
In the photos on the left, you see the large temperature gauge located in the heart of Mt Shasta City on one of the main streets, and one of the mountain climbing forest rangers who just happened to hit the summit at about the same time we did. As you can see, the temperature in the city was 50 degrees F, at about 8:30AM, while the very next day on the summit (at about 9AM), the temperature was about 36 degrees.
But
weather can change fast in the mountains, and Mt Shasta is known for making it's own weather. So you need to be prepared for harsh conditions should things not go your way. We always carry several layers of clothing, including wind and rain protection. Good gloves and a good insulated hat are also necessary. The mountain has no mercy for the unprepared, and cold injuries are common on Mt Shasta.
In the right hand photo, you see a photo of one of the climbing rangers on the summit. They patrol the mountain and are there to help out when people get in trouble on the mountain, but as with any wilderness outing, you need to be prepared for problems or injuries on you own, because you can't always count on these guys to be around when you need them. Mt Shasta Rangers are also a source for information on current conditions. This can be a great help when the slopes or weather on the mountain is unstable. They usually hang out at Lake Helen (when not patrolling the slopes) where they have a good size tent set up for their headquarters. Also make sure you have your summit pass on you, because the climbing Rangers will often check to make sure that you are carrying one if you go above 10,000 feet. More about this on our
Getting Started page.