Helen Lake - Mount Shasta, May 2024

[@aaroncphelps]

Joe- fantastic video. I just submitted yesterday. The climb from Lake Helen is the hardest part. It’s no fun starting at 4am. Especially if you didn’t get any sleep the night before (as in my case). Once your at the top of Red Banks, the rest of the climb is easy. I highly recommend you try again. I went with a friend - and it was both of our first times. I’m not sure I would’ve had the willpower to push through if I went solo. I have a IT band injury that was horrendously painful. Glacading down the mountain was a gift from God- so much fun. Absolutely the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Real freedom. Next time you glacade, try using the pointy end of your ice axe as the brake (digging the pointed nose of the ice axe into the snow, using the long handle as leverage). This is much safer I think because you could end up hitting yourself in the face with the axe. Long and short- thanks for making this video, great job. I think this will inspire ppl to go check out the mountain. God bless.

[@RicardoLaremont]

Good job on the video, Joe. Music is very calming. I was just on Shasta that Sunday for Mother's Day weekend and wasn't able to summit. Will have to try again some other time when I'm in California again.

[@ApeMan]

Any time on Shasta is special. Those soft snow conditions make it tough. Took me 2 trips to summit and it was much better conditions when I summited except for the crazy winds which are pretty common there. Nice video!

[@ParlakOnur84]

Your video was helpful, Joe! I am planning to climb next week. Let´s see!

[@LuisEspinoza-vn3ph]

Same here! Safe travels.

[@yaakovcohen7032]

Great job Joe. We bumped into you at the ranger station. How much water did you take w you on the MTN the first day. Also how heavy was your pack?