold, not just when temperatures hover around freezing) persist and water from clouds or fog freeze onto objects. Typically it is manifest on things that will stick up into the fog or cloud and catch the passing water. Black Butte, being a prominent landmark on the pass, and with the trees and rocks adding added prominence, is regularly the recipient of a lot of rime ice. However, it tends to be hard rime ice, which forms in really windy conditions so the ice tends to collect on one side of a tree or rock and forms solid icy layers. Soft rime ice is more unusual and it was this form that was revealed as the fog dissipated to the north.

Rime ice, not snow, covers the trees north of Black Butte.

As the fogged backed away, a spellbinding winter world was revealed. Soft rime ice covered everything. The trees were white, but it was a crystalline paleness that came from ice on the needles, not snow. The white ice was readily contrasted green trees that the morning light really highlighted.

The dense fog had hung around for a few days, so when, on Thursday afternoon it finally lifted in Weed, I headed up there to catch the sunset and was able to get there just in time to see the last light fade out on the mountain. The alpenglow really stood out against the white, white world of the rime ice.

The icy structures covered everything and it was obvious that the formations were delicate and exquisite. This was rime ice of a different nature to that which normally forms on Black Butte. This was soft rime ice. This forms in the same way as hard rime, except that the conditions are not windy and are quite still. This allows the water droplets to form their own structures as they freeze, rather than be sculpted by the wind. The end result is a kind of miniature icicle. Collectively, the soft rime looks like ice thorns. There was no question in my mind that I would need to come back in the morning to really get a better look it in the light.

Heading out the next morning, I thought that perhaps I might head to Truchas Ridge to see the ice formations there. Though the fog had cleared at higher elevation along the pass near Black Butte and Weed, deep in the Shasta Valley, the fog persisted.

I headed out to the ridge anyway but it was still oppressively foggy. It was also a bit warmer and had less ice formations. I promptly headed back north to the rime ice zone. What I found was spectacular.

It seemed like the entire world was covered in miniature penitentes. Icy thorns had grown off of anything cold enough to support them. For those driving by, the soft rime blended together, and things almost looked like they had just been snowed on. It was easy to miss the incredible spectacle that was found throughout the area. No doubt this has happened before, but I had never seen such a parade of algific forms.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the world seemed to glow. It was as if the soft rime was meant to strain light out of the air, just as the trees had strained freezing water out of the fog. It was a glorious, unforgettable sight. With warming temperatures and perhaps even rain on the horizon, it is not something that is meant to last but for a fleeting moment in time, the world was a flame with thorns of ice.

 

From One Storm To Another In Mount Shasta

Posted by bubbasuess on December 9, 2022
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Lenticular Clouds, Mount Shasta, sunrise. 5 Comments

Evening light on a snowy Mount Shasta.

There really hasn’t been much fall this fall, as we had a nice stretch of warm weather through October, then November began with an unexpected snow storm. A couple weeks of mild autumn conditions in the heart of November quickly gave way to more wintry weather. December began with a good tranche of snow, from which a reprieve of a few days of cold sunshine followed. That brings us to the present, as we are currently in the throes of another good winter storm, albeit at the tail end of fall. If this pattern continues through the winter months, the state will be given a respite from the drought we have been afflicted with over the last few years.

A couple days ago, after the last storm cleared, I headed up for another sunrise on Mount Shasta. The clouds hung close to the deck and Mount Shasta itself was not visible from where I was, though I could tell, that the mountain itself was not covered. Still, beneath the clouds, some pretty spectacular vistas awaited, as I was able to see Lassen Peak and the Castle Crags in dramatic winter conditions. It made up for not being able to see Mount Shasta.

As I was heading home, I had to pull over and capture a shot of Mount Shasta in all of its glorious winter finery. The clouds had backed away from the peak and the morning light drenched the snow covered crags. I love it when all of the mountain’s texture, especially formations like Shastarama Point and Casaval Ridge are pure white. The shadows really make a lot of interest in those conditions.

Though the storm had ended, we only had a couple of days before the next storm, potentially larger than the last, arrived. The evening before the weather turned, I headed up onto Mount Shasta for the sunset. It was a magnificent winter fantasy land, with the trees still laden with snow and the mountain glowing as the sun sank.

