Hiking Mt Shasta via Avalanche Gulch (4k)

Mt Shasta Trail Hike through Avalanche Gulch - We set out to climb Mt Shasta on June 22nd, 2018. This hike too two days and went up through Avalanche Gulch in order to reach the summit of Mt Shasta at 14,179 feet. It was a difficult yet rewarding experience. Be sure to prepare and have the right gear if you decide to try and hike it.
Read more at californiathroughmylens.com/h...
Other people on the hike:
Jeff - SoCalHiker.com
John - Moosefish.com
Amie - @Agirlinthewild on Instagram
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:24 Gear & Hotel in Mt Shasta
0:48 Bunny Flat Trailhead
1:10 Starting the Hike
1:44 Horse Camp
2:26 Hiking to Helen Lake
3:20 50/50 Flat
3:49 Helen Lake & Setting up Camp
5:07 Hiking to Red Banks at Sunrise
6:29 Red Banks
6:50 Hiking to Misery Hill
7:17 Misery Hill
7:45 Base of the Summit
8:10 Mt Shasta Summit
8:47 The Descent & Glissading
9:32 Outro
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Lakey Inspired
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[@ronniegatling9214]

Y'all see this mountain I climbed it and put part of my Mom's ashes on it when I had them it's beautiful

[@edrader]

my mom's are on mt rainier

[@richardgorbett5182]

One tip they didn't mention but make sure to remove your crampons before glissading, it can cause nasty injuries if you don't. Also, great video!

[@joshuarowe5571]

Also, at 9:26, keep your ice axe pick away from your body.

[@stevenuseda6317]

Agreed! Though if you didn't know that already you probably shouldn't be climbing up there without someone experienced lol

[@nickmuaythaiandfitness]

@@joshuarowe5571do they use the pick part as a brake to control the speed?

[@joshuarowe5571]

@@nickmuaythaiandfitnessYou use the spike to control your speed. You use the pick to self arrest. Or, if you keep your pick in close to your body, you use the pick to self-eviscerate.

[@nickmuaythaiandfitness]

@@joshuarowe5571 thank you! I’m hoping to climb Shasta this spring/summer! 🙏🏼

[@user-kn8ov1mu2c]

I'm 14, and ever since i've seen this mountain after I climbed mt lassen, its been a huge dream of mine to one day complete this, someday I will climb Mt. Shasta.

[@Ricky_Desch]

May your journey up it be safe and amazing! 🙏🙌

[@kwpp7]

You'll do it! 💪

[@abone2pick]

Probably the easiest 14.000 peak in California. If u do it on a really hot summer day you need almost no equipment.

[@Rg-es9kv]

It's waiting for you bud :)

[@monkemonke965]

​@@abone2pick White mountain is the easiest California 14er... Mount Whitney is probably the second easiest (via the hiking trail), Shasta still is class 3.

[@tedbrogan1262]

Major respect. Glad to see you're on the 14K club. Shasta is intense. Congrats.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks! It was for sure an intense hike!

[@rodkoehler]

I've lived on Mount Shasta at 4100 ft. for 28 years, but haven't hiked it due to my fear of heights. But your video of the experience really helps me know what summiting is like. Until this point I've only read about and looked at pictures of climbing Mount Shasta. Thanks!

[@californiathroughmylens]

No problem, it is a pretty crazy experience to hike it for sure and def not for everyone. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@deathbycake7637]

Any supernatural experiences?

[@rupman27isback]

@@deathbycake7637 lol

[@emstnjowtolmsn]

While most climb Shasta in two days, a one day trek is possible as well. I climbed Shasta in July 2017, and after the heavy '16/'17 winter, there was actually more snow there in July than you had in June of '18. Started at 11pm from Bunny Flat, passed through Lake Helen at 2am, summited at 9 or 10am, and back to the car at 2pm. Was so difficult physically and mentally. And yeah the section from Lake Helen to the Red Banks is very tough! I believe it's actually around 2700ft in just under a mile. Congrats on your summit!

