Last winter, while in Shasta one morning before an avalanche course I was instructing had started for the day. I found myself standing alone in the Castle Lake parking lot waiting for the sun to come up. It wasn't a particularly remarkable day. It wasn't the beginning...

Over the past two decades, climbing gyms have transformed the sport. More people than ever are discovering climbing through brightly colored holds, padded floors, and professionally set routes. The gym has become the gateway to climbing, introducing thousands of new...

All mountaineers, guides, and alpine enthusiasts know the importance of the proper footwear. Having the correct boot for the job is crucial, although the experienced climbers know all too well that the fit of the boot can spell the difference between a successful...

While climbing Mount Shasta is an unforgettable experience, it is also a serious alpine objective where safety should always come first. Having the proper equipment is essential and one of the most important pieces of gear every climber...

Like in normal life, weather decides most things in the mountains. It influences whether a climb is reasonable, whether the snow has significant instabilities, and whether a day feels straightforward or like a constant problem needing to be managed. I’ve dealt with...

Mt. Shasta, at 14,179 feet, serves as California’s premier alpine playground and offers training opportunities for summiting mountains around the world. Careful timing is crucial for a successful summit attempt. As snow melts and summer takes hold, the mountain’s...

Why I Wrote This:I wrote this to give an honest look into our Mexico Volcanoes Expeditions for those who may not know about them yet, and to help people more fully understand why they mean so much to us as a company. For me personally, this trip is deeply personal on...

Looking at what to pack in a functional way. Suggested packing list for a Shasta 2 or 3 day climb on Avalanche Gulch, West Face, or Casaval Ridge

Quite often I hear descriptions of climbing Mt. Shasta as being a “non-technical” mountaineering objective. This could not be further from the truth. Depending upon the time of year, every route on Mt Shasta can have snow, ice, and steep terrain which demand technical...

I love snow!  I love skiing, the silence a snowstorm brings, the science behind it, and so much more about it.  I love it, but if you spend enough time working in the mountains, you stop thinking about snow as just something fun to ski or climb on. It becomes...