The snow has a tendency to smooth out the terrain on Mount Shasta. The snow has gotten deep enough for this to be the case on the mountain now. Ski trails were visible in Avalanche Gulch, beginning from up near Helen Lake and descending down to Bunny Flat. In the alpenglow, the gulch looked like sand dunes.

Needless to say, the sunset was beautiful. The change in color and texture is fascinating and, in the end, the mountain looked like it had been rendered in black and white before it got dark and the full moon rose overhead.

The next morning, the storm moved in with vigor, heralded by a lenticular cloud. The wind howled and whipped and the bank of clouds hung low over Black Butte Summit and the divide between the Sacramento watershed and that of the Shasta River. To the north, conditions were clear.

As I headed home, prepared for a day of stormy weather, I was struck by the view of Mount Shasta. The lenticular was still visible but the storm clouds were overtaking the mountain, covering its flanks and bleeding through the gaps in the peak’s upper crags. It was a dramatic sight but within a few minutes Mount Shasta was nearly gone, engulfed in the storm as it intensified.

The storm packed a decent punch. Overnight, it dropped 6-7 inches at my house. Of course, this was already on top of the snow left by the previous round of storms. Not to shabby. This was, however, only round one, as there was to be an overnight lull in the storm before it picked its intensity back up later the next day.

The storm’s pause made it possible for an interesting sunrise. I wasn’t sure if the clouds would let Mount Shasta be visible but I decided to head out and see what could be seen. To my delight, the clouds had cleared enough for the mountain to be seen, though an ominous pall hung over Mount Shasta and the area to its west. As the sun came it, the sky burst into flame, but only up to the edge of the dark storm clouds. Those withstood the sun’s light and hinted at the ferocity that awaited us.

Now the storm rages and promises more snow. We shall see how much it delivers.

 

Another Good Storm Hits Mount Shasta

Posted by bubbasuess on December 3, 2022
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Lenticular Clouds, Mount Shasta, Truchas Ridge. 1 Comment

A snowy Mount Shasta catches the last bit of sun before day’s end.

After the surprise storms at the beginning of November, it felt like the winter season might be getting off to an auspicious start. Yet, with the prolonged drought continuing to grip the west pulls back on the reins and causes one to stop short of being too hopeful. While that does keep me from having false expectations, it does not actually effect the weather, which, it turns out, has decided to continue its wintery ways.

As November came to a close the forecast was for a significant storm to pass through the area. On storm’s eve, we finally got an impressive lenticular display, something that has eluded us the entire autumn. The odd clouds were the heralds of the coming storm.

The snow was forecasted to arrive the next day so I went out early in the morning, hoping the lenticular would still be there. To my great delight, the lenticular was still there. The south side of the mountain seemed like the best option for a good view of the formation, which just happens to be the best side for a sunrise. This meant a trip over to McCloud.

Needless to say, it was a spectacular sight. Beyond sunrise, the clouds began to coalesce around Mount Shasta and spread out over the rest of the area and soon the snow began to fall. The forecast called for a strong contribution to the snowpack. Initial predictions were for nearly a foot the first night and a few more inches over the next couple days.

The storm did not deliver quite as much as predicted but it was still a solid bit of snow. At my house, we got between 10 and 11 inches. Fortunately, a lot of the leaves were off the trees by this point, which meant that I wasn’t going to get as many broken branches. The first storm came so early the trees were still full of leaves. This caught more snow and added more weight and a lot of branches snapped. Fortunately this was not so this time around.

In town, things were looking pretty wintery, though it did not get nearly as much snow as it did at my house. This was probably a good thing, since the trees are still full of leaves there and the first storm broke a shocking number of branches and even pulled a few venerable giants down.

By the time the storm had cleared, it was December. We were left with the unusual sight of fall color still in the trees and snow on the ground. Though their timing is so close to each other every year, the visual pairing of white with yellow trees still seems a bit misplaced to me. Perhaps in other parts of the country it is not so strange but out here, it does not happen too often, if my memory is accurate.

In the end, this storm is success building on success. Two storms, each leaving around a foot and it is not even more than a few days into December is fantastic. Even more encouraging is the onset of another storm this morning and more snow coming later in the week. Now if we can continue this through January, February and March, it will be a grand winter!

