26th Annual Mount Shasta Climb
Trip Report, May 11-12, 2002
Year 26 was hastily planned. I got started on skis from Bunny Flat by 10
AM on Saturday. There seemed to be a lot of French-speaking climbers asking
for directions. I made it up to Helen Lake by 3:30 PM, but it was amazing
how slow I was on that last 500 vertical feet to camp. Naturally, I got
my tent pitched with a wind wall of snow, then got my micro-stove going
for melting snow. I had my first tea brewed within the hour. Once I had
myself situated with a fluffed up down sleeping bag, down parka, a hot
cup of tea, and a snack to eat, I began to forget about the workout in
getting to camp.
Notice the crevasse near the top of the Konwakitan Glacier.
I could have avoided this crevasse and snow bridge if I had cut through
the chutes on Red Banks. However, this right end of Red Banks has a good
spot to sit down out of the wind, and it is my traditional rest stop.
Yes, I was a little overdressed, but after last year's ordeal with high
wind, I was not going to take any chances. I'm not quite as quick as I
was twenty years ago, so I don't generate as much body heat as I used to.
This was my 21st successful trip to the summit.
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