A California climber, who was not identified, suffered significant injuries after falling 500 feet down Mount Shasta in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The incident occurred on Thursday night when the climber lost control while sliding down Avalanche Gulch, a steep and snow-covered route, after reaching the summit.
The climber, who had attempted to glissade down the mountain, told rescuers that he had sustained several significant lacerations and injuries to his feet during the fall. His cellphone died shortly after summiting, leaving him unable to call for help. Due to the painful swelling that occurred after the fall, the climber removed his boots and crawled through the night down the remainder of Avalanche Gulch to Horse Camp Cabin.
Rescue teams and air support were mobilized across several agencies on Friday, and began searching the Avalanche Gulch area. Two hours after starting the search, they were alerted that the climber was inside Horse Camp Cabin after a hiker entered the cabin and found him there.
Forest officials used the incident to remind hikers to allow plenty of daylight for their hikes, establish a turnaround time around noon, carry backup electronics, and be prepared to self-rescue. They commended the climber for notifying his friends of his whereabouts before he went missing, and for using his knowledge of the route to find his way back to the cabin despite his injuries.
The rescue team was assisted by the Mount Shasta Climbing Rangers, Siskiyou County Sheriff's Search and Rescue, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew. The incident marks the latest rescue operation in the Northern California forest, where rescue teams respond to numerous incidents annually.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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