1 hour ago
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A novice climber somehow survived a terrifying 1,500-foot tumble down California’s Mount Shasta on Sunday — astonishing rescuers who found her awake and conscious after the massive fall.
The 31-year-old woman was climbing the Left of Heart variation of the mountain’s popular Avalanche Gulch route with two other novice climbers when she plunged from about 13,000 feet to 11,500 feet, according to the US Forest Service.
Lead Climbing Ranger Nick Meyers was alerted to the incident around noon by the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue coordinator. Three US Forest Service climbing rangers responded with assistance from the California Highway Patrol.
The rescue quickly turned into a race against the weather.
Low cloud cover prevented a CHP helicopter from reaching the injured climber directly, forcing rescuers to land nearby and make the rest of the journey on foot.
Climbing rangers reached the woman with help from one member of her climbing party, who descended the mountain carrying rescue equipment. Another climber in the area also stopped to help and remained with the group throughout the rescue.
Despite the violent fall, rescuers found the woman conscious. She was suffering from a suspected broken right ankle and other injuries, but had survived the harrowing plunge.
After treating her on the mountainside, climbing rangers and members of her party carefully lowered her to Lake Helen in a rescue litter.
Around 5:30 p.m., a CHP helicopter hoisted the injured climber from Lake Helen and flew her to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta for further treatment.
The US Forest Service reminded climbers that Mount Shasta’s conditions can change rapidly and urged anyone attempting a summit to carry proper mountaineering equipment, check weather and route conditions, climb with experienced partners and have an emergency plan.
English (US)