Storm of 2010 in Mount Shasta
Posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
(Nick enjoying the powder on Black Butte.)
Snow was the talk of the town in Mount Shasta, and pretty much throughout the West. There were rumors that “Storm of 2010″ was en route from the Pacific and was going to dump at least 10 feet of snow in the mountains. According to the National Weather Service, a series of storms was headed our way, carrying a considerable amount of precipitation. People started pulling out their fat skis, getting them waxed, preparing for days off. What people didn’t prepare for was what Mother Nature could really smack down on the town.
Sunday, Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Weekend: Storm is very warm; raining a lot in town. Morale is down.
Monday, Jan. 18: Still raining in town; 2.69 inches of precipitation recorded in town, setting a new record. By afternoon the rain turns to big, fluffy snowflakes at the Mount Shasta Ski Park. Things are looking up.
Tuesday, Jan. 19: Snow begins to accumulate in town. The energy at the ski park is soaring. People are excited; it is snowing non-stop. The skiing is going to be unbelievable if the snow continues to fall at this rate. More than 3 inches of precipitation has fallen, setting another record.
(Oak trees strain under the weight of the snow.)
Wednesday, Jan. 20: Overnight, in less than 12 hours, a few feet of snow accumulated in the front yard. No snowplows in sight. Trees are bending and breaking with the weight of the rain and snow. Power lines are down. By seven in the morning, power is out through town and at the ski park. Many homes are left without water. State of emergency declared in Mount Shasta. So much for skiing; try shoveling.
Thursday, Jan. 21: More snow, no power, no water. Parts of town look like Armageddon hit. Trees on cars, trees on power lines, cars buried under numerous feet of snow. No skiing.
(Damage on a street in Mount Shasta.)
Friday, Jan. 22: Power is still out. However, snowfall has lightened. Downed trees and multiple feet of snow have blocked access to the mountains and skiing. The sun emerges briefly, and Black Butte peeks out of the clouds. The usually barren volcanic cone is cloaked in snow. The base of the small volcano sits close to town, around 3,800 feet, so access is not an issue. Maybe we should check it out? It looks a bit daunting and possibly sketchy. We take the necessary precautions, are very careful and are rewarded with the best runs of the season. Steep, continuous, 1,500-foot powder runs, practically in your backyard, with no one else in sight; what more can you ask for? Power and water is back on when we return.
Saturday, January 23: Snowing lightly. The word is out — there is a skin track up Black Butte. The road adjacent to Black Butte looks like Teton Pass; the skin track resembles a human conveyor belt. It is a bit chaotic but fun, and people are all smiles. A day of unbelievable skiing is followed by kegs of beer and live music at the annual Snowball party (a fund-raiser for Mount Shasta Avalanche Center). Community morale is off the chart.
(Hanne and Mount Shasta after the storm broke.)
And so, the storm continued on, with a few inches accumulating every night through Jan. 26. The brunt of the storm was over. However, some people did not have power returned to their houses for over a week. According to the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center, the rumors were correct: From Jan. 17-26 we received 12.80 inches of water and 9 to 10 feet of snow at mid elevations. People are still cleaning up from the storm. Access remains a bit of an issue, but with a little creativity, we have managed to get up into the mountains and even enjoy some sunshine.
Mariah McPherson is an environmental engineer and Cloudveil Inspired Mountain Ambassador.
I’m so jealous! I’m in Central Oregon at the other “Black Butte” and our mountains barely have 5 ft. It seems that all the storms are just passing us by and either going north or south of us. Your photos are awesome, wish I was there!
Katie Williams
Black Butte Ranch
Central Oregon