Second in an eight-part series on avalanche education, Caleb writes about weather as the constant variable: how it affects snowpack temperature, how heavy new snow falls and where, how sun and rain can change stability, and why weather is simple to watch and hard to fully measure.
In this article, David highlights some of the wildlife found around Mt. Shasta. Many animals and plant species call the land around Shasta home.
First in an eight-part series on avalanche education, Caleb starts with the most misunderstood tool in the backcountry: the avalanche forecast. The number is the headline, but the problems and the bottom line are the story
When I started mountaineering back in 1981, outfitting options were limited; thrift shops for Heavy wool sweaters, wool knickers, stiff cagoules or anoraks, and rudimentary foul-weather gear were the norm, and wool was mandatory. Today, outdoor fabric technology has...
Caleb brings an honest look at the most overlooked month in avalanche safety: October. There’s no snow on the ground, but the weak layers that will matter in February are forming right now — in the snowpack, and in us.
A reliable headlamp allows a person to navigate, manage ropes, assess terrain, and respond to problems when daylight is gone. On alpine climbs, we start hours before sunrise, and delays, changing weather, or an emergency can easily extend the descent into darkness....
Climbing California 14ers like Mount Shasta (14,179 ft) or Mount Whitney (14,505 ft) is a bucket-list achievement. However, for climbers living near sea level—whether in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, or elsewhere in the country—the compressed 2- to 3-day itinerary...
Caleb covers some background on Search and Rescue in the United States and why the billing of those needing rescue is set up as a public service.
When preparing for a climb or ski on Mount Shasta (14,179 ft) or Mount Whitney (14,505 ft), or just hiking into the mountains, checking the standard weather app on your phone won't cut it. A sunny 75°F forecast for the town of Mount Shasta or Lone Pine often hides...
It’s 20°F on the upper slopes of Mount Shasta. The wind is howling across the ridge, biting through your outer layers, and you pull out your phone to double-check your line. The display stutters, dims, and serves up the universal symbol of backcountry panic: a black...
