Shasta Mountaineering School

Owner-led Mt Shasta guided climbs with 18+ years of experience. Small groups, high-quality trips, and a disciplined approach to safety and decision-making.Our original website is temporarily offline due to a hosting issue and this is a new temporary website. All scheduled climbs are proceeding as planned.Shasta Mountaineering School provides professional Mt. Shasta mountain guides for high quality, small group summit climbs on Mt Shasta in northern California. Every trip is owner-led, with over 18 years of experience guiding on Mt. Shasta and with deep, route specific understanding of the mountain.We keep group sizes small to maintain a high standard of safety, and a high level of attention to detail. This allows for a more focused, personalized experience and a higher level of instruction throughout the climb. Our approach emphasizes strong mountain judgment, efficient movement, and real-time risk management in a dynamic alpine environment.Every trip is personally guided by the owner, ensuring consistent decision making and safety standards. If you’re looking for a disciplined, professional, and experience-driven approach to climbing Mt. Shasta, reach out directly to book your trip.


To book a trip, call or email directly with your preferred dates and group size:

Shane Rathbun, Owner/Operator

Shane Rathbun is the owner and lead guide of Shasta Mountaineering School, with over 70 summits and 30 ski descents of Mt. Shasta. His background includes avalanche forecasting, mountain rescue, aviation, and work as a National Park Service ranger, bringing an organized, experience-driven approach to every climb.

2026 Trips offered:

  • 3-day Avalanche Gulch Summit Climb

  • 2-day Avalanche Summit Climb

  • 3-day Clear Creek Summit Climb (Late Season)

  • Summit Ski Descents (Spring)

5.0 ★ rating on Google from 28+ Mt Shasta climbers.

Keating Rombach
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was my first time doing a more technical climb of a mountain and Shane made it a great experience. Shane was easy to get a hold of with any questions and helped ensure I had all the gear needed. Couldn’t recommend using Shane and Shasta Mountaineering School more if you want to climb Mt Shasta! You won’t regret it and Shane supplies you with some photos at the end of the trip!

Mackenzie Sober
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shane was the best guide we could have asked for! He was patient with my partner and I as we learned the basic mountaineering skills. The skills and techniques we learned were valuable and set us up for success on our summit climb. Shane picked a beautiful secluded camp site for our group and we enjoyed a delicious, warm sunset dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, and had a safe and successful summit!

Nicole Young
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shane took my son and his friends (recent college grads) up Shasta for the first time and everyone had a BLAST! Shane is very professional and does everything to ensure a safe and fun ascent and travel experience!

2026 Available Trip Dates:

• June 16-17: Avalanche Gulch: 2-day Summit Climb: $995 (2 spots remaining)
• June 26-28: Clear Creek: 3-day Summit Climb: $1,195 (2 spots remaining)
•July 3-5: Clear Creek: 3-day Summit Climb: $1,195 (1 spot remaining)
•July 10-12: Clear Creek: 3-day Summit Climb: $1,195 (1 spot remaining)*All costs include all of the mountaineering equipment, meals, and required permits for the trip. All that is required is that you supply your own technical mountaineering clothing and mountaineering boots.

To book a trip, call or email directly:


Every Trip Includes:

  • All mountaineering and overnight gear (except boots and clothing). Mountaineering boots can be rented locally if needed, from the 5th Season gear shop in Mt Shasta City.

  • Technical equipment provided free of charge: crampons, climbing helmet, ice axe, harness, carabiners, adjustable hiking poles, mountaineering backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, headlamp, insulated mug, water bottles, lightweight bowl, and utensils.

  • Group camping gear including tents, stoves, and cooking equipment.

  • Meals on the mountain: all breakfasts and dinners are included and prepared by your guide. Climbers are responsible for bringing their own snacks and supplemental food.

  • Permits: USFS Mt. Shasta Summit Passes and Wilderness Permits are included.

  • Human waste pack-out bags are provided and required for use in the Mt. Shasta Wilderness Area.

Contact us to Book Now!

Trip Information:

Shasta Mountaineering School operates under special use permit with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Shasta Mountaineering School is an equal opportunity provider. All programs at Shasta Mountaineering School are directed and personally guided by Shane Rathbun.