Accelerated Mt Shasta Summit Ski Descent via West Face

For over 15 years, we have been going to the summit of Mount Shasta. With over 50+ summits and 20+ ski descents, your Mt Shasta guide Shane knows the mountain! Join us and let Shane show you firsthand the difference a personally guided trip makes!

This 2-day trip is an accelerated version of our 3-day West Face Summit Ski Descent trip, except we’ll climb to the summit via the Avalanche Gulch route before descending the West Face. We’ll depart from a base camp at Horse Camp so we can easily collect our camp after we ski the West Face. On Day 1, we’ll also do a short ski tour to learn ski mountaineering skills including the use of ski crampons, ice axe, and boot crampons. 

• All your mountaineering and overnight gear is included, except ski boots, skis, and clothing. This includes sleeping bag, headlamp, crampons, ice axe, climbing harness, and more!
• Ski gear is not included. You’ll need to supply your avalanche rescue equipment. All of the required ski touring and avalanche rescue equipment can be rented from the 5th Season gear shop in Mt Shasta City.
• All group camping equipment is included; such as tents and stoves. 
• All breakfasts and dinners are included while on the mountain and prepared for you by your Mt Shasta guide. 
• Mt. Shasta Summit Passes and Wilderness Permits are also included. 
• Human waste pack out bags are also included. They are mandatory to use in the Mt Shasta Wilderness Area.

Itinerary 

DAY 1
You’ll meet your Mt Shasta guide at 8am in Mount Shasta City at Shastice Park for a gear check. Then we’ll drive to the Bunny Flat trailhead. From the trailhead, we’ll make our approach on climbing skins to Horse Camp at 8,000 feet where we’ll setup camp. After establishing camp, we’ll do a short ski tour to help acclimatize and also review the use of ski crampons, ice axe, and boots crampons. 

DAY 2
We’ll wake up early at approximately 1am for an alpine start and make our summit attempt via the Avalanche Gulch route! We’ll skin as far as we can with ski crampons up Avalanche Gulch before transitioning to boot crampons. The goal is be on the summit by 11am. After we summit, we’ll walk over to the top of the Wets Face and click into our skis. We’ll then ski a 5,000 foot run down the West Face back to our camp at Horse Camp. Then, we’ll pack up camp and continue skiing out to the Bunny Flat trailhead by 5pm. 

Documents for download: Detailed Trip Itinerary, Gear List