A Late June Hike on Mount Shasta

We drove up the mountain on June 28th, getting as far as the road would take us before it closed for the season. The plan was a short day hike, and the weather looked just about perfect for it. The sun was bright and the sky was a deep blue, with just a few clouds drifting around the summit.

Even this late into June, the amount of snow still clinging to the upper slopes was impressive. It felt like a completely different world up here compared to the valley below. The air was thin and crisp. We were standing in a parking lot near the trailhead, looking out at the rocky, alpine landscape.

Before starting off, we stopped to take a quick photo. It's not often you get a backdrop like this, and it felt right to capture the moment. You can see the big snow fields and the dark, rocky ridges of the mountain right behind us. It was a great way to start the day, just taking in the scale of the place before hitting the trail.