Overview
- A 31-year-old woman fell roughly 1,500 vertical feet Sunday while ascending the Left of Heart variation of Avalanche Gulch and was found alert but with a suspected fractured right ankle and other injuries.
- Clouds prevented a direct helicopter rescue so three U.S. Forest Service climbing rangers hiked from near 50/50 Flat, reached the patient, secured her in a SKED rescue litter and lowered her to Lake Helen for pickup.
- A California Highway Patrol helicopter evacuated the climber around 5:30 p.m. to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta after ground teams stabilized and packaged her for flight.
- Avalanche Gulch exposes climbers to steep snow, ice and rockfall and includes sections that can produce uncontrolled high-speed slides, which the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center says require crampons, an ice axe, a helmet and basic snow-travel skills.
- The rescue echoes other recent incidents involving novice parties on Mount Shasta and prompted the U.S. Forest Service to urge honest self-assessment, proper gear, route planning and emergency preparation for high-altitude climbs.