Mount Shasta

The avalanche danger is LOW for all elevations and aspects. Use normal caution out there. Continue to make safe travel decisions, like one at a time crossing steep slopes. While avalanche conditions are generally safe, other considerations should be kept in mind. Expect variability in snow surfaces, with wind-affected terrain at upper elevations and sun crusts at lower elevations. Soft snow lurks, too. 

The snowpack is looking good, and no recent avalanches or signs of instability have been observed since last weekend. Our buried layer of graupel (Dec 9) that resulted in a handful of slides has been quiet. Small, loose wet roller balls have been observed on below and near treeline, sunny slopes. The clear, cold nights have formed surface hoar in protected areas below treeline. Surface hoar is a classic weak interface when buried by an incoming storm, but with no weather in sight, it's just sparkly winter magic at this point.

The trick to staying alive in avalanche terrain is to stay away from dangerous conditions and know when those conditions are present. Always check the forecast. Learn to recognize avalanche terrain. Pay attention to the 5 red flags of avalanche danger. Take a moment to read Bruce Tremper's "10 Commandments of Low-Risk Travel".

Snowmobiling on Mount Shasta: For motorized use via Bunny Flat, please park BELOW the restroom facility and launch from the designated ramp. Boundary markers (orange poles) are up along the Everitt Memorial Highway (EMH) and east Wilderness boundary in the Old Ski Bowl. Snowmobiles are prohibited above the EMH for 1.25 miles past Bunny Flat and anywhere in the Mount Shasta Wilderness. Know your boundaries. Citations will be issued for all violators. Check out this map!