Mount Shasta

The probability of either triggering an avalanche yourself or observing a natural is unlikely. Exercise normal caution in avalanche terrain, carry rescue gear and monitor snow conditions for instability. Early season conditions pose the greatest danger to backcountry travelers. Stay alert in areas with a shallow snowpack where rocks and logs can be just below the surface. 

Soft snow is becoming more and more difficult to come by. A steady string of temperature inversions following the last snowfall event had been preserving our low elevation snowpack in a dreamy state of powder and surface hoar. But alas, wind and sustained solar input have bursted our cool air bubble. As a result, the snowpack below and near the treeline is undergoing a diurnal melt-freeze cycle. This leads riders to find a supportable crust in the early morning hours that becomes punchy and less supportable as the day warms. An exception to this is on shaded and northerly aspects where this crust will be more resistant to thawing. 

If you're feeling down about the lack of recent snowfall and the limited road access to higher elevations, don't lose hope, it's still very early in the season and we currently have more snow than we did in the second week of January last year. We have the whole winter ahead of us, so whatever snow dance you were doing in early November, do it again. 

Currently accessible areas for snow-centric recreation: Pilgrim Creek and Deer Mountain Snowmobile Parks, beyond the gate on Castle Lake Road, McBride Springs, Snowman's Hill, Old McCloud road, and the intersection of the 31 road with the Ski Park Highway. 

Coming soon: The Mt. Shasta Ski Park will open Wednesday, December 11t. and the Nordic Center will open Friday, December 13th.

***The Everitt Memorial Highway and Castle Lake Road are CLOSED***