A tourist from Florida was rescued from Mount Shasta after spending two nights stranded with a severely injured leg and hypothermia, triggering a multi-day operation involving up to 30 search and rescue personnel.
The 39-year-old man began his ordeal on October 18 after deviating from his planned descent down Avalanche Gulch. Authorities reported that he followed an erroneous GPS route, which led him onto the Whitney Glacier, a treacherous icefield on the mountain.
While crossing the glacier at an elevation of 12,600 feet, the climber fell through a snow bridge, sustaining a severe leg injury. He remained stranded with limited cold-weather gear, including running shoes and a sweater, as temperatures dropped below freezing.
Deputies from the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) responded to his 911 distress call around 5 p.m. on Sunday. The SCSO, in coordination with US Forest Service Climbing Rangers and the California Highway Patrol air operations, initiated a search and rescue mission.
USFS Climbing Rangers reached the man on Monday night, providing treatment for his injuries, frostbite, and hypothermia. Due to challenging conditions, the rangers had to spend another night at 12,500 feet with the injured climber.
On Tuesday afternoon, over 30 additional SAR personnel were mobilized for a ground extraction. The operation, which faced high winds, poor visibility, rockfall hazards, and freezing temperatures, was described as complicated by authorities. The SCSO noted that air operators were unable to extract the man earlier due to severe weather.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter ultimately transported the man to a local hospital. His condition was reported as deteriorating rapidly. Mount Shasta, a volcanic peak in the Cascade Range, reaches over 14,000 feet.
This incident occurred just days after two Utah residents were rescued from Mount Shasta's Avalanche Gulch after spending 36 hours in 15-degree temperatures.