Annual Mt. Shasta Climb

Jon climbed Mt. Shasta again this year, unfortunately without me. I really wanted to be there with him, but it just didn't work out.So here they are, the only brave firefighters able to go. From left to right: Jimmy, Terry, Jon and Jeremy. They are at the base of the trail called Bunny Flat @ 6,880 ft. with towering Mt. Shasta in the background.This picture is taken at Horse Camp @ 7,880 ft. They decided to camp over night here because they were told that the wind and weather was so bad at 50/50 Flat that the tent poles were snapping because of the wind. 50/50 Flat is where we camped over night last year.They were able to find a nice flat place to camp for the night in between trees to help block out the wind. They went to bed around 8:00pm to ensure a semi-good nights rest before the big climb. Let me mention they had worked the 48 hours prior to this climb. So, once again, Jon was running on no sleep.They got an early start before the sun came up at 3:00am. This picture below was taken at 7:00am at Helen Lake @ 10,400 ft. Now, how cold does that look?The picture below is a pit stop at 8:00am. As you can see, they are still in the shadows and the sun has not yet peeked over the mountian.The picture below is at 9:25am. Good thing they rented helmets because the snow had already started to melt, which means there is a chance a rock slide could happen.This was also taken at 9:25am. Look at how steep of grade that is.Below is a picture taken at 10:05am at Red Banks @ 12,400 ft. This is where Jon got altitude sickness and had to turn back. He was nauseated and vomiting with a massive headache.Up here Jon said that the tubes of their Camelbacks were starting to freeze. Jon said that it was 18 degrees fahrenheit with 30-60 mph winds up there. As you can see...no vegetation. The three other guys pressed onward in there climb to the summit leaving Jon behind. Jon started his decent in defeat once again.Pictured above is Jon back at Helen Lake @ 10,400 ft. Below is the beautiful view. It couldn't get more breath taking.Finally, life on the mountain, the beginnings of vegetation.The others were also defeated by Mt. Shasta. They were within a couple hundred yards of the summit, but the 80 mph winds were too much. They feared being blown off the cliff. Below is Jeremy, happy to be warm...er and back at Horse Camp..."Ditto", says Jimmy.Thank goodness they all made it back in one piece. They asked each other if they would do it again next year. The response was unanimous, "The key is to forget how miserably cold, tired and fatigued your body felt on that mountain. Once you forget, then there is always hope for a next year."