Brought to you by Shasta Mountain Guides
By all accounts, the most recent weather system to push through California has been remarkable. From breaking 141-year-old records in the state capitol to dropping rainfall in excess of 4-8 inches in many places, the past 48 hours have been memorable. The bomb cyclone and atmospheric river lined up on Northern California and exceeded forecast expectations, ultimately blanketing Mt. Shasta in a sight we most prefer.
The drenching rains extinguished the lingering wildfires that ravaged our forests. The warm southern plume dropped feet of heavy, dense snow that saturates and coats the mountain’s upper elevations. From Mt. Shasta to Mammoth, winter enthusiasts are rejoicing in what hopes to be a long, wet winter.
In my nearly 25 seasons on Mt. Shasta, there have only been a couple of other years that brought a deep snowpack in October to the mountain. I think state-wide we are grateful for the much-needed moisture, and from a skiing perspective, the conditions were excellent. With the morning sunrise, it made for a fantastic start to the new season.
I measured between 2-3 feet of snow at various elevations with a rain crust to about 8,000′. The pack was supportable with the storm cooling off as it departed, leaving a few inches of soft, fluffy snow to effortlessly glide through. The winds were present above 9,500′ and a few small isolated areas of instability were observed on NW aspects around 9,000′.
Stay tuned, with the fresh start, we have so much to look forward to this year! This new snow is a welcome relief to drought-starved California, while not a show stopper, this recent weather is a good omen for the coming winter. Our calendar is live and we’ll have some new programs and more details soon.
