Sunday, April 20, 2008
I'm Climbing Shasta!
Last night I decided to stop talking about it and finally book my trip. I will be climbing Mount Shasta this year, June 20-22, with help from Mount Shasta Guides.
My original plan had been to make my attempt on the July 4 weekend, but after attending a talk by Chris Carr (co-director of Shasta Guides) I decided sooner was better. It turns out that one climbs the mountain in the dead of night, because it's a lot easier to walk on frozen snow (ie, a layer of ice on top of the snow) than on soft snow. Later in the summer the odds of having good, solid, frozen snow decrease and the odds of avalanches and rock falls increase. These combined problems reduce the odds of making a successful and safe summit at worst, and at best make for a more grueling climbing experience.
I would have scheduled the trip in May, but my new team at work has a release coming in May. Earlier in June is out, because AIDS/Lifecycle is the first week in June (and I need a little recovery time and work catch-up time after that). The last weekend in June is out, because that's Pride weekend. So the third weekend in June is really the only window this year.
To date, my biggest climb was Black Butte, and my highest hike was to the Panther Meadows sacred spring (roughly 7900 feet). These both pale in comparison to an ascent up Shasta. Still, I feel reasonably confident that I can do it. I'm in the best shape now that I've ever been.
Update: my dad suggested I check, so I did: the full moon will be on June 18, just prior to the start of the climb... so we should have ample light for our ascent! It's quite by accident, but certainly most welcome.
My original plan had been to make my attempt on the July 4 weekend, but after attending a talk by Chris Carr (co-director of Shasta Guides) I decided sooner was better. It turns out that one climbs the mountain in the dead of night, because it's a lot easier to walk on frozen snow (ie, a layer of ice on top of the snow) than on soft snow. Later in the summer the odds of having good, solid, frozen snow decrease and the odds of avalanches and rock falls increase. These combined problems reduce the odds of making a successful and safe summit at worst, and at best make for a more grueling climbing experience.
I would have scheduled the trip in May, but my new team at work has a release coming in May. Earlier in June is out, because AIDS/Lifecycle is the first week in June (and I need a little recovery time and work catch-up time after that). The last weekend in June is out, because that's Pride weekend. So the third weekend in June is really the only window this year.
To date, my biggest climb was Black Butte, and my highest hike was to the Panther Meadows sacred spring (roughly 7900 feet). These both pale in comparison to an ascent up Shasta. Still, I feel reasonably confident that I can do it. I'm in the best shape now that I've ever been.
Update: my dad suggested I check, so I did: the full moon will be on June 18, just prior to the start of the climb... so we should have ample light for our ascent! It's quite by accident, but certainly most welcome.
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