I remember driving by the lonely mountain when I was little. I always had a feeling of calmness, mixed with a certain wonder. It's a place cloaked in frosty secrets and ancient mystery. We drove by it on our way to Oregon to see my grandfather. My parents never stopped though. I would just stare at the peak until I could no longer see it. At the time, it was enough just to see it. An old friend I recognized but simply nodded to in passing.
I have had this strange urge, or rather a "calling" to go to Mt Shasta ever since. Well, I finally did.
Is it strange to say that I felt the mountain before I saw it? Just like walking out of an air-conditioned building into triple digit temperature. Only this was not getting punched in the face by an oven. This feeling hit like a wall of warm water and pulled me into a strong peaceful current out to sea. When I saw the snow capped peak ahead, I was overcome with anticipation.
We winded up the road closer and closer. I never realized how massive it was. It rose up and dominated the crystal blue horizon. As we neared the end of the road, the snow began to hold on the ground more and more.
The road ended, we parked the car. It was time to step foot on hallowed ground. All around us were people pulling equipment and skis out of their vehicles. I walked by a small shack with bathrooms. There was a billboard and a dropbox. On further inspection I saw that the slips were passes for anyone who wanted to climb over 10,000 feet. It hit me.
"We can climb Mt Shasta?"
I saw a man take one of the slips and start filling it out. I asked him if he planned to summit and what equipment he will use. He was very kind and helpful.
I walked with my wife into the snow with our one year old daughter strapped on my back cozy and warm. We stared at the mountain in awe. The beauty around us was badly needed in our lives. I told her what i found out. She said, "go for it. I know you can do it."
"I know I need to plan this out, but I'm going to." was my reply.
We closed our eyes for a moment and felt the mountain at its source, listening to the wind in the evergreens and the birds that call this place home. Lucky buzzards.
I could tell I wasn't the only one hit by the power of Shasta that day. It was so surreal and dreamlike. I can still feel it now flowing up my spine.
I plan to make more trips so I can get some meditation time in as well. There's something special here.
For those who do not know, Mt Shasta is a volcano in the Cascade range of Northern California. It's about 14,180 feet, or 4321.8 meters in elevation. It's still not completely extinct either.
I'll be training hard, saving up and learning all I can. If anyone has any climbing experience or has been to Shasta please feel free to leave a comment with advice or stories.