(editor’s note: Check out Zeb’s guide company blog and website for more details, especially if you’re interested in skiing Portillo, Chile or Antarctica or anywhere really: Alpine Mountain Works)
What’s your excuse for not getting up to Shasta to rip the best turns going? The entire East Side of Mount Shasta is buttery smooth with the only exception being sun cups in the last 300’ back to the car. Hardly worth worrying about. After the Memorial Day weekend storm, Shasta’s East side was left with around 6” of fresh. This snow didn’t get much of a chance to fully transition to corn, but it still skied really well. Fast, glidy hot pow and silky avalanche bed surface were the best things going.
With a few more hot days even the transitional new snow will corn up. It was skiing great on Sunday and is only getting better with warm temps and sun.
Access is good. Driving a car up to 7,000’ is no problem, which allows skiers to walk in 20 minutes or so and slap their skis on for consistent skinning. The skinning is a little tough over the sun cups below 7,600’ or so, but nothing to deter a corn-driven backcountry addict. A few dirt patches require some thoughtful navigation, but with a few keen observations it’s easy to stay on snow nearly the entire time.
With this weeks forecast, your excuse has gotta be solid not to get some on Shasta! Clear nights + warm temps = classic big-mountain California corn!
Other recent Zeb trip reports:
Mt. Lassen, OR – May 23rd, 2013
Mt. Rainier, WA – May 12th, 2013
Great report!
Hoping for a north side trip this weekend. Hoping those cracks are open.
I’m surprised it’s still that good. How much longer do you think it’ll hold out?
Always wanted to check out that east side. Looks stellar. Great report Starship Zebulon.