rsburky96 - Aug 14, 2020 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2020
Toughest climb we have ever done to date
Hardest climb we have ever done to date. Started from the Clear Creek trailhead around 11:30am July 9. This was a planned over night or 2 day climb. We had a good climb up to camp at 9530', just above the spring camp sites. It took us about 3:50 to go 4 miles and 3000' of elevation gain. We set up camp in one of the pre-made rock walled sites right off the trail. After we ate dinner & replenished our water supplies, we played cards until a little after dark when we finally hit the sack.
The next morning I was fortunate to wake up just in time to get an awesome sunrise photo from camp. We finally all got up and hit the trail around 9am. From here on to the summit it was a grueling & slow scramble over loose dirt & rock scree. Where as the first day was a walk in the park, this day was just awful. It took us 6 hours to go just 2 miles to the summit. You would take one step forward and slide backwards 1/2 step. While we were very elated to reach the summit and to be able to rest and enjoy the view, we were even more excited to able to glissade down some of the snow fields. This was only the 2nd time glissading as we had done a little bit last year when climbing Mt Eolous in Colorado. We were only able to glissade around 300-400 feet though.
Once we reached back to camp, we still had to take down the tent, pack everything up and continue our decent back to the trailhead. It was just after dark when we finally arrived back to the car.
Stats:
13.11 miles
13:50:55 time
6102 elevation gain
Malesore - Nov 10, 2019 8:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2015
Mt Shasta via Clear Creek
Date: September 29, 2015
Climbing time: 14hrs (incl multiple rest stops, and “casual day” wandering on descent)
Difficulty: Mostly class 2 walk-up via Clear Creek Trail-head
Elevation gain/loss: Approx. 15,200’ total
Mileage: 13.29 miles car-to-car
Mountains climbed: Mt Shasta
Gear: Gregory Palisade 80L pack (30lb weight); 3L Platypus reservoir; 1-32 oz bottle H2O; 2 GU gels; bonk bar; banana; gum; Keen Targhee II boots; Darn Tough socks; Columbia convertible cargo pants; Patagonia Capilene tee; LL Bean 1/4 zip fleece; Patagonia light down jacket; Native sunglasses; Garmin Forerunner 310XT; Shiseido sunblock SPF50; wool beanie; Black Diamond headlight.
Wow, what a day. Ten hours up, five down. Had to park 2 miles below the trailhead due to not wanting to risk our sedan (low clearance, two-wheel drive) to get stock (last 3 miles is very sandy offroading).
Start: 3am. Back to car: 7pm. 20 miles, 8300+ elevation gain
Got stock above the 13000ft (above the red rock) on the most sketchy part of the route. AllTrails recording was showing to keep way right at the Red Rock, before the headwall. I tried to traverse but triggered a rock slide, do not do it. Wear a helmet above the red rocks.In the end, we pushed forward (direct line up from the red rock). Boom. Summit. Long way down.
SuperChthonic - May 5, 2018 6:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2009
Nice hike
Longer but easier than AG. Also fewer people which is nice. This is my favorite way to introduce friends & family to Shasta.
CallMeBrown - Feb 14, 2016 11:18 pm Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2014
Solo in the Fall of a drought year
This year was super dry and amounted to very little snowfall. I missed my climbing windows for other routes earlier in the year. I knew Clear Creek route is a good option in a dry year so I went for it. Hiked up to camp by the springs late in the day om day one. Bivied out under a bright moon. Started up the trail around 3a and pretty much followed use trails almost all the way to the summit arriving at 730a. I was super tired when i got to the summit so I laid down behind the rocks out of the wind and in the sun. It must have been super cozy because I and ended up waking up around 1030. I started down and made it back to my vehicle around 1p. I did not see another climber on the mountain that day.
MattDaddy56 - Sep 10, 2015 11:45 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2015
Nice summit
Solo climb of this route. I started really early (0130 hrs) because I was not familiar with the route. Summited at around 0730 and it was still pretty cold. The lack of snow made the loose scree a real pain, more so on the way down. Pretty crowded on Labor Day weekend, but met some nice people up there. The water at the springs area was still flowing strong so no need to pack a lot of water. Just bring enough to get you to high camp.
I got a leisurely start around 8:00 and summitted before 2:00. My descent was no picnic, but was nearly twice as fast as the ascent. I shared the ufo rock area and summit area with several overnighters and a few dayhikers on the busy Labor Day weekend. I found some temporary solitude, and safety from hiker induced rockfall on the way up by traversing right from ufo rock and traveling immediately next to Wintun glacier (briefly class 2-3). On the descent, I tried a different way, heading to my right from center again, down some gullies and angling to my left to ufo rock. Anyway, I was glad I had poles, and although it wasn't as bad as rumored, I plan to avoid long scree slogs like this on future Shasta trips.
