Shasta, from 20,000ft above Lassen, a photo by webmink on Flickr.

I have spent many happy weekends around Mount Shasta in northern California. Locally, it is a beautiful, verdant and sparkling part of this amazing state.

From the air, it reminds me of Mount Fuji, and indeed for many Californians it holds a similar spiritual power. The cone of snow here was still present in mid-July and seems to float supernaturally in the clouds.