Weather conditions made it difficult for a helicopter to reach the woman, so a climbing ranger had to reach her on foot
Credit: U.S. Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- A woman fell 1,500 feet down Mount Shasta on June 28, the U.S. Forest Service Rangers said
- Climbing rangers rescued the woman, whom they had to reach on foot because weather conditions made it difficult to get a helicopter to the area
- “This incident serves as an important reminder that Mount Shasta is a high-altitude mountaineering environment, not a hike,” the Forest Service said
A woman fell about 1,500 feet down California's Mount Shasta on Sunday, June 28, and was rescued by U.S. Forest Service Rangers.
The 31-year-old was part of a group of three novice climbers who were ascending the Left of Heart variation of the Avalanche Gulch route on the mountain, the U.S. Forest Service said in a statement on Tuesday, June 30. The woman fell about 1,500 vertical feet, from around 12,000 feet to about 11,500 feet.
Siskiyou County Sheriff Search and Rescue notified Lead Climbing Ranger Nick Meyers of the incident at about 12 p.m. on Sunday. Three climbing rangers responded with help from the California Highway Patrol.
Credit: U.S. Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest/Facebook
Cloud cover made it difficult for a helicopter to reach the scene, so a climbing ranger had to reach the woman on foot. A member of the woman's climbing party helped carry up the rescue equipment. Another climber, who was not part of the woman's party, happened to be nearby and was able to help the woman, remaining with her group until responders arrived, per the Forest Service.
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The woman was described as “alert” and “in good spirits,” despite suffering from a “suspected fractured right ankle” and other injuries “consistent with the significant fall,” the Forest Service said. After the first responders secured the woman on a SKED rescue stretcher, she was taken to Lake Helen.
At about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, a California Highway Patrol helicopter reached Lake Helen and took the woman to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
Credit: U.S. Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest/Facebook
“This incident serves as an important reminder that Mount Shasta is a high-altitude mountaineering environment, not a hike,” the Forest Service said. “Even experienced climbers can encounter rapidly changing weather, steep snow and ice, rockfall, and hazardous fall conditions.”
The Forest Service advises anyone interested in attempting to climb the mountain to keep track of the weather and climbing conditions; carry proper mountaineering equipment; climb with experienced partners; plan for emergencies; and “be honest about your experience and physical conditioning.”
Credit: U.S. Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest/Facebook
Mount Shasta has an elevation of 14,179 feet, making it the fifth-highest peak in California. It is part of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Redding, Calif., is the nearest city.
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