The lower flanks of the south side of Shasta the evening before.
Casaval Ridge
Looking down Avalanche Gulch & Casaval Ridge
The Red Banks is the goal, a long way to go.
The shadow of mighty Shasta.
The Heart (center) and Red Banks. The route is up the thinning snow to the right.
Nearing some climbers and Thumb Rock.
Looking down Avy Gulch again.
Finally reaching the Red Banks!
Traversing below the Red Banks. We should have gone up one of the chutes to the right of the Heart. I went up the small one on the far left.
These 3 guys were climbing there first mountain. They sure picked a doozie!
Icy chute that I climbed to split the Red Banks. There was a short 5 ft section of ice that front pointing was required on.
Misery Hill lives up to its name. A freight train awaits.
Summit of Shasta is on far right. The saddle with one of the false summits held the worst wind.
One of the false summits.
Nearing the summit. The wind wasn't too bad here but I was wasted.
Back down below the clouds just above the Red Banks. We descended the proper chute which was much easier than what I came up.
Thumb Rock
Jason and Casaval Ridge
Looking up in the early afternoon.
Zoom of Red Banks. We traversed all the way over to the left and came down the first chute to the right of the Heart.
Mighty Shasta towering some 10K ft + above the town of Mt Shasta.
The next day at Lassen Volcanic Natl Park. The road has just been recently opened.
Signs at Lassen Peak trailhead, a plug volcano that last erupted in 1915. Heavy erosion from trail cutters has taken a toll.
Interesting volcanic formations along the trail.
Ditto
The summit blocks of Lassen pop into view.
Many false summit on Lassen. I think the one to the left of the seismograph storage facility is the highpoint, but it is very close.
This one to north of tower was 5th class with hoar frost, probably 4th class when dry.
No way I'm trying this in these conditions! I'm pretty sure this wasn't the highpoint.
View south to the summits from the base of the 5th class false summit.
This is the snow filled crater.
This is the steepest snowfield to traverse. Fresh snow and kicked steps allowed me to go without crampons.
Hoarfrost on a sign.
Some scenics along the trail
Check out this service! Cut steps by the rangers!
Some steam vents below the road on the drive down.
The next day on Brokeoff Mtn, still a winter wonderland as about 6 inches fell during the hike.
Many alpine ponds dot the landscape along the route.
Visibility not too good.
I turned arount here at 8100 ft after gaining only 1500 ft in 3 hours. The route traverses this slope, so I wasn't up for sidehilling!
Another cool pond
Huge trees in the Cascades
More tree scenics
Later in the afternoon after a long drive to Black Butte, highpoint of Glenn county.
Still a lot of snow on a 7er!
Getting steep and deep on Black Butte.
Summit of Black Butte.
The next day I did Mt Helena near the famous Napa Valley.
Views to the ocean on Helena.
Looking down to Napa Valley.
The highpoint of Helena from the county highpoint of Napa county.
True summit of Helena.
Here's the summit area.
View south to the county highpoint left of center.
Later in the day I did Mt Vaca, a short 1.8 mile hike on a 2er. This is the highpoint of Solano county.
Vaca true summit on west side of fence for tower #20.
Just before heading to the airport I hit Carpenter Hill, lowest cohp in CA at 828 ft!
Mighty Mt Carpenter completes the 6 pack.
