MOUNT SHASTA, CA – A 31-year-old woman was miraculously rescued on Sunday after plunging more than 1,500 vertical feet during a climb on Mount Shasta.
The Massive Fall
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the woman was ascending the popular Avalanche Gulch route with two other novice climbers when she lost her footing. She fell from an altitude of roughly 13,000 feet down to 11,500 feet before finally coming to a stop on the mountain.
Forest Service climbing rangers were alerted to the accident around noon and immediately launched a rescue operation with assistance from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Challenging Helicopter Rescue
Heavy cloud cover prevented a direct aerial extraction at the crash site. Instead, a CHP helicopter flew rescuers to an area known as 50/50 Flat. From there, rangers hiked the remaining distance through steep terrain to reach the injured climber.
Another member of her group, along with a bystander climber who happened to be nearby, assisted rangers with the rescue.
The woman sustained a suspected fractured right ankle along with multiple other injuries from the massive slide. Despite the trauma, officials noted she was “alert and in good spirits” when help arrived.
Evacuation and Warning
Rescuers stabilized the woman, secured her in a rescue litter, and carefully lowered her to Lake Helen. A CHP helicopter was then able to safely airlift her off the mountain around 5:30 p.m.
Following the incident, the U.S. Forest Service issued a stern warning to future visitors:
“Mount Shasta is a high-altitude mountaineering environment, not a hike. Even experienced climbers can encounter rapidly changing weather, steep snow and ice, rockfall, and hazardous fall conditions.”
