Mount Shasta

Description

Mount Shasta is the dominant mountain of Northern California, and is the second highest mountain in the entire Cascade range, behind Mount Rainier (14,410 ft.). It is a dormant volcanic cone, rising in isolation to a summit that is 7,000 feet above tree line, with a young smaller volcano, Shastina, emerging on its western flank at 12,300 feet (3749m). Its five glaciers descend from its upper northern and eastern slopes. There have been no certain historical eruptions, although an eruption in 1786, witnessed from sea, is generally believed today to have been Mount Shasta. Also of interest, Tule Lake, located roughly sixty miles northeast of the mountain, provides refuge to the largest concentration of migratory waterfowl on the North American continent. The "convenient center",is the town of Mt.Shasta (It's becoming known as Mt.Shasta City but most call the town 'Mt.Shasta' and the mountain, 'The Mountain'; we always know the difference and what the person is talking about). The town has everything any hiker, climber, or backpacker might need. There are three excellent outdoor stores, plentiful book stores, three grocery stores (one being a 'health food store'), a significant medical center with virtually every specialty and a helicopter service to Redding if needed(they serve mountain specific injuries routinely),and fine dining with dozens of choices, etc., etc.