A novice climber experienced a harrowing 1,500-foot drop while ascending California’s Mount Shasta on Sunday. Rescuers were astonished to find her alert and awake after such a significant fall.
The 31-year-old woman was with two fellow novice climbers on the Left of Heart portion of the well-known Avalanche Gulch route when she plummeted from around 13,000 feet down to 11,500 feet, according to reports from the U.S. Forest Service.
Chief Climbing Ranger Nick Myers received the alert about the incident from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Coordinator around midday. A team of three mountain rangers from the U.S. Forest Service, along with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, quickly responded to the scene.
Time was of the essence as the weather posed increasing challenges for the rescue operation.
Low clouds obstructed CHP helicopters from reaching the injured climber directly, forcing rescuers to land at a distance and trek on foot. Climbing rangers managed to contact the woman through one of her companions, who had descended the mountain with rescue gear. Other climbers nearby also offered their help, sticking with the group throughout the rescue process.
Miraculously, despite her severe fall, the woman was conscious when found. She seemed to have sustained a likely fractured right ankle along with other injuries.
After providing initial care on the mountain, climbing rangers and her party gently lowered her to Lake Helen on a rescue stretcher.
At around 5:30 p.m., a CHP helicopter lifted the injured climber from Lake Helen and transported her to Mercy Medical Center at Mount Shasta for further medical attention.
The U.S. Forest Service has issued warnings to climbers about the quickly changing conditions on Mount Shasta, advising those who plan to summit to equip themselves with the right climbing gear, check the weather and routes, climb with experienced partners, and have an emergency plan in place.
