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Hotlum Bolam Ridge
General Conditions
Thinking of climbing Mt Shasta via Avalanche Gulch this season? Well unless falling rock dodgeball is your sport of choice, think again! Consider climbing one of Mt Shasta's other scenic routes. Featured today is the Hotlum-Bolam Ridge route. A nice stroll from Northgate on Shasta's quiter, high desert-esque side will bring you through large red firs, a twisted-gnalred krummholz forest and into the alpine with sweeping views of the Shasta Valley below. Along the way you may even catch a glimpse of a horny toad. Once at camp, enjoy the cold water of a beautiful, alpine stream this time of year. It can get quite windy on the mountain as it was yesterday and the night before so find yourself a protected campsite and secure your tent. The upper route is still in great shape. One can walk the climber's path up the rock ridge nearly to 12,000 ft before putting on crampons and traversing towards The Ramp or get on the snow left of the ridge and don them much earlier. Watch out for the open crevasse below The Ramp. It is easily avoided. If you are headed up this week keep your eyes on the lookout for Comet Neowise in the NE sky near the horizon around 330-4am. It was quite the impressive celestial treat and won't be around for another thousand years! Happy Climbing!
More complete route description: https://www.shastaavalanche.org/general-route-description/hotlumbolam-ridge