96avs01 - Aug 9, 2015 2:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2015
CC Dayhike
A really nice dayhike. Made the summit just a bit before noon. Clouds were building but didn't result in any precip. Views were minimal due to all the fires burning. Lower forest was quite smokey on ascent, better on descent once the boundary layer had increased in height. I'd honestly say this is a much more exerting dayhike vs. Mt. Whitney.
Again on 9/25/16. This time with great views, CA Central valley all the way to Mt Scott at Crater Lake.
With my brother - 7.5 hours up and 4 hours down from Clear Creek TH. The route up wasn't as bad as feared, scrambled up rocks whenever possible over the last 1,500 feet as the trail would have been a nightmare. Coming down was easy, but caution is warranted as it is loose and I did take a couple minor tumbles, landing in the soft ash. Only acclimated for 4 hours at 9,000 feet the day before, and was really slow above 13,000 but somehow all our energy came back once we got to the top. Grueling day for sure. The trail is longer than indicated on SP - nearly 7 miles one way due to the many switchbacks. Trip report is HERE.
brichardsson - Jul 8, 2014 2:12 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2014
wonderful route
fantastic views, and barely a soul on the trail. too bad it was so dry this year. we did get a nice 1,000' glissade on the way down however.
mrchad9 - Sep 16, 2013 1:09 am Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2013
Scree
Nothing but screw and a bit of talus up top but didn't find it to be tedious at all. Some of the use trails up were a but loose, but those closer to the rock outcroppings to the right were fairly solid. Perfect weather and my last ascent of all the major routes on Shasta.
Matt Miller - Jul 7, 2011 7:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2011
Loose, loose, loose
Invited by a friend to climb Shasta and couldn't say no. Long approach from Clear Creek, but very scenic.
Camped at 8800 feet. Warm night, but the snow the next morning was in pretty good condition. Had good snow most of the way up to the orange UFO rock at 12,800. Then we headed up a nasty scree slope. There were some patches of solid rock, but most of it was choss. Don't do this in a large group. Lots of large loose rocks are waiting to kill someone.
nickL - Jun 12, 2010 1:37 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2009
Summer CC Route
Set up camp in the Clear Creek basin in the evening, left camp for the top 2 hours before sunrise. Long grind up to the orange UFO rock at 12,800 ft. I felt like I was going forever but the rock didnt seem to be getting any closer! Above the rock we picked one of the faint trails traversing to the right and ended up scratching our way up a nasty scree slope between a couple of rocky fingers. No snow on the route except for the short flat section at the top of the Whitney Glacier, just below the summit. Had perfect weather all day, not too warm, not too cold. We spent over an hour on top, then headed down. Once we made it past the steep stuff above the orange rock we made crazy good time going down the loose trail.
edevart - Sep 6, 2007 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2006
Clear Creek Death Scree
Left Clear Creek Springs at 3:30 am and was on the summit at noon. Spent two hours on the summit, most of it alone. Took a half hour nap.
The hike up was long and loose, but not particularly difficult this time. No snow until the small steep upper Wintun Glacier section. Only needed the crampons for a hundred yard segment, otherwise did the whole thing in running shoes (the best of all mountaineering boots).
I made it! Did the Clear Creek Route. My third summit on this route out of 7 attempts. My other failures were due to weather or starting too late, etc.
I think the best route is to traverse right at the big orange rock (at about 12,800') and get on the upper Wintun Glacier, but this time I went straight up through the Genuine 5 Star scree pile to the summit plateau. That scree pile is dangerous to be below if people are on it due to rock fall, especially if there is snow that provides a good rolling surface for the rocks. The rocks come down off the 5 Star scree pile like missiles. Fortunately I was the only one this time.
Once, in July, I made it to the top of the Genuine 5 Star Scree pile (the summit plateau) and the wind was so strong I could not stand so I tried crouching but that was no good either. I went back down with the summit in full view only 3 or 400 feet above me.
Last year, most of the upper Wintun had melted and had been replaced by flatish rocks. As I crossed the flatish rocks on my way to the Glacier snow, I noticed there was water ice beneath them. The rocks slid on this ice as I tried traversing to the Glacier Snow. It was too dangerous to walk even with crampons so I abandoned the attempt.
rsburky96 - Aug 14, 2020 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Jul 9, 2020
Toughest climb we have ever done to dateHardest climb we have ever done to date. Started from the Clear Creek trailhead around 11:30am July 9. This was a planned over night or 2 day climb. We had a good climb up to camp at 9530', just above the spring camp sites. It took us about 3:50 to go 4 miles and 3000' of elevation gain. We set up camp in one of the pre-made rock walled sites right off the trail. After we ate dinner & replenished our water supplies, we played cards until a little after dark when we finally hit the sack.
