Rangers find fallen climber alert and in good spirits
A 31-year-old novice climber was rescued Sunday afternoon after surviving a 1,500-foot fall on California’s Mount Shasta, according to the US Forest Service. The woman was attempting the Left of Heart variation of the Avalanche Gulch route with two other novice climbers at about 13,000 feet when she fell. Rangers received a call around noon and began rescue efforts.
Cloud cover over the mountain prevented a helicopter from reaching the climber directly, the Forest Service said. Three climbing rangers ascended on foot to her location. They were assisted by one member of her climbing party who descended to help carry rescue equipment and by another climber — described as a “Good Samaritan climber” — who stopped to assist and remained with the group throughout the operation.
The woman suffered a suspected ankle fracture and “additional injuries consistent with the significant fall,” but was alert and in good spirits, rangers said. Rescuers secured her in a rescue litter and lowered her to Lake Helen. A California Highway Patrol helicopter then transported her to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta, arriving about 5:30 p.m.
The Forest Service said the incident “serves as an important reminder that Mount Shasta is a high-altitude mountaineering environment, not a hike.” It noted that “even experienced climbers can encounter rapidly changing weather, steep snow and ice, rockfall, and hazardous fall conditions.” The agency encouraged climbers to “be honest about your experience and physical conditioning” before attempting the summit.
The Avalanche Gulch route, according to the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center, is “steep and rigorous requiring crampons, a mountain axe, helmet, and basic snow travel skills.” The route involves a 7,000-foot vertical ascent and features “steep snow and ice, rock fall, and weather extremes.” Officials have not identified the climber.