[@FreerunTMac]

Thanks, good to know! trying for my oneday next weekend :)

[@arjunski]

I went on the same day as you. I see my dad and I were in the video! We made it to Misery Hill though. Congrats on reaching the peak! The winds were brutal!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for the comment, so fun you were on the mountain the same day! It was crazy windy at the top, we were only there for like 10 min before heading down.

[@ApeMan]

You did a great job showing how hard the hike is. Shasta is no joke and you need to have some mountaineering experience and common sense to complete the trip safely. I watched a gal slide over 1000 feet from the red banks before finally stopping luckily with minor injuries. Everyone needs to learn self arrest skills before attempting this hike. Totally worth it though. A sunrise from the red banks is pretty epic! Congrats on completing the hike. As a native Northern Californian Shasta is a very special place to me.

[@realtymatters]

Hat off to your daring adventure! Thanks for filming this trip.

[@jasonmhorton9978]

Awesome! Your videos have inspired me to hike more of California. Living here my whole life and I've only done a few major hikes and smaller hikes. Your video style is great too, keep them coming!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks, I appreciate it! Lots of great California hikes for sure!

[@DesertSenior]

WOW!!! Simply fantastic. Congrats to you and Amy!

[@arizonatimelesstourist846]

Nothing like a coffee shop to get your day started. Absolutely beautiful scenery. I'm sure filming made this trip a lot harder. Well done and congrats on making it to the top!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for the comment, yea filming is not always ideal but it allows me to take my time as I stop more to get photos and videos haha

[@ng8899]

Wow! You and Amy are amazing!!!! Great job on your hard feat!

[@amarir7785]

Well made and informative video. Thank you for all the tips and reflection on your climb. I'm hoping to climb this next bear, but I definitely have a lot to prepare for. Thank you for sharing! :)

[@lukepittner5093]

Your video came up in the suggested video list while I was watching some C# programming videos. I had just climbed Shasta myself, so I thought I would watch it. And then I realize that's my REI Passage 1 (orange/gray) tent with me in the door to the upper left of you while you are flattening the snow for your tent at about the 4:00 mark. And my tent again at the 4:30 mark. My friends and I did it on Friday the 22nd. But we stayed at Helen Lake and hiked out Saturday. Nice video by the way.

[@californiathroughmylens]

That's awesome! Fun to hear from someone else who was on the mountain at the same time!

[@SoundLegion]

Fantastic video! I live right under this mountain and have never climbed it. I would absolutely love to do it and you gave a great idea of what it would be like. Looks like an amazing thrilling experience

[@nora_nayeli]

Damn that’s admirable. I’m terrified of heights but I think that’s one of the coolest accomplishments ever.

[@kwd-2023]

Way cool video. Perfect recap of the journey! Feel like I did it myself.

[@christophertafuro291]

Josh this video is amazing! I'm very inspired by it and can't wait to start training!

[@happifiedinCA]

You go Josh and Amy! I'm impressed! Great video!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thank you!

[@ktpinnacle]

Well done. Made this hike twice - in June of 1980 and then again in 1981. Only made it to the Thumb (red banks) in 1980 due to some in our group having altitude sickness. But made it all the way in 1981. Went straight from the cabin to the top. Misery Hill lives up to it's name, indeed. There was a lot more snow on the peak back then.

[@norcal9376]

I summited Shasta a few days ago in a little over 9 hours starting from Bunny Flat at 230am and getting back to my car at 330pm. We put on our crampons at Helen Lake. Glissading down Red Banks was awesome.

[@njtech2005]

Thank you for sharing, excellent stuff and gives me a good idea what to expect!

[@kxrv6629]

I’m so jealous! Watched after your mention of it in your I-5 roadtrip video. I attempted Mt. Shasta for my 40th milestone birthday in 1996- but never made it to the top and never went back. Now I am 65 it’s not going to happen. Took the same exact route you did, but we spent the night before at the Bunny Hill trailhead to get some altitude acclimation. While I am an experienced backpacker I had never used full crampons or an iceax before. There was alot more snow on the mountain when we did it. Also stayed at Helen Lake and had a horrible night’s sleep. Should have gotten up at 2:30a like you did… instead finally dozed off when we should have gotten up. Oversleeping until it started to get light our summit attempt was really doomed from the start. By the time we were climbing up the chute to the Redbanks the snow was getting soft which made the going even tougher. Unlike the notorious Everest climbers that same year we set and honored our turnaround time realizing when we got to the top of the Redbanks that we didn’t have enough time or energy to make it safely to the Summit and back. So we turned around and glissading back down to Helen Lake in a few minutes what had taken us hours to climb. I am disappointed still that we did not make it to the summit, but watching your video confirms we made the right decision that day

[@stufromoz8164]

WOW now I see why Muir Described this mountain as one of the sieera nevad's jewels.