The next morning I was fortunate to wake up just in time to get an awesome sunrise photo from camp. We finally all got up and hit the trail around 9am. From here on to the summit it was a grueling & slow scramble over loose dirt & rock scree. Where as the first day was a walk in the park, this day was just awful. It took us 6 hours to go just 2 miles to the summit. You would take one step forward and slide backwards 1/2 step. While we were very elated to reach the summit and to be able to rest and enjoy the view, we were even more excited to able to glissade down some of the snow fields. This was only the 2nd time glissading as we had done a little bit last year when climbing Mt Eolous in Colorado. We were only able to glissade around 300-400 feet though.
Once we reached back to camp, we still had to take down the tent, pack everything up and continue our decent back to the trailhead. It was just after dark when we finally arrived back to the car.
Stats:
13.11 miles
13:50:55 time
6102 elevation gain
Malesore - Nov 10, 2019 8:30 am Date Climbed: Sep 29, 2015
Mt Shasta via Clear CreekDate: September 29, 2015
Climbing time: 14hrs (incl multiple rest stops, and “casual day” wandering on descent)
Difficulty: Mostly class 2 walk-up via Clear Creek Trail-head
Elevation gain/loss: Approx. 15,200’ total
Mileage: 13.29 miles car-to-car
Mountains climbed: Mt Shasta
Gear: Gregory Palisade 80L pack (30lb weight); 3L Platypus reservoir; 1-32 oz bottle H2O; 2 GU gels; bonk bar; banana; gum; Keen Targhee II boots; Darn Tough socks; Columbia convertible cargo pants; Patagonia Capilene tee; LL Bean 1/4 zip fleece; Patagonia light down jacket; Native sunglasses; Garmin Forerunner 310XT; Shiseido sunblock SPF50; wool beanie; Black Diamond headlight.
Weather outlook: 42-60F, clear skies, NOAA weather reports little-no wind (ha!), no precipitation.
Great things are done when men and mountains meet – William Blake
StickyFingaz - Sep 21, 2019 8:33 am Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2019
Slippin’ and slidin’Hard work, but worth the effort.
Yulia Zi - Aug 27, 2018 5:49 pm
Car to Car Summit // 20 miles // Aug 2018Wow, what a day. Ten hours up, five down. Had to park 2 miles below the trailhead due to not wanting to risk our sedan (low clearance, two-wheel drive) to get stock (last 3 miles is very sandy offroading).
Start: 3am. Back to car: 7pm. 20 miles, 8300+ elevation gain
Got stock above the 13000ft (above the red rock) on the most sketchy part of the route. AllTrails recording was showing to keep way right at the Red Rock, before the headwall. I tried to traverse but triggered a rock slide, do not do it. Wear a helmet above the red rocks.In the end, we pushed forward (direct line up from the red rock). Boom. Summit. Long way down.
SuperChthonic - May 5, 2018 6:28 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2009
Nice hikeLonger but easier than AG. Also fewer people which is nice. This is my favorite way to introduce friends & family to Shasta.
CallMeBrown - Feb 14, 2016 11:18 pm Date Climbed: Sep 25, 2014
Solo in the Fall of a drought yearThis year was super dry and amounted to very little snowfall. I missed my climbing windows for other routes earlier in the year. I knew Clear Creek route is a good option in a dry year so I went for it. Hiked up to camp by the springs late in the day om day one. Bivied out under a bright moon. Started up the trail around 3a and pretty much followed use trails almost all the way to the summit arriving at 730a. I was super tired when i got to the summit so I laid down behind the rocks out of the wind and in the sun. It must have been super cozy because I and ended up waking up around 1030. I started down and made it back to my vehicle around 1p. I did not see another climber on the mountain that day.
MattDaddy56 - Sep 10, 2015 11:45 am Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2015
Nice summitSolo climb of this route. I started really early (0130 hrs) because I was not familiar with the route. Summited at around 0730 and it was still pretty cold. The lack of snow made the loose scree a real pain, more so on the way down. Pretty crowded on Labor Day weekend, but met some nice people up there. The water at the springs area was still flowing strong so no need to pack a lot of water. Just bring enough to get you to high camp.
colinr - Sep 8, 2015 4:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2015
DayhikeI got a leisurely start around 8:00 and summitted before 2:00. My descent was no picnic, but was nearly twice as fast as the ascent. I shared the ufo rock area and summit area with several overnighters and a few dayhikers on the busy Labor Day weekend. I found some temporary solitude, and safety from hiker induced rockfall on the way up by traversing right from ufo rock and traveling immediately next to Wintun glacier (briefly class 2-3). On the descent, I tried a different way, heading to my right from center again, down some gullies and angling to my left to ufo rock. Anyway, I was glad I had poles, and although it wasn't as bad as rumored, I plan to avoid long scree slogs like this on future Shasta trips.
