Why choose Shasta Mountaineering School?
When you book a trip with Shasta Mountaineering School, the guide you are personally hiring has more than 15 years of experience on Mount Shasta. Many mountain guide companies operating on Mount Shasta claim to have more experience, but how much experience does the actual guide assigned to your trip have?
At Shasta Mountaineering School, every summit climb of Mt Shasta you book is personally guided by the owner, Shane Rathbun. Shane has more than 50 summits and 20 ski descents over 15 years of experience on Mount Shasta. Shane specializes in all climbing routes, and snow conditions for summit trips on Mt Shasta, and also for summit ski descents.
Shasta Mountaineering School operates exclusively only on Mount Shasta. As dedicated Mount Shasta guides, we are committed to safety and high quality trips. We keep groups small and never go over four guests on any of our Mount Shasta summit climbs. We specialize in personalized experiences for all ability levels. Whether you’re a beginner aiming for your first summit climb of Mt Shasta or an experienced skier looking for the best snow conditions, Shasta Mountaineering School specializes in tailored experiences for your perfect trip.
Every Mt Shasta summit climb you book with Shasta Mountaineering School includes all of the required gear, permits, and meals while on the mountain. Shasta Mountaineering School is fully insured and permitted by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest to operate a guided climb of Mt Shasta. Join us for a Mt Shasta summit climb and let Shane show you first hand the difference a personally guided climb of Mt Shasta will make!
Discover Mount Shasta with Shasta Mountaineering School and book your adventure with Mount Shasta guides that you can trust.
Beginner Mountaineering Trips
Learn mountaineering skills while going to the summit of Mt Shasta via the Avalanche Gulch route. The 3-day Mount Shasta Summit Climb trip is our most popular guided summit climb of Mt Shasta. The 3-day itinerary gives us plenty of time on a more relaxed schedule to acclimatize and learn the basic snow climbing skills. No previous mountaineering experience is required!
Custom Summit Ski Descents
Shasta Mountaineering School specializes in skiing from the summit of Mount Shasta. Shane has skied from the top of Mount Shasta more than 20 times via 8 different routes and has spent many years monitoring the weather and snow conditions on the mountain. At Shasta Mountaineering School, we don’t just ski from the top. On every skiing trip, we track the weather forecast and target the route to align with the best timing and snow conditions possible.
Successful summit of Mt Shasta with Shane!! Highly recommend for a small group experience on the mountain.
This was one of the best experiences I’ve had and our guide Shane prepared us so well for the summit I think we could do it again ourselves. If you want to take a guided trip up the mountain Shane is the man for you!!
Shane took my son and his friends (recent college grads) up Shasta for the first time and everyone had a BLAST! Shane is very professional and does everything to ensure a safe and fun ascent and travel experience!
Shane saved my butt on Shasta. Long story, but I climbed up Avalanche Gulch with *ahem* one of the larger guided services and ended up separated and in a bit of a dangerous situation with hypothermia. I didn’t know Shane yet, but I thank my lucky stars that he happened to be up there that day, with his guide group. They stopped to check on me, and immediately I could sense their concern and Shane’s training as he went through questions to assess my situation. When he offered to take me down with his group, I was overcome with relief. On our descent I got to witness Shane’s style as a guide — his deep knowledge, competence, and clear communication and care. If I ever attempt Shasta again, I’m going up with Shane. Thank you thank you!!
We had a great climb with Shane as our guide from Shasta Mountaineering School. He kept out safety as his top priority from start to finish. I'll be back again in 2025 and wouldn't trust anyone else.
I booked a three day trek with Shane and would highly recommend it. I chose him over the large guide companies because I knew who my guide would be, knew he didn’t just start doing this recently, and was able to have an individualized experience, rather than be just a number. He was very communicative before, during, and after the trek and was very informative about gear, training, and what to expect. He cooked real meals on the mountain, which I wasn’t expecting, and I always felt safe, knowing his decisions were well thought out.
Has been a great experience so far. Guide is very responsive, when it comes to what gear you will need and any questions you may have. I even booked a date in June and they let me switch to July a couple months out, very friendly. Shane is very knowledgeable with mountaineering. Safety is his #1 priority which makes you feel safe. He is very encouraging and helps you with small details if you take the time to ask. I wouldn’t have wanted another guide to take me on my first mountaineering trip. Thank you Shane for the amazing summit experience and all your knowledge.
