Introduction to backcountry skiing weekend on Mt. Shasta (2 days)

Dig into fresh powder and world-class runs on a two-day introduction to backcountry skiing weekend on Mt. Shasta in the Cascade Range! Take your piste proficiency into the backcountry of an iconic California mountain and learn the ropes of untamed wilderness skiing with an expert guide!

Mt. Shasta (4,322m) is a delicious objective for skiers, mountaineers, and hikers alike. Located in Siskiyou County at the southern end of the Cascade Mountains, it is the second tallest mountain in the range, and fifth overall in the state. It is part of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and boasts an impressive panorama of the Northern Californian wilderness.

This volcano has long served as one of the most sought-after ski destinations in the region for years, collecting a US record for most snowfall in a single storm with over 15 feet in seven days (1959). Your program is going to place you in the middle of the captivating backcountry of this behemoth, providing two days of unencumbered skiing to hone your skills and improve your techniques.

Mt. Shasta is a perfect place for you to expand your talents into the out-of-bounds world. Its backcountry has steep chutes, Alpine bowls, and mild glades, perfect to ease off-piste. My local expertise will ensure a safe approach to any obstacles, and you will learn essential methods to use in future backcountry endeavors. By the end of the program, you will know how to move uphill and downhill efficiently and how to choose wisely from the mountain’s various lines.

You will arrive the evening before your program and check-in to the Shasta Bunkhouse, located right next door to the SWS Office. This will allow us an early morning start over the weekend, giving us even more time in the snow.

The first day will be instruction-based, getting acclimated to the backcountry ski equipment and moving progressively into more challenging terrain. From the SWS Office, we will head to the Bunny Flat Trailhead. You can expect to go over skiing techniques, route selection, safety procedures, and a number of other lessons while getting the hang of the gear and the landscape. We will return to the bunkhouse for another night to prepare for a full day of skiing.

We will return to Bunny Flat on our final day to put our recently acquired skills into practice. I will make sure you are having a blast while taking on the exhilarating, challenging, and all-around satisfying terrain of Shasta for a fun and informative weekend that prepares you for other ski touring and backcountry objectives.

You should be in good shape to take on the Mount Shasta backcountry, with an intermediate to advanced skiing level to match. We will be heading into ungroomed terrain of varying difficulty, so please be prepared both physically and mentally for two days in this environment.

Book this introduction to backcountry skiing weekend on Mt. Shasta NOW and spend two days learning how to ski on an iconic California mountain and conquering the high quality snow of its slopes!

For any mountaineers out there, we can also switch gears and take three days to climb the Casaval Ridge of Mt. Shasta for an unforgettable winter ascent of a classic peak!