hello there my fellow mountaineers.
This past year I hiked to the summit of mount Whitney via "The chute" on July 4th. My next trip I have planned for next year is the summit Mt Shasta. I'm debating what route to take and was hoping maybe my fellow hikers could give me some information about the routes.
I'm trying to decide between Avalanche gulch and the Wintun- Hotlum ridge route. Id like to take the Wintun-Hotlum route because there's less people, and I hear the risk for falling objects is less than in Avi gulch.
I'm just nervous about the grade of the mountain I'll be facing. The most experience I have on those kinds of slope have been on Mt Whitney's "Chute". Does anybody know how the grade of "The chute" compares to that of the Wintun-Hotlum. I did "the chute" with micro spikes (not crampons), and hiking poles, no ice ax, and had only problems when coming back down via glissade.
I've since bought myself adequate crampons (black diamond) and an ice ax (black diamond). I didn't feel comfortable on the Whitney chute coming down without the ice ax but I'm positive I would have been fine with it. I was just wondering how "the chute" compares to the grade of Avi gulch and the Wintun-Hotlum route. I'd like to do them but don't want to get myself into a situation that's over my head and have it turn dangerous. I realize this is dangerous in its nature, and view myself as a decently safe person when well informed and can plan accordingly.
If anyone who's hiked up Shasta can shoot some info my way it be greatly appreciated!