[@markrodriquez4128]

You made it! Some day I want to do this one! But I'm still a beginner right now. I'm gonna enjoy the hills and peaks in SoCal soon. Mt. Baldy is on my list. You sure looked pooped when you got back to the motel, you didn't even take us to a restaurant. Thanks for the video.

[@californiathroughmylens]

haha ya I was looking at my outro and was like dang I look tired haha! Mt Baldy is a great one, it's a SoCal favorite for me

[@kapildalwani]

This is one the best video out there. I went solo backpacking last weekend, and this video gave me a good idea of what to expect. I camped at 50/50 flats and hiked up to Helen lake next day via the summer trail. It was smoky yet worth it. Very loose rocks so climbing and descent was slow but not risky.

[@chrisclifford9531]

I love your videos!! So well made, informative and entertaining! I've watched this probably 20 times. I'm inspired. I'll start with Runyon Canyon and hopefully work my way all the way up the summit of Mount Shasta one day. Thank you !!

[@Toltecgrl]

Very Nice I’ve only seen it from the freeway. Never seen it like this! Thanks for sharing with some of us who will never get the opportunity to see it up close!!

[@californiathroughmylens]

No problem, thanks for watching!

[@philosophyoftrucking]

I love highpointing and I've become interested in other mountaineering adventures. Shasta is beautiful and this looks like a fun climb for a moderately experienced mountaineer!

[@devapremachodron4851]

Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@mariannebrouillette4301]

Awesome😍 I want to do this so much, you guys are great!

[@dburd58]

Loved your video....made me homesick!! Stuck in Florida missing home, Panther Meadow is my favorite place on the mountain.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for the comment, I want to do more hiking around the mountain as this was my first time.

[@discoveringdylan]

Great video! Thanks for all of the details, Shasta is definitely on my list.

[@eleland1]

Great video, thanks. I've been contemplating this hike and you give a great look at it .

[@ianmandel352]

What an amazing Hike to Mt Shasta ! You guys and gals are badass ...such an inspiring Video !! Thanks for Sharing this Craaazy ass adventure !

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks Ian, glad to see you watched the video as well! It was a crazy adventure and Amie hiked like a pro, leaving me in the dust on the mountain!

[@ratzter]

Congrats, sir. Ive been subscribed and watching your videos for a long time now. From an overweight guy, I'm happy to see that you were able to condition yourself for that hike. Great job!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks I appreciate it! Yea, I lost 20 pounds before I hiked it so that I could be more prepared

[@ratzter]

It shows.

[@jd-py5nm]

looks epic just driving by shasta is stunning can't imagine hiking!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Ya, it was a crazy adventure for sure!

[@vilstef6988]

The shadow of the mountain is great and beautiful!

[@Raychristofer]

Boss Im a long time subscriber from Florida and have had shasta on my bucket list for a long time. I couldnt find one video that sums up the whole experience. this just popped into my feed and its so well done. I know its not easy to document something like this when on a strenuous hike because I did a Yosemite Vernal falls tutorial. I know it was very windy for you, did you have a wind muff or deadcat for the mic or was it all in camera mic for simplicity? really appreciate this I knew it couldnt be done in one day but didnt realize all thats involved to be succsessful. this vid should be required watching for all attempting shasta. respect.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for the comment and I really appreciate the feedback. When I was researching doing the hike I probably watched 30 videos and I couldn't find any that really showed me what was in store, so I tried to create exactly what I would have wanted to see. I appreciate that you thought I did that! I brought my mic with a deadcat on it and used it when I could but sometimes I didn't want to take it out and just rocked the on-camera sound. I will have to check out your Vernal Falls video as well!

