No Snow on Mt. Shasta?

I was talking to my friend last week on the phone who lives in the Mt. Shasta area of very northern California almost to the Oregon Border. He was saying this was a very unusual year with only about 4 inches of snow on the very top of Mt. Shasta. I was looking at:
http://skipark.com/the-mountain/conditions
which basically gives weather conditions of the Ski Park and as you can see if you go there though they have gathered snow into a pile near the beginning Marmot lift area also where the lodge and restaurants are most of the area is still bare of snow. There have been many years like this when snow didn't show up until late January or February or nothing more than a few feet. And then there are years when there will be 20 feet or more by this time or in February or March. One never know how it will go. The only thing for sure is that there are a lot of unhappy people who want to make some money working at the Mt. Shasta Ski Park there who go to college at College of the Sisikiyous or who live in the area and depend upon working on or around the lifts this time of year. So, I guess "Pray for Snow!"

If you plan to climb Mt. Shasta you might see this as good news. However, just remember if you are going up from Horse Camp that most climbers that are injured or die do so from falling rocks from 10,000 feet to the top in their ascents or descents. So, watch out for little pebbles that come out from climbers above you or are from loud sounds in the area because those little pebbles often dislodge bigger and bigger pebbles and all you need is a one inch diameter rock to a fist size rock that you don't see to end your day climbing or your life.

I guess what I'm saying here is that when there is snow of a foot or more covering the whole mountain you don't ever have to worry about rock slides or pebble or rocks getting loose and coming down and getting you. But you do then have to still worry about avalanches while ascending or descending if they conditions are ripe for one. The mountain is extremely steep up from Horse Camp above Lake Helen which is a place many climbers camp usually around 10,000 feet on the mountain. However, this year there won't be enough snow there to dig snow caves to get out of the elements and stay warm there. (at least for now).

I climbed the mountain to the top in 1970 when I was 22 in August with 3 friends and then slid down using an ice axe as a brake while using a large piece of greenhouse plastic as a sled. I wouldn't recommend this unless you are really coordinated. But, I made it down from the top to Lake Helen within about 40 minutes by doing this. You can start from  the bottom of one of the cliffs around 12,000 or 13,000 feet  if there is enough snow and the right conditions to do this.

Also, the worst time to climb would be in a white out or during a blizzard (sometimes the same thing). So, be aware of your circumstances and mental and physical acuity especially above about
11,000 feet. (THE MOUNTAIN IS 14,161 FEET HIGH).