The main reason folks come to the Mount Shasta region is to enjoy its outdoor wonders and challenges. Shasta offers nearly unlimited sporting opportunities year-round. Just be sure to prepare for whatever activities you plan to tackle and enjoy, as Shasta gets blisteringly hot in the summertime (well, except at the peak of the mountain) and frigid in the winter.

With all the climbing and skiing and hardcore hiking available on and around Mount Shasta, it’s not surprising that you’ll find a number of outdoor athletic stores in the town of the same name.

The Fifth Season (300 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta, 530/926-3606, www.thefifthseason.com, open daily) has not only mountain bikes, it’s got ski and snowboard equipment and other recreation gear. Most of all, it’s got all the mountain climbing equipment and advice you need to scale the peak of Mount Shasta.

You can start at their website before you come, then go into their storefront in town to rent or purchase everything from boots to ice axes to crampons; before you start up the mountain, call 530/926-5555 for a recording that describes the current conditions approaching Mount Shasta’s summit.

If it’s ski and snowboard equipment, adjustment, rental, or repair you need, your best choice might be The Sportsman’s Den (402 N. Mt. Shasta Blvd., Mt. Shasta, 530/926-2295, www.mtshastasports.com, daily 8 a.m.–6 p.m.). This shop specializes in fine-tuning high-end snowboards and fitting skis to a perfect T. In the summer, the Sportsman’s Den offers fishing tackle and some sporting equipment.