Mount Shasta

In general, low avalanche danger exists throughout the advisory area. Riders should be on the lookout for signs of instability and exercise caution in isolated pockets of extreme terrain where slide-for-life conditions and loose snow surfaces may be present.  

Today's weather will bring about cooler temperatures, increased cloud cover, and strengthening southwest winds. These combined elements will help keep avalanche instabilities at bay. There is still a remote chance of encountering unstable wet loose snow near and below treeline in steep, solar-lit pockets of terrain that are punctuated by rock outcroppings. While unlikely and relatively small, any release of moving snow has the potential to knock riders off their feet and carry them through unforgiving terrain. Watch and feel for softening snow surfaces in relation to the terrain you are traveling through.    Extreme terrain poses the risk of a slip and fall. Whether from unconsolidated surface snow or firm or slick conditions, a fall in such terrain can become uncontrollable and extremely traumatic. If you anticipate traveling on steep, northerly-facing aspects, pack an ice axe, crampons, and helmet to decrease the risk of a slip and fall and know how to properly use them.   Mount Shasta hosts a well-consolidated and resilient snowpack that has proven to be largely unaffected by warming and has displayed no alarming signs of instability. For lack of better terms, no wet loose avalanches have been observed, sings of instability have been far and few, and rates of warming snow surfaces have not met expectations. Today's presence of cooler weather will make any instabilities very unlikely and subject them to isolated pockets of terrain.       As of 6 am, the current temperature at the Gray Butte weather station is 34 degrees. Today, temperatures will be several degrees cooler than previous, and are not expected to rise higher than the mid 40s. This, along with increasing cloud cover and breezy southwest winds, means snow surfaces will be reluctant to soften, if they soften at all. Upper elevations may stay on the firmer side, with lower elevations able to rebound quicker. Expect variable surfaces and sporty riding conditions. Remember, slow is smooth and smooth is fast.   

Several summits have been achieved by climbers over the past few days. Reports all confirm that ski conditions above Helen Lake are heinous and surfaces are reluctant to warm, meaning self arrest skills are essential for both ascending and descending. Falling rime ice remains a threat to anyone climbing beneath rimed rock outcroppings. 

The road to Castle Lake is OPEN!