Just a quick Clear Creek route conditions update based on October 28-30, 2017:As of the last weekend (and till the next snowfall) NO Ice axe or Crampons were needed to summit Mt Shasta via Clear Creek. There are new snow patches after the previous storm but melted out enough to easy navigate. The only snow one has to really step on is on the summit (be careful there).
If you are not familiar with the route (and even if), you may (will) lose the trail due to snow patches and other factors on the upper half of the mountain. So look around to find it back or suffer more.
DO NOT cross any snow field without the ice axe and crampons. The snow becomes hard-ice overnight and it still may be very hard during most of the day.
If you want to glissade down some sections, then obviously bring an ice axe and know self-arrest, of course.
On Saturday's sttempt I brought my ice axe and crampons just in case but also for the glissading option; did not glissade, did not use them. On Monday's attempt did not take any.Those who I met on the mountain over the last weekend complained they were advised to rent this gear and spent money unnecessarily.
NO Summit Passes, NO Wilderness Permits, NO Toilette paper in the restroom at the TH. There were, however, human waste bags. Dispose that used bags in a different container please; there are all signed/marked properly. If, perhaps, you cannot read English, use just a common sense.
And, please, do some research before attempting any route to avoid disappointments.
SummitPost.org may be a good start. Claiming the Clear Creek route is the easiest on Mt Shasta is simply an invalid statement fooling many inexperienced endeavors. There is nothing easy or easiest on Mt Shasta. Each route technicalities (and so called easiness) change based on many factors over the year.
Why would I know that? Besides a common sense, I’ve been on this mountain 100+n+1 times (1=any new attempt).