Brewer Creek Solstice Patrol

Daylight was at a maximum this weekend and the onset of summer didn't disappoint with scorching temps. The calm, clear and warm weather brought out the crowds after storms and high winds the last few weekends. Brewer Creek TH was the busiest rangers have ever seen it. This highlights the need for good stewardship and Leave-No-Trace wilderness ethics. It is important to not park on vegetation as well even if it means your summit hike will be a little bit longer. Give the mountain a break and let's keep this majestic mountain beautiful! 

For those who slide on sticks and boards, skins were put on at 8900' at the base of the morraine. If you don't like melting snow for water, listen and look carefully and you may find running water. I filled up at 9300'. Not a bad idea to carry extra fuel if you can't sniff out the wet stuff. 

Camps abound in the rocks. Plenty of spots with built up rock wind-breaks. I found a nice bivy at 10,400.  Some can be found lower and some higher. Some on the right, some on the left and some in the middle. Pick your mountain home to your pleasure or get up early and head out from the trailhead. Where ever you stay remember to keep Mt Shasta clean of trash and human waste.

Snow softened up for ski and snowboard descents by 10am. There were lots of tracks and the Hotlum-Wintun (aka Hotoon) Snowfield resembled a tracked out ski resort so I decided to harvest some smooth, creamy corn right of Ship Rock and rode down a portion of the Wintun Glacier. 

All-in-all a great trip and ran into many friendly, responsible climbers. 

Grab your wilderness permits, $25 summit passes and human waste pack-out bags at the trailhead. We apologize to those who found the summit passes sold out but thank you kindly for still paying the fee into the fee-tube.  Passes have since been re-stocked. 

Have fun and be safe!