Ascended Casaval Ridge from the BC @ 9800 ft in the First Window. Started at 3 am, topped out at 10 am. There were some cold wind, but otherwise perfect snow and weather conditions. We got some cloud cover on the way down the Avy Gulley and had to wait for the whiteout conditions to dissipate.
kovarpa - May 13, 2006 12:37 am Date Climbed: May 7, 2006
Casaval
Training climb via Catwalk with Kris and Vendulka. Route in great shape. Started calm at 4am, then high winds, we topped out in a whiteout and happily skipped Misery Hill.
virginiapine - May 5, 2006 3:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2003
Early summer solo
Climbed as many of the pinnacles as I could in big boots (skipped a few in the first half), bivied in the last nice flat notch halfway up, finished by going around the west side of Misery Hill (more technical, great view of Whitney Gl.) and up. Bivied again on descent (for more acclimatization before teaching friends on the north side). Absolutely gorgeous, and not another soul on the ridge.
tjbst47 - May 1, 2006 3:47 am Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2006
Mount Shasta
Climbed Casaval Ridge, descended into whiteout below "Misery Hill" and got lost for an hour or so, but eventually found the way, 6 hour ascent time from the 9800 ft camp
cdog - Feb 28, 2006 5:55 am Date Climbed: Mar 19, 2004
end of winter on Casaval
I made a one day blitz of Casaval on the 19th of March. Conditions were near perfect--clear skies, good snow, no crowds. The route is pretty staightforward, with lots of traversing moderate slopes (30 degrees) and some icy spots. The underlying difficulty is the length and elev gain. The winds picked up tremendously on the summit plateau--gusts strong enough to make me lose my balance a couple times (70+ mph). There were some lenticular clouds to verify this.
Overall it was a tremendous day, and a test of will power to fight through the wind.
Rinat Shagisultanov - May 30, 2006 7:29 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2006
Successful summit attemptAscended Casaval Ridge from the BC @ 9800 ft in the First Window. Started at 3 am, topped out at 10 am. There were some cold wind, but otherwise perfect snow and weather conditions. We got some cloud cover on the way down the Avy Gulley and had to wait for the whiteout conditions to dissipate.
kovarpa - May 13, 2006 12:37 am Date Climbed: May 7, 2006
CasavalTraining climb via Catwalk with Kris and Vendulka. Route in great shape. Started calm at 4am, then high winds, we topped out in a whiteout and happily skipped Misery Hill.
virginiapine - May 5, 2006 3:16 pm Date Climbed: Jun 23, 2003
Early summer soloClimbed as many of the pinnacles as I could in big boots (skipped a few in the first half), bivied in the last nice flat notch halfway up, finished by going around the west side of Misery Hill (more technical, great view of Whitney Gl.) and up. Bivied again on descent (for more acclimatization before teaching friends on the north side). Absolutely gorgeous, and not another soul on the ridge.
tjbst47 - May 1, 2006 3:47 am Date Climbed: Apr 29, 2006
Mount ShastaClimbed Casaval Ridge, descended into whiteout below "Misery Hill" and got lost for an hour or so, but eventually found the way, 6 hour ascent time from the 9800 ft camp
cdog - Feb 28, 2006 5:55 am Date Climbed: Mar 19, 2004
end of winter on CasavalI made a one day blitz of Casaval on the 19th of March. Conditions were near perfect--clear skies, good snow, no crowds. The route is pretty staightforward, with lots of traversing moderate slopes (30 degrees) and some icy spots. The underlying difficulty is the length and elev gain. The winds picked up tremendously on the summit plateau--gusts strong enough to make me lose my balance a couple times (70+ mph). There were some lenticular clouds to verify this.
Overall it was a tremendous day, and a test of will power to fight through the wind.