Black Butte - Shasta NF • Hike • California • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Apr 23 2021

mdfabbrini

Guides 1
Routes 37
Photos 470
Triplogs 808

67 male

Joined May 25 2014
Lake Shastina, C

Black Butte - Shasta NF

Northern, CA

Black Butte - Shasta NF

Northern, CA

Hiking		Apr 23 2021
		mdfabbrini • Triplogs 808

Hiking	5.94 Miles	2,044 AEG

Hiking	5.94 Miles	3 Hrs 59 Mns	1.59 mph
	2,044 ft AEG	15 Mns Break

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My buddy Vince and I decided to hike Black Butte as a measurement of our fitness today. We are planning an August climb of Mount Shasta via the Clear Creek route, and a colleague of his who will be accompanying us, an experienced Shasta climber, told him that when we can climb Black Butte there times in one day, we should be ready for Mount Shasta.

The weather was great today, sunny, about 70 degrees, and no wind. The first quarter mile was in shade, but once emerging from the trees, we quickly shed our jackets. Most of the snow had melted, but we still had to cross a half dozen patches of snow. Half of the trail is over blocky dacite or rhyolite lava or scree. The angle of repose of the slopes is quite high - in some places easily 50 degrees or more. One slip on the snow could mean a tumble of a 100 feet or more, but we made it ok. Crossing these patches easily added 20 minutes or more to our ascent and decent times.

We saw only one other person, a trail runner and his dog. The view at the top was a tad hazy but still spectacular. The only word of caution is that a couple of gabion walls holding scree back near the top are beginning to fail. If they go, access to the top will be probably be cut off. Apparently the Forest Service is working on a fix.

All in all, Vince and I were pretty happy with our performance today. We plan on returning week after next for another workout, hoping to cut 30 minutes off our time. Most of the snow should be gone by then.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Black Butte Mount Shasta

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et deinceps per nebula

1 archive

Oct 16 2014

mdfabbrini

Guides 1
Routes 37
Photos 470
Triplogs 808

67 male

Joined May 25 2014
Lake Shastina, C

Black Butte - Shasta NF

Northern, CA

Black Butte - Shasta NF

Northern, CA

Hiking		Oct 16 2014
		mdfabbrini • Triplogs 808

Hiking	5.59 Miles	1,942 AEG

Hiking	5.59 Miles	3 Hrs 49 Mns		2.52 mph
	1,942 ft AEG	1 Hour 36 Mns Break	15 LBS Pack

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

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no partners

Black Butte is a dacite dome volcano that is just north of the city of Mount Shasta, sitting alongside Interstate 5. Having been born in Mount Shasta, having lived in Weed for the first five years of my life, and spending many summers and other times of the year over my life with various relatives still in the area (my parents moved back to area 10 years ago), I have always wanted to climb Black Butte. Frankly, I don't know what took me so long.

The trailhead is on the east side of the mountain. Driving north out Mount Shasta up the Everett Memorial you come to sign directing you west to the Black Butte trailhead. It's a 3.3 mile drive on a decently maintained Forest Service road to the trailhead. I got there about 7:15 am. No one else there. It was 44 degrees outside, with a 10 mph gusts of wind. All in all, not a bad morning to make the hike. The first quarter mile of the hike is in trees, but when you pop out, and look up at the side of the mountain, it's imposing. The slope is chunks of broken dacite, at a 45 degree angle. Basically you loop around the mountain counterclockwise from east to west side of the mountain, then the trail turns and goes back east until you come to a few little switchbacks near the top. A lot of the trail is scree, but you can move fast. Once you get near the top, it flattens out somewhat. The last 50 feet or so to the summit, where the foundation of the old fire lookout is, is a scramble. It was a bit windy on top, but still breathtaking. Mount Shasta looms to east and Mount Eddy to the west. It was cloudy and cold on top, so I didn't linger too long. I couldn't find a summit register, and I didn't bring anything up to use as one.

I made the trip up in 2 hours, and back done in 1 1/2. I met a lone hiker on the way down, but that was it for human contact.

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Dacite Volcano

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Trail Maintenance Trail Signs and Markings

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Black Butte Mount Eddy Mount Shasta

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Lenticular Cloud

_____________________

et deinceps per nebula

1 archive

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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