Mt. Shasta - Hotlum-Wintun Ridge
11-12 Jun 2004 - by Bill Strand
A group of 9 of us started Friday about 1pm, one mile down the road from the
Brewer Creek Trailhead. The road still has several drifts and parking is
available on the side of the road at the first drift (6,800 ft). The road
switchbacks beyond the drift and we climbed directly uphill to the road and
walked to the trailhead. The trail from the trailhead (7,200 ft) to our camp
(9,800 ft) was mostly snow covered and well traveled and flagged. A rocky ridge
running between about 9,600 ft and 10,000ft had many cleared out tent platforms
and we chose a spot which would accommodate our group at 9,800 ft. We set up
camp at 3pm and enjoyed an evening of mostly clear skies and views of Lassen to
the south and McLaughlin to the north. There was a group of 4 camped across the
snowfield from us and a group of 2 on the ridge below as well as a group or two
camped much higher. Saturday we started at 6:15 am under clear skies and light
winds. The winds became much stronger as the day progressed and
included a lenticular cloud covering the summit for about an hour. The cloud
eventually cleared but the winds were extremely strong on the summit. After
summitting at 10:15 am we spent an hour on the summit pinnacle and just below
it, out of the wind, enjoying lunch. The wind was out of the west and
Hotlum-Wintun ridge route was somewhat protected. Climbers on the Avalanche
Gulch route appeared to take the brunt of the hurricane force winds. This is an
excellent route that provides relief from the crowded Avalanche Gulch route and
offers good camping, moderate snow climbing and great views.
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