Mt. Shasta


Back in the first part of August Scott climbed Mt. Shasta with the Young Men from church.  I sent him with a camera of course, the problem was I didn't send him with extra batteries!  The camera died as soon as he reached the base of the mountain leaving me with no photos or proof that he really made it!  Luckily, one of the other leaders did take a camera (with batteries) on the hike and just gave me a copy of all his pictures.

Scott and I climbed South Sister as a training hike to prepare for Mt. Shasta.  South Sister was not as technical a hike nor as high as Mt. Shasta. However, Scott said that training hike was a huge help in climbing Mt. Shasta.  Mt. Shasta is 14, 179 feet, the second highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth highest in California. 

Their group started out consisting of 8 leaders and 9 boys.  Due to exhaustion and asthma, only 6 leaders and 3 boys finished the hike making it all the way to the summit.







The major concern for the leader in charge of the hike was the boys safety.  He had the group rent helmets, walking sticks and mountaineering boots as precautions.  The time required to complete the hike was two full days.  The goal for the first day was to hike up to about a distance of 8,500 feet then set up camp.  Camping overnight at this elevation was a time to relax and get acclimated to the altitude before summitting the next day.  The mountaineering boots were a great support to the ankles but very stiff and rigid.  Many leaders packed along a second pair of shoes just in case, but Scott didn't want the extra weight in his pack.  I can't blame him.  He had me wear the pack on my back before leaving and I could barely stand with it, let alone climb 14,000 feet of rough terrain!  About 1 mile into the hike, Scott's feet were hurting and blistering and he was left the choice of dealing with it or returning to base to exchange shoes.  He decided to return to the car and get his old hiking boots.

Those darn boots and blisters!

This is a picture of their camp site.  They were able to leave their tents there the second day which helped lighten their packs a bit.
The hike started bright and early, well, more like dark and early the second day.  They left camp and were on their way by 4:30 a.m.  The only light they had to climb by was their headlamps and it was cold!  



The final group that made it to the top.

Mt. Shasta is just how every kid pictures a mountain to be.  You know, where the mountain actually comes to a point?  This is Scott standing on the very tip top of Mt. Shasta.  You can't get any higher than this!

Comments

heather said…
What an accomplishment! I've never been a hiker and admire those that are able to to climb to the tops of mountain peaks! Good job Scott!
September 21, 2009 at 7:47 AM
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