Green Butte Ridge

Snow is melting fast at all elevations on Mount Shasta. About 30 inches of snow remains at the Old Ski Bowl weather station (7,600 feet) - snow depth here has receded 2 to 3 inches per day during the recent heat wave. From Bunny Flat, one can walk ~1.3 miles on the Everitt Memorial Highway towards Panther Meadows before encountering snow. 

Patches of exposed rocks on Green Butte Ridge require scrambling or traversing onto open slopes on either side of the ridge. Firm, icy surfaces with slide-for-life potential existed - especially on the westerly aspect into Avalanche Gulch. An ice axe, crampons, a helmet, and the skills to use them well - including self-arrest - are mandatory for a climb of Mount Shasta. Check the Climbing Advisory for more details.

Snow surfaces on southerly aspects softened above treeline by early afternoon. No signs of recent instability in the Old Ski Bowl aside from the Wet Loose activity late last week - see Avalanches section below.