First Day in Mt. Shasta, CA.

Our travels took nearly 20 hours with a stopover in the lovely Las Vegas airport where we watched the strip from afar and the gamblers up close (yes, slot machines in the airport).  Lots of cranky people from the first moment we checked our bags today. Glad to be done with it for a while.

Driving north from Sacramento, the monoculture of food production made becoming a localvore look more appealing with each passing mile.  Knowing where you food comes from is a good thing. 

Finally, the mountain loomed directly ahead of us!  For about 90 miles we watched Shasta grow larger as the flatlands of agri-commerce morphed into glorious mountains.  We arrived late and crashed after a celebratory glass of wine, our bodies still on the east coast time of 1:00 am.

This morning the mountain is EVERYWHERE!  From every front stoop, every road there is a view of this amazing white giant.  The town is littered with 30-somethings itching to climb this weekend and a quick trip to Bunny Flat trailhead confirmed that nearly the whole Pacific NW is taking off for the summit today!  Lots of people, spirits high and hopeful, weather sublime and the mountain.

Stopped by the Fifth Season, the one and only outfitter in town, where we ran into Chris and Jenn Carr, the owners of Shasta Mountain Guides.  They were gracious and chatted us up, as if they weren't crazy out of their minds busy with the weekend ahead.

Hit the local health food store and were transported back to a very 60's hippy vibe.  Fun to be around, but honestly didn't know it still existed anywhere...

A hike around lake Siskiyou

Dinner in town with Burlington VT climber, Juliet Moran and her mom, plus another climber Betsy Gordon...we are starting to arrive and will all be here Sunday night to start the festivities.

Passing time on the flight playing 'Angry Birds'

'Red' is in residence with newly hatched babes outside our chalet

Outside the only outfitter in town, Fifth Season.

The mountain.

Bunny Flat trailhead

This is where we'll start the voyage.

Stay tuned. Tomorrow a 'dry run' to Horse Camp, a 3.6 mile round trip.  Pics to follow.