96avs01 - Aug 9, 2015 2:33 pm Date Climbed: Aug 8, 2015
CC DayhikeA really nice dayhike. Made the summit just a bit before noon. Clouds were building but didn't result in any precip. Views were minimal due to all the fires burning. Lower forest was quite smokey on ascent, better on descent once the boundary layer had increased in height. I'd honestly say this is a much more exerting dayhike vs. Mt. Whitney.
Again on 9/25/16. This time with great views, CA Central valley all the way to Mt Scott at Crater Lake.
trexkerry - Sep 6, 2014 4:47 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2014
Dayhike from Clear Creek THWith my brother - 7.5 hours up and 4 hours down from Clear Creek TH. The route up wasn't as bad as feared, scrambled up rocks whenever possible over the last 1,500 feet as the trail would have been a nightmare. Coming down was easy, but caution is warranted as it is loose and I did take a couple minor tumbles, landing in the soft ash. Only acclimated for 4 hours at 9,000 feet the day before, and was really slow above 13,000 but somehow all our energy came back once we got to the top. Grueling day for sure. The trail is longer than indicated on SP - nearly 7 miles one way due to the many switchbacks. Trip report is HERE.
brichardsson - Jul 8, 2014 2:12 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2014
wonderful routefantastic views, and barely a soul on the trail. too bad it was so dry this year. we did get a nice 1,000' glissade on the way down however.
mrchad9 - Sep 16, 2013 1:09 am Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2013
ScreeNothing but screw and a bit of talus up top but didn't find it to be tedious at all. Some of the use trails up were a but loose, but those closer to the rock outcroppings to the right were fairly solid. Perfect weather and my last ascent of all the major routes on Shasta.
Matt Miller - Jul 7, 2011 7:28 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2011
Loose, loose, looseInvited by a friend to climb Shasta and couldn't say no. Long approach from Clear Creek, but very scenic.
Camped at 8800 feet. Warm night, but the snow the next morning was in pretty good condition. Had good snow most of the way up to the orange UFO rock at 12,800. Then we headed up a nasty scree slope. There were some patches of solid rock, but most of it was choss. Don't do this in a large group. Lots of large loose rocks are waiting to kill someone.
nickL - Jun 12, 2010 1:37 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2009
Summer CC RouteSet up camp in the Clear Creek basin in the evening, left camp for the top 2 hours before sunrise. Long grind up to the orange UFO rock at 12,800 ft. I felt like I was going forever but the rock didnt seem to be getting any closer! Above the rock we picked one of the faint trails traversing to the right and ended up scratching our way up a nasty scree slope between a couple of rocky fingers. No snow on the route except for the short flat section at the top of the Whitney Glacier, just below the summit. Had perfect weather all day, not too warm, not too cold. We spent over an hour on top, then headed down. Once we made it past the steep stuff above the orange rock we made crazy good time going down the loose trail.
edevart - Sep 6, 2007 4:51 pm Date Climbed: Aug 13, 2006
Clear Creek Death ScreeLeft Clear Creek Springs at 3:30 am and was on the summit at noon. Spent two hours on the summit, most of it alone. Took a half hour nap.
The hike up was long and loose, but not particularly difficult this time. No snow until the small steep upper Wintun Glacier section. Only needed the crampons for a hundred yard segment, otherwise did the whole thing in running shoes (the best of all mountaineering boots).
climberska - Sep 7, 2006 5:35 am
Successful Clear Creek attemptI made it! Did the Clear Creek Route. My third summit on this route out of 7 attempts. My other failures were due to weather or starting too late, etc.
I think the best route is to traverse right at the big orange rock (at about 12,800') and get on the upper Wintun Glacier, but this time I went straight up through the Genuine 5 Star scree pile to the summit plateau. That scree pile is dangerous to be below if people are on it due to rock fall, especially if there is snow that provides a good rolling surface for the rocks. The rocks come down off the 5 Star scree pile like missiles. Fortunately I was the only one this time.
Once, in July, I made it to the top of the Genuine 5 Star Scree pile (the summit plateau) and the wind was so strong I could not stand so I tried crouching but that was no good either. I went back down with the summit in full view only 3 or 400 feet above me.
Last year, most of the upper Wintun had melted and had been replaced by flatish rocks. As I crossed the flatish rocks on my way to the Glacier snow, I noticed there was water ice beneath them. The rocks slid on this ice as I tried traversing to the Glacier Snow. It was too dangerous to walk even with crampons so I abandoned the attempt.