A San Jose man survived a 500-foot fall down Mount Shasta on Thursday night, then crawled through the dark to a remote cabin, where rescuers found him the following afternoon, forest officials said Friday.
The climber, whose name has not been released, lost his footing while glissading down Avalanche Gulch, a steep route covered in snow and ice, after reaching the summit in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
“The climber told rescuers that he had attempted to glissade down the mountain, lost control, and slid approximately 500 feet. During his fall, he sustained several significant lacerations and injuries to his feet,” forest service officials said.
His cellphone died shortly after he reached the summit, leaving him unable to call for help.
Because of severe swelling in his feet, the climber took off his boots and, in officials’ words, “crawled through the night” down the rest of Avalanche Gulch to Horse Camp Cabin.
When his friends could not reach him the next day, they reported him missing to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office. Rescue teams and air support from multiple agencies were mobilized by 2 p.m. Friday and began searching Avalanche Gulch. Two hours later, a hiker who had entered Horse Camp Cabin discovered the injured climber inside, and rescuers were alerted to his location.
The Mount Shasta Climbing Rangers, Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew all took part in the operation.
Officials Point to Basic Precautions
Forest service officials used the case to urge hikers to build in plenty of daylight, set a turnaround time around noon, carry backup electronics, and be ready to self-rescue if plans go wrong.
“The climber did his best to self-rescue despite significant injuries, and knew his route well enough without a map, to find his way back to the Horse Camp Cabin. Never rely solely on a GPS or phone to navigate – if those devices stop working, your own navigation skills will be critical in ensuring a safe return home,” officials said.
Officials also credited the man for telling friends of his plans before he set out.
“The climber wisely notified his friends of his plan to climb Mount Shasta and made a point to check in and provide progress updates. When he lost contact, his friends contacted law enforcement to report him overdue and traveled to help with the search effort. It is always advisable to notify at least one person of your itinerary,” officials said.
According to the mountain’s official website, the Avalanche Gulch route to the summit is steep and demanding, requiring proper gear and snow-travel skills.
The rescue is the latest in a forest where crews respond to numerous emergencies each year. Last September, three inexperienced hikers were stranded overnight in a steep canyon after relying heavily on AI-generated route information. In late June, a 31-year-old novice climber was airlifted to a hospital after slipping and falling 1,500 feet.
