Published September 15, 2026 04:42PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
On September 10, a mountaineer from San Jose, California, summited Mount Shasta around 7:30 P.M. According to a rescue report<\/a> from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Service (STFS), that was the least eventful part of his climb.<\/p>\n After his summit, the climber attempted to glissade down Avalanche Gulch, the most popular route to the top. Glissading involves sliding down a steep snowpack and is a technique some use to descend a mountain quickly.<\/p>\n But he lost control and slid about 500 vertical feet down the slope. During the fall, his feet were severely injured. So, he took off his mountaineering boots and walked through the night to a remote wilderness cabin to await rescue,\u00a0 in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, he ran into trouble shortly thereafter,\u201d the Forest Service wrote. \u201cHis cellphone died after summiting, and the climber\u2019s friends became concerned when they were unable to contact him the following day.\u201d<\/p>\n Authorities have not released the climber\u2019s name, age, or condition.<\/p>\n When he failed to check in, the climber\u2019s friends reported him missing to the Siskiyou County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n Mount Shasta is one of California\u2019s most popular peaks for mountaineers. Seven year-round glaciers cover its flanks, making it a perfect testing ground for budding mountaineers hoping to learn to use crampons, ice axes, and other mountaineering gear.<\/p>\n The climber was in the Avalanche Gulch area, the classic\u00a0mountaineering route to the mountain\u2019s peak. It\u2019s not an overly technical route, but it requires a 7,000-foot vertical ascent, with exposure to steep snow, ice, rockfall, and extreme weather. The Mount Shasta Avalanche Center (MSAC) wrote on its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe climb to the summit is steep and rigorous, requiring crampons, a mountain axe, helmet, and basic snow travel skills,\u201d MSAC wrote. \u201cDon\u2019t consider this route a cakewalk.\u201d<\/p>\n According to MSAC, the best time to climb Avalanche Gulch is April through June, sometimes July, and rarely August through November. In late summer, lower portions of the trail lose their snow cover, exposing climbers to loose scree, talus, and difficult hiking conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cLater season climbing will expose you to dramatically increased rock fall and is not advised,\u201d MSAC writes.<\/p>\n Mount Shasta Climbing Rangers, Siskiyou County Sheriff\u2019s Search and Rescue, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) began searching for the climber at 2 P.M.\u00a0<\/strong>on September 11. Two hours into the search, responders said a hiker called them from Horse Camp, a historic base camp and alpine refuge located at about 7,900 feet.<\/p>\n The hiker had found the missing climber\u2014and he was barefoot.<\/p>\n During his fall, the climber sustained significant lacerations and injuries to his feet. When trauma occurs at a high altitude, tissue can swell rapidly, making rigid mountaineering boots exceptionally painful.<\/p>\n \u201cThe climber removed his boots due to painful swelling and crawled through the night, down the remainder of Avalanche Gulch to the Horse Camp Cabin,\u201d the Forest Service wrote. \u201cAfter evaluating the climber\u2019s injuries, he was airlifted from Horse Camp to a nearby hospital for treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n The Forest Service notes there are several lessons to be learned from this incident. For starters, don\u2019t start such an ambitious hike so late in the evening. In mid-September, the sun sets around 7 P.M.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen climbing Mount Shasta or a similar objective, give yourself plenty of daylight to hike out,\u201d a STFS spokesperson wrote. \u201cThis makes the descent safer, and if you or another member of your party needs help, it is easier for rescuers to find and assist you.<\/p>\n Experts recommend climbers set a noon turnaround time when climbing Mount Shasta, even if that means they\u2019re short of the summit.<\/p>\n Always share your itinerary with at least one person, and give them a plan on what to do if you don\u2019t check in.<\/p>\nAvalanche Gulch Is No \u201cCakewalk\u201d<\/h2>\n
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Start Early, Leave Early<\/h2>\n