[@genewest7690]

another great video you two, really enjoying your adventures... peace from San Diego

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks for watching, this was a crazy adventure for sure.

[@ifor20got]

I am impressed by your video. Very well done....

[@goradsiyad1414]

Beuatiful forests and mountain

[@juliewoods6810]

I want to do this solely to glissade down! And the shadow of the peak during sunrise was stunning:)

[@glendevitt3945]

I worked in Red Bluff, CA for several years. I could see Mount Shasta from my office window, nearly 90 miles away. I climbed Mount Lassen many times during my time in Red Bluff but never had the time to climb Mount Shasta.

[@mottopanukeiku7406]

Great footage and narrative- thanks for posting! I went up a few weeks ago (mid June 2023) and it was like an entirely different mountain. The entire mountain was deep in snow from the big '22/'23 winter. Even the Bunny Flat trailhead was under snow and the cabin at Horse camp was almost buried up to the roof. We camped at 50/50 Flat and got an alpine start but the weather went from bad to worse with 40 knot winds and fog/semi-whiteout halfway up to Red Banks plus deep post-holing most of the way up. Turned around near the base of Misery Hill with 80 knot gusts and complete whiteout. Luckily we had very good guides. Would absolutely love to do it on a blue-bird day. Perhaps next year :) Cheers.

[@0616ko]

Pretty serious stuff. You guys are awesome.

[@mattpastell3728]

Years ago on my 2nd trip up Mt Shasta on the 4th of July the snow at Helen Lake was 30 feet deep. You could glissade from the summit to well below Helen Lake. Looking at Mt Shasta today, the snow is pretty skimpy!

[@Shastavalleyoutdoorsman]

Good video guys. Lived here my whole life and haven't been more than about three quarters of the way yet. But Grandma did it and by God I'll get it done LOL.

[@MiFilipinas]

Great video of Mt. Shasta.

[@olivaperez8112]

Amazing hike!!

[@californiathroughmylens]

I agree, it was crazy for sure!

[@sdtrautman]

another AWESOME video.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks!

[@zihanzhang675]

Thanks for your video. This is so helpful!

[@tonyhe001]

Good video, brings all my memory back, feel did it again :)

[@gracepitroff8860]

I'm so lucky to live only an hour away from Mt. Shasta. We get such a cool view whenever we drive by it.

[@peskylogicchillinsky6007Futube]

That looks soooooo fun!!!!

[@Italionmex]

Dude. I just found my next adventure. Gona start prepping. Thanks.

[@californiathroughmylens]

It's a crazy one for sure!

[@darcyoneill9377]

Well done. Climbed the north side in June 2006 up the Hotlum-Wintun Glaciers route, after hiking up/down Mount Lasken a couple of days earlier (on the drive way up from S.F./ex Canada...). A great experience, great views, signed that book[!]. Nice to see video.

[@SeanTakesOn]

Wow the triangle shadow of Shasta is so cool

[@isaacjamesbaker]

Nice video and congrats! Just tried shasta a few days ago in a day in heavy snowpack and had to bail due to too much blowing ice and snow -- looks so insanely different in warmer weather!

[@gbryant261]

Great video, as usual.

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks Gary, I appreciate it!

[@stvday1983]

I had a vision of this mountain! I cant believe but completely understand the name mystery hill.

[@MindfulNomadics]

That 2:30 wake up time, brutal! But the view from the top makes it worth it. Great video, we will definitely be checking out more!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks! Ya 2:30 is a crazy early wake up but it is worth it for the sunrise while hiking up!

[@ktpinnacle]

And it sure is easier hiking on the hard snow than when it gets slushier later in the morning.

[@Davidadventures]

On Mt Rainier, we are on the trail at midnight. Shasta is like sleeping in.

[@Scrambler85]

Well done, excellent video

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@phobowl]

Cool as hell. My next adventure

[@wlouisharris]

Great video. That looks like a cool 14'er to climb. It doesn't look like there is any expert mountaineering experience needed.