Had an absolutely amazing time summiting Mt Shasta with Shasta Mountaineering School! From the very first moment it was evident that picking Shasta Mountaineering School was good decision as guide Shane’s knowledge, professionalism, and devotion to safety were all at the forefront of every step we made. That coupled with great conversation, and a collaborative effort from all fellow team members made for an incredibly enjoyable experience that I’ll never forget. Huge thank you to Shane for putting us in a position to summit and allowing me to cross off Mt. Shasta from my bucket list!
Had a great time with Shane and Shasta Mt School. Shane is extremely knowledgeable about the mountain and felt very safe the entire time, would definitely do it again.
Shane is very thoughtful, helpful and informative when it comes to preparation and training which is critical. He helped identify the right equipment for me while being sensitive to budget. He helped me prepare a training regimen. Highly recommend working with him. Always prompt replies and great service.
10 out of 10, I highly recommend Shane as a guide for any trip up the mountain. My son and I were about as inexperienced with mountaineering as it gets. Shane had a great balance of direct communication, while being respectful. His expert knowledge of the mountain and of mountaineering came through 10 fold. From the gear check, to snow school, to the summit, and back to our car, I felt safe under Shane's guidance and direction.
Shane’s knowledge of Mount Shasta and expertise in mountaineering made me feel prepared & secure on the successful hike to the top of the mountain. I thoroughly enjoy the once in a life time experience. It’s a great feeling to see that beautiful summit in my daily backdrop and know I was at the peak of it! Words can’t describe how magical the experience was and appreciated how Shane catered the trip to each individual. Whether it’s a gift for yourself or someone else the experience with Shane will be priceless.
I had a great experience on Mt. Shasta with Shane in May 2023. We summited successfully, and had an awesome ski descent down the West Face. Shane is professional, friendly, efficient, and safety-focused. In the weeks leading up to the climb he was readily available to discuss training and gear. During the climb he did an excellent job with communication regarding our progress, time objectives, and any safety concerns. He cooks a delicious backcountry curry, and took great photos as well!
We were early childhood friends who had re-united in 2010. Shane was inspired by the mountain, and believed with the right gear and tools we could reach the summit. Instead I became fatigued and we ended up camping in deep snow on Casaval Ridge as the sun rose over the mountain. 3 years later Shane was excited to lead us on another attempt. This time we reached the summit! Avalanche Gulch in the early summer is delightful - essentially a long hike with patches of snow surrounded by trees, then firm snowpack that gets steeper and more exposed. Be sure to bring your sunscreen and protective eyewear. We rested at Lake Helen (10,000 ft), watched the sun go down, then woke before dawn to put on our crampons. After conquering the most technically challenging part of the journey, we reached the top and enjoyed the incredible view. On the way down Shane taught me how to glissade and self-arrest. Once the toddler is ready, I'm looking forward to summiting with Shane again one day 🗻
Summiting Mt. Shasta with Shane was an experience that went beyond just achieving a goal; it was a transformative journey. My previous two attempts at the summit were thwarted by harsh conditions, but with Shane, success was finally within reach. Shane is a natural mentor who ignited a deep-seated passion for mountaineering and skiing in me. I had some experience skiing in my younger years, but it was Shane's patient and meticulous coaching that honed my skills and shaped the climber and skier I am today. The patience he showed in teaching me, the attention to detail, and the foundational skills he imparted, have been invaluable. As I've ventured further into the outdoor community and met various climbing partners, I've come to realize the uniqueness of the foundational skills Shane provided me. Shane's approach to safety and decision-making in the backcountry has always been thorough and diligent, instilling in me a sense of responsibility and awareness that is crucial in these environments. Shane's influence goes beyond technical skills; he has a rare gift for stirring the soul with his shared love for the mountains and skiing. For anyone looking to explore the beauty and challenges of mountaineering, Shane’s guidance is not just a learning experience, it's an opportunity to transform your approach to the mountains and the sport. I owe much of my confidence and competence in the mountains to his mentorship and can't recommend him highly enough.
Great experience! Highly recommend for a safe and fun climb. Shane was solid from start to finish. Glad to check this achievement off my list.