The hiker was injured after he fell 500 feet while descending the Avalanche Gulch route on Mount Shasta on Sept. 10
Credit: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office
NEED TO KNOW
- On Sept. 10, a climber fell 500 feet while descending the Avalanche Gulch route of Mount Shasta, injuring his feet and forcing him to remove his boots
- He crawled barefoot to a shelter after his phone died, prompting his friends to report him missing
- He was located by a hiker the next day, who reported the sighting to authorities, and he was transported to a nearby hospital
A climber was safely rescued from Mount Shasta in Northern California, one day after he went missing while climbing the Avalanche Gulch route.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) announced that a man was hiking the Cascade Range on Sept. 10 and reached the summit of Mount Shasta around 7:30 p.m., according to an SCSO news release.
During his descent, he attempted to slide down a snowy or icy slope, but lost control and fell around 500 feet down the mountain. The climber sustained injuries to his feet and several significant cuts, causing his feet to painfully swell and requiring him to remove his hiking boots.
He then climbed and crawled his way to a shelter, where he was able to stay safe for the night.
Credit: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office
At some point during the excursion, the man’s phone died, leaving him unreachable. The next day, his friends contacted authorities to report him missing. Several search-and-rescue crews began searching for the man at around 2 p.m. on Sept. 11.
Two hours later, another hiker located him inside the park’s Horse Camp Cabin. After the hiker alerted climbing rangers, they examined his injuries, and he was airlifted by helicopter to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Credit: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office
Authorities have not publicly identified the man, and they have not released details about his current condition.
In the SCSO news release, the agency reminded hikers how to stay safe during similar events, explaining the importance of notifying others of their itineraries and creating check-in plans.
Credit: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office
Additionally, authorities noted that it is recommended to hike Mount Shasta during daylight hours, and set a turnaround time of noon.
“Not only does this make the descent safer, but if you or another member of your party needs help, it is easier for rescuers to locate and assist you,” the SCSO said.
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The rescue comes two weeks after three climbers were rescued while climbing Mt. Shasta on Aug. 31. Authorities said that the three men became stranded, in part because they used artificial intelligence (AI) to plan their trip.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office noted at the time that the climbers summited at 7 p.m. on that day, long after their recommended turnaround time of 12 noon, and descended in the dark.
PEOPLE reached out to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
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