A Pictorial Journey to the top of Mt Shasta

Conquering Mt Shasta this year was simply amazing. I can't wait to write a couple blog posts about it! So here's to the first one. Its simply pictures taken along the epic journey. Enjoy!
Thanks to David Smith, my best friend along with Ben, Kelly and Debbie. Without you guys the whole trip would have never went as well, as epic, as it did! Thanks!!

Hope these  pics inspire everyone to go climb something!!!!!!!

Heading up from Horse Camp... with no horses..drat!! I guess i just gained 35 lbs for 3 days!

The first snow patch among many patches and annual snow fields on the trail

Being last on the trail has it's benefits...pictures and more pictures

Starting up Avalanche Gulch....with no avalanche's hopefully

At this point i told the whole group that.....most of the trail is covered in snow but they continued to go barefoot.....

Base camp was just above the rock eyebrow in the middle right of the pic

Heading to Lake Helen our base camp

The wet slushy slug of a hike continues

Evidence of spring avalanche's (the rocks on the right) remind us to be alert

100 yards to base camp

Looking down from base camp at where we started

Base camp at last!

Looking up Avalanche Gulch at the route for the next day, summit day!

Our home for the night

Base camp at Helen Lake

Sunset at 10,433 ft

The early morning summit hike from base camp

Heading up at first light

There's nothing like climbing at sunrise

The CREW!!!

Shasta's shadow

David a.k.a "man thighs" leading the way

Follow the leader... follow the dots

Entering the Red Banks

Can you see base camp?

Red Banks 

The slow pokes behind us

Just above Red Banks with David giving the team "the look" to get going

 Thumb Rock 12,923 ft

Our world is VAST!

At last we can see the summit block

Looking down at 12,330 ft Shastina

Taking a break before the summit push

Add caption

Putting our names in the summit register

Ben, Kelly and Debbie claiming their share of the 14,162 Mt Shasta

David claiming his share as i nervously take photos hoping a wind gust doesn't surprise us

Go COUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go HAWKS!!!!!!

Heading down from being on top of the world

    IF WE CAN CLIMB MT. SHASTA THEN                                YOU CAN!!!