Southern Sunrise and Cerro Sunset (With GIFs)

Posted by bubbasuess on November 21, 2022
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Mount Shasta, Truchas Ridge. Leave a comment

I wasn’t really planning on another post like this, but the way the day rolled out I ended up out again at both morning and sunset. This is most certainly not something to complain about and the rising and setting of the sun around Mount Shasta is always a magnificent sight to behold.

This morning I was over in McCloud investigating some access to things and just happened to be there at sunrise. Funny how that worked out… The sky had some thin, gauzy clouds, the kind that catch the light just enough to make the sky a bit of a different color than normal. The snow made Mount Shasta glow. The southern perspective is one of my two favorites because of the numerous rock spires and lines of strata that add a lot of drama to the spectacle. Awesome Mud Creek Canyon is also visible and being able to see it from down below at the foot of the mountain always gets me excited to head up and explore it again.

At sunrise, the light always goes from pink to orange and begins at the summit of Mount Shasta and then works its way down the mountain as the sun goes up into the sky. The southern side is blessed with being the best angle from which to watch the sunrise and all the excellent features are the perfect canvas for the descending light to dance on.

In the afternoon, I had a few hours free (not of things to get done but of kids!) so I headed back out to Truchas Ridge. I was not certain which vista I was going to head to but by the time I got there I had decided it was a good time to climb up to the summit of Cerro Pedernal. The view from the summit is one of my absolute most favorites. There is a wealth of landmarks to be observed from that vantage and the way the valley recedes in hilly waves to the foot of Mount Shasta, which dominates the view (as it does every view) makes it a an unusual and utterly spectacular panorama.

Sunrise always plays out opposite of sunrise. The light goes from orange to pink and begins at the base of the mountain and fades away from bottom to top. The summit is always the last point to have light on it. After the alpenglow has faded off every other high peak in the area, Mount Shasta still glows with the sun’s setting light. Only after several lonely minutes alight does the warmth finally faded away allowing the cold darkness to embrace the mountain’s highest reaches.

In the end, it was another beautiful autumn day, though they really feel like winter days at this point. Thanksgiving lies just days ahead and on the other side of that the forecast is calling for another significant dose of snow. That’s really going to be the beginning of winter, and all the fun that that brings!

A Perfect Fall Day In Mount Shasta

Posted by bubbasuess on November 17, 2022
Posted in: Cascade Range, Hiking, Mount Shasta, Truchas Ridge. 3 Comments

Thursday was a perfect one here in Mount Shasta, at least in terms of how things looked. To be truly perfect, it needed to be about 20 degrees warmer and had a lenticular on the mountain. Aside from that though, it really was perfect. A beautiful sunrise, warm autumn light, fall color (though it is starting to fade on some trees) and a spectacular sunset. I could get used to this kind of day (except, I wouldn’t want to, since it is better being extraordinary rather than ordinary)!

The day started with a sunrise viewed from up in the Shasta Valley. Coyotes trotted across the fields while I was waiting for the sun to com up. The light was awesome, though the picture didn’t really turn out as well as I had hoped. After the light faded a bit, the mountain cast cool shadows across the sky, one of my favorite Mount Shasta phenomena.

The morning had great light when the sun was not filtered through clouds. The early snow storm we got has brought an odd mix of white contrasting against the fall leaves that are both covering the snow and still on the trees. I have not seen this mix at my house before.

In town, there are a lot of trees with good color, though many have already peaked. The bright leaves always make a striking foreground to the white mountain and blue sky. Today was an exemplar of such a sight. I couldn’t help stopping and capturing a few images of Mount Shasta with the fall color and I am glad I didn’t try to resist.

In the afternoon, I took some friends out to Truchas Ridge. The white mountain was glorious and the clouds offered some interesting variation in the sky. Though cold, it was invigorating. While talking and waiting for the sun to set, the kids ran around hooting and howling and scrambling on the rocks, seemingly oblivious to the cold.

When sunset finally came, it was magnificent. It was a fitting end to a gorgeous day!

I have 3 more substantive posts brewing and I was really hoping to get one done before posting more “current conditions” type posts but today was too beautiful to pass up.