Great video! I watched this and thought "I don't remember it being that narrow, that's scary as hell, they must have been up later in the year" Well, not by much. I was there the day before: May 14, 2021.
It appears that pretty much everyone uses two ice axes for this route. I'm looking to climb Shasta via Avalanche Gulch next year and from what I can tell, most people use one ice axe.
I haven't climbed either, but I'm preparing to this coming year and from my research, I'd say you're right. By Avalanche Gulch, one axe is enough for the necessary assistance with balance and to self arrest if necessary. Hood, while rather nontechnical, is still more technical, so two axes is better for balance and to assist with the actual climbing if necessary (as seen in his use for both for balance across the catwalk and down climbing the Old Chute. The lack of equally technical terrain by Avalanche Gulch means a single axe is enough.)
I climbed (well, it's really just a steep walk) Avy Gulch multiple times. A stiff boot, crampons, one regular ice axe and a helmet is what you need. Normally you'd only use the axe as a trekking pole, but you really carry it for the potential self-arrest. It's the falling rock/ice poses the biggest danger above Helen Lake.
Awesome video , thank you for capturing all of it .
We did the exact same route , in April but with better conditions ( crevasse was not exposed yet )
Great video! I watched this and thought "I don't remember it being that narrow, that's scary as hell, they must have been up later in the year"
Well, not by much. I was there the day before: May 14, 2021.
Thank you for sharing
Wow, that was pretty unnerving.
Thanks for the video. It helps a lot on my future journey
Did you guys also make it on Everest?
Which month is this? May?
which ice axes are those
It appears that pretty much everyone uses two ice axes for this route. I'm looking to climb Shasta via Avalanche Gulch next year and from what I can tell, most people use one ice axe.
I haven't climbed either, but I'm preparing to this coming year and from my research, I'd say you're right. By Avalanche Gulch, one axe is enough for the necessary assistance with balance and to self arrest if necessary. Hood, while rather nontechnical, is still more technical, so two axes is better for balance and to assist with the actual climbing if necessary (as seen in his use for both for balance across the catwalk and down climbing the Old Chute. The lack of equally technical terrain by Avalanche Gulch means a single axe is enough.)
I climbed (well, it's really just a steep walk) Avy Gulch multiple times. A stiff boot, crampons, one regular ice axe and a helmet is what you need. Normally you'd only use the axe as a trekking pole, but you really carry it for the potential self-arrest. It's the falling rock/ice poses the biggest danger above Helen Lake.
im tryna do dis gang