[@14erfinisher52]

Excellent Video! Well documented. Congrats on the Summit. I am now Subscribed your Channel Rocks!!

[@giftedsha]

Perfect Video 👍🏽👍🏽

[@foxfamilyheatingandaircond4696]

Great video man!

[@HikingNerd]

Wow you guys got some great weather! It's always windy up there, but could be so much worse :)

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thanks, ya I watched your video on the wind and I am glad we didn't have crazy wind like that!

[@readgildner-blinn1710]

When I summited Shasta in the early 90s, totally exhausted and altitude sick, a young Colorado woman in plastic mountaineering boots and shorts came jogging up Misery Hill, looking as if she'd just jumped out of her car. Damn.

[@alamfernandezramirez2928]

That was dope 😮

[@benfarmer06]

Thanks so much!

[@stufromoz8164]

I have a short excerpt out of one of John Muir's books where he describes getting caught in a snow storm on this very mountain, the way he describes the mountain in the most beautiful way and when the storm comes in it sounds herendous. I don'r know much about him but he sounds like an amazing consevationist.

[@ICEtruKiller1]

Born and raised here and would never do this, so I enjoyed the video lol.

[@skariaroy5988]

Great video. I remember you from San Bernardino peak.

[@bounthao798]

Super cool want to try too👍👍👍👍

[@mibrahim2004]

It was amazingly. Commenting from Shesta

[@pollyannabird]

cool video . 🌲🐾💚

[@rafaelcubero8322]

Next year, I'll cross the pool (Atlantic) from Europe to explore this part of California!!

[@surfk9836]

Did Shasta back in the 90's, but from the north side. Steep and alot of snow. Definitely mountaineering skills required. Was great but soo windy at the summit at times had to sit down. The bagged Whitney via mountaineers route. On the way home Great times.

[@arthurgao3261]

good video！ nice experience!

[@californiathroughmylens]

Thank, it was a crazy experience for sure.

[@FrankSchulenburg]

Awesome!

[@scmarine843]

Imagine hiking a volcano and it trimmers while on it 👀. Just drove past it all last week (truck driver) and although it's a beautiful view I'll let you guys have the climbing.

[@kevinoverholtzer3126]

that is the closest thing to mountain climbing with out mountain climbing as you can get. good job making it.

[@CRYPTERIUM4]

I hope to visit this place before it's burnt down like all the other nice places in northern California.

[@Cowgirl77Hikes]

This is incredible. Way too adventurous any blood, due to altitude but really enjoy your channel. Sending off to my teacher who wants to do this with his wife. Thanks!

[@ryanbennett3958]

Dude hope to see you do the Half Dome cable trail soon

[@californiathroughmylens]

I did it a few years ago but unfortunately didn't record it so I will have to do it again sometime!

[@clintonlandry4873]

In Texas finishing up my Nursing degree, once I’m done I plan on moving back to California, I watch these videos to give myself a bucketlist for when I get back. I was raised in California but never did half the things you have filmed! Love your videos man! Oh yeah and I also wondered, do you work or is traveling your job? No hate, just envy lol

[@hortensiabarajas8257]

Beatiful I did it ready Shasta too

[@datnasinulingga6949]

Amazing

[@toshibavoodoo]

Awesome

[@tato4612]

Nice vid.

[@Fun_in_retrospect]

Great documentation. I'm booked for North side Hotlum-Bolam route next summer. Looks like yall had great conditions minus the wind. What did you do for your training routine? Im in southern VA so I have access to the App trail but no real elevation over 3K.

[@mattpeterson7988]

I always wanted to go up there when I lived around the mountain

[@Arthur-Silva]

Wicked mountain!

[@markwyatt3088]

An alterative is to drive to Panther Meadows Campground at 8,000' (end of road) and make it a hard 1 day ascent. Only 12 walk-in campsites so it''s important to show up on a weekday early to reserve a site, and it's only open from July 1st to winter snowfall.

[@marymedinas1111]

Dang so many people up there. That part would kinda be a bummer in my opinion. But nice job!

[@dereksniper3094]

0:54 I drove up there a couple days ago and had no idea there were steps there lol (winter snow)

[@chaogan5442]

Respect🎉