Weather comes in fast,...

Weather comes in fast, especially when you can't see the prevailing Westerly storm fronts. From the East and NE approaches the mountain blocks your view of the weather incoming. Like the guidebook says, "When the wind swings around to the SW, there will be a storm within 24-48 hours." Here the first tendrils of blowing storm appear, late in the afternoon, presaging 60 mph winds all night, which blew down tents, prevented sleep, and raised doubts about new snow on rock near summit. Upon our withdrawal to Shasta City the clouds parted to sunshine, revealing new snow and rime ice coating the rocks of the summit. (Sept. 2001.)