Quick life story update: got laid off and quickly set out on a 12-day mountain climbing tour of Northern California. The main event was Mt. Shasta via the standard Avalanche Gulch Route. Weather was pretty good for my 2-day trip; no wind at camp overnight and only 10-15 mph gusts at the summit. The route was snow covered beginning at Horse Camp and was hard and crunchy - perfect for cramponing - when I set out from Helen Lake at 4am. Climbing this mountain is an incredible experience! Do it!

One of the strangest things I've ever seen in the mountains: as of 5.22.2018 there was a skunk living in a small snow hole literally on the summit. He looked ragged and was shivering and appears to be surviving entirely on Clif Bars and trail mix "dontations" from compassionate mountaineers!