Day 1
We meet at the Fifth Season outdoor store in the town of Mount Shasta where we conduct a pack check and discuss gear options. We then drive to the trailhead at Bunny Flat (Elev. 6,950 ft). A slow and easy hike take us to our base camp at the Sierra Club alpine hut called Horse Camp (elev. 8,000 ft). We spend the afternoon acclimating and setting up camp. That evening we enjoy a good meal prepared by your guides.

Day 2
After a hearty breakfast we break camp and begin our journey higher up the mountain to our high camp. Depending on the group, we will establish our high camp around the 10,000 ft elevation on the Avalanche Gulch (John Muir) route high on the flanks of Mt Shasta. The views from high camp are spectacular...on a clear day one can see for a hundred miles. The afternoon is spent in snow school learning ice axe self arrest, proper snow climbing techniques and cramponing techniques.

Day 3
We wake up early, around 2 or 3 am, for our alpine start up Mount Shasta. Using our new found mountaineering skills, we climb the Avalanche Gulch route up to the Red Banks with the steepness averaging around 35 degrees. Atop the Red Banks (elev 12,800 ft) the angle lessens as we skirt around the Konwakitan Glacier, but the altitude begins to take effect and the going gets slower. The views are tremendous.

With our acclimating over the last two days, we are able to continue over Misery Hill and onto the summit plateau (13,900 ft) which gives us spectacular views of the Whitney Glacier (California's largest). A last effort up the summit pinnacle puts us on top of Mt Shasta (14,162 ft). After photos and handshakes we begin our descent back to high camp on the trailhead, arriving back in town around 5pm.