The U.S. Forest Service reported that a 31-year-old novice climber survived a 1,500-foot slide down Mount Shasta in California after a helicopter rescue was complicated by worsening weather.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the woman, who was climbing the Left of Heart variation of the Avalanche Gulch route with two other novice climbers, slipped near the 13,000-foot elevation and slid 1,500 vertical feet down the mountain.
Roughly two hours after the initial emergency call, rescuers were forced to abandon plans for a direct helicopter rescue due to cloud cover, and instead dropped U.S. Forest Service climbing rangers lower on the mountain, who hiked to the patient while the air crew waited for weather conditions to improve.
Once rangers stabilized the climber, they carefully lowered her by rescue litter to Lake Helen, where a helicopter was finally able to land and fly her to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta at approximately 5:37 p.m.
The rescue took roughly five and a half hours from the initial emergency call until the helicopter evacuation, and the climber suffered a suspected fractured ankle along with additional injuries.
Forest Service officials said the incident follows a familiar pattern seen during the latter part of Mount Shasta's climbing season, with slips and falls happening frequently at the same level.
According to officials, novice climbers often struggle to execute a self-arrest with an ice axe after slipping, which can lead to a long slide down the steep snow slope.
Forest Service officials urge climbers to carry mountaineering equipment, including an ice axe and crampons, when conditions require, to monitor changing weather and route conditions, and to climb with experienced partners and have an emergency plan in place.
The rescue was carried out by Mount Shasta's specialized climbing ranger program, which educates visitors, monitors mountain conditions, and responds to emergencies on one of the nation's busiest high-altitude climbing routes.
Forest Service officials noted that April, May, and early June provide the safest climbing conditions, while summer brings increased risk of falls and rockfall due to melting snow and hardening ice.
As the climbing season progresses, officials emphasize the importance of being honest about one's experience and physical conditioning before attempting a summit.
