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If I was you I would either pack over as you wish. Or camp before all the windows and stuff around 10.3K somewhere(with a beautiful view of the route) and glissade down WF to pick up your camp (you will have to ascent maybe 200ft to join the ridge for that). I love that camp spot, view of Casaval/Shastina during sunsets is amazing.

You can camp whenever you find the spot, but the last spot that you can really comfortable and safely protect your tent from the high winds is just before you enter the "rocky" part of the ridge at about 10,000.

If you carry backpacks to the top, the easiest way to descent (especially in whiteout conditions) is through 1) Avalanche Gulch. Otherwise, you can retrace your footsteps through 2) Casaval Ridge (the hardest or longest approach), or you can take 3) West Face Gully to 3a) Hidden Valley or 3b) at certain elevation get back on the lower part of CR, or 3c) cross it and finish through AG. There are more subtle variations but it's up to you (and the weather conditions) which approach would be most suitable.

You also have an option to camp on the top (plateau), just for the sake of experience (but watch for winds).

Thanks for the info. We camped at the flat spot at 11k and just built snow walls and dug in to protect from the winds which were very consistent but not too bad. It ended up being a great site and we just carried our overnight gear over the top and descended AG. If you are able to travel light, this is definitely the best way to go.

Very nice. Any pictures from the trip?

mtndonkey wrote:Thanks for the info. We camped at the flat spot at 11k and just built snow walls and dug in to protect from the winds which were very consistent but not too bad. It ended up being a great site and we just carried our overnight gear over the top and descended AG. If you are able to travel light, this is definitely the best way to go.

best way would be to day-hike it.

even better...bring skis on your dayhike! why not double the fun?

I say spend several days on a mountain. Everyone has their reasons to be there, though.

However, I did only spend a day, that is to say 24hrs, but made due with what I could in a 48hr timeline from Portland and back again.

And 11,000 seemed ideal, although I was too late to catch it. Would love to get back that way again soon!

Holk, when did you camp in that spot?

Ha ha, nice comparison, Chad! I was there May 9 - May 10.
Best climb since the Northwest Ridge route on Adams, but being solo definitely made the overall experience unique.
http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1017389/TR_Mount_Shasta_Casaval_Ridge_#Post1017389

Not just a comparison. Looks like you used our exact spot. We were there 9 days earlier. Agree that the climb was in great shape at that time, and that camp was spectacular.

Vitaliy M. wrote:best way would be to day-hike it.

Because?

Skied the North Gate Chutes last Wednesday.


Looks like more snow on the way for the upper mountain tomorrow/Wed.
I think I'll take this week off from skiing and jib on down the river with my kayak!
Who wants to paddle Cache Creek?

Because that's the only way to be cool on SP LOL

SJ wrote:

Vitaliy M. wrote:best way would be to day-hike it.

Because?

mrchad9 wrote:Not just a comparison. Looks like you used our exact spot.

Hey, if the tent fits.

Okay, okay, a horrible play on words, I know. But yes, it was a fantastic time to be up there, albeit that particular area was more prone to the high gusts than had I walked a few hundred feet farther.

I shot a whole lot of video of my trip, but would like to create a narrative for it rather than just slap a bunch of footage together and call it done. Unfortunately it could be a little while before I get my act together and finish it.

SJ wrote:

Vitaliy M. wrote:best way would be to day-hike it.

Because?

Correction, it is the best way to do it if you want to go light and fast as one of the posters suggested. Personally, I did Casaval as a day hike and as an overnight. I enjoyed both in their own unique ways. There is no right way to do it, just don't get hurt, be self sufficient, and leave no trace.