Shasta Circumnavigation… Snowpack?

Some very strong friends of mine started to do this one year. They got halfway around and didn't like it at all, so they bailed.

For one thing, if you are at tree line, there won't be any glaciers. Trees do not grow on glaciers.

You will find big differences between the sunny south side and the shady north side. You might want simply boots for the south side, and you might want skis for the north side.

–B.G.–

I've never heard of anyone requiring ski's to do it… then again I've only read a handful or reports.

Although it is commonly called "the treeline circumnavigation", depending on the route one takes there will be travel across the foot of some of the glaciers (as in the example I gave in my post above).

Again, my main question is, what to expect in terms of snowpack below 8000 ft early July. If anyone heads up that way and get's a look at it, give me a shout.

This year, there will be almost zero snow at 8000 feet on the south side. For the north side, it is hard to tell.

–B.G.–