California Climber Survives 500-Foot Mount Shasta Fall, Crawls Overnight to Cabin
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 16
California Climber Survives 500-Foot Mount Shasta Fall, Crawls Overnight to Cabin
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 16
Summary
A San Jose climber with significant lacerations and foot injuries was found Friday in Horse Camp Cabin after sliding about 500 feet down Mount Shasta's Avalanche Gulch the night before.
The fall happened after he tried to glissade down the steep snow-and-ice route from the summit, and his cellphone died shortly afterward, leaving him unable to call for help.
Painful swelling forced him to remove his boots and crawl through the night to the remote cabin, where a hiker discovered him about two hours after multi-agency search teams and air support were deployed.
Forest officials said the climber's route knowledge, self-rescue effort and check-ins with friends helped save him, while urging hikers to carry backup electronics, set turnaround times and not rely only on phones or GPS.
The rescue adds to frequent Mount Shasta incidents; in late June, a 31-year-old novice climber was airlifted after a 1,500-foot fall.