A San Jose man survived a 500-foot fall down Mount Shasta on Thursday evening, then crawled through the night to a remote cabin where a passing hiker found him and alerted rescuers.
The man, whose name has not been released, was attempting to glissade — a controlled slide down a snow slope — down a cliff on the active volcano in Siskiyou County when he lost control and tumbled roughly 500 feet down the mountain, California’s fifth-highest peak.
His phone died and his feet were badly injured in the fall. The swelling grew so severe that he had to remove his boots. He continued moving down the mountain through the night without them.
When his friends, who had traveled from the Bay Area, didn’t hear from him, they reported him missing. Search and rescue crews began looking for him around 2 p.m. Friday.
By the time crews mobilized, the man had already dragged himself several miles down the mountain to Horse Camp Cabin, descending several thousand feet over rocky terrain without a map or GPS. A hiker came across him there and notified authorities.
The man was airlifted to a hospital. A photo from the scene showed him limping toward the helicopter with the help of two people.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office thanked the U.S. Forest Service Climbing Rangers, search and rescue volunteers, the CHP helicopter crew, and the hiker who spotted the injured man and alerted authorities.
Officials’ Advice for Climbers
Mount Shasta rises more than 14,000 feet and draws climbers from across the region, but officials say this case highlights basic safety steps that can save lives. They noted the man had, at least, told friends of his plans, which helped prompt the search.
Officials also recommend climbers aim to reach the summit by noon rather than in the evening, as this climber did, to leave enough daylight for a safe descent.
They further advised climbers to learn their route in advance rather than relying solely on a phone or GPS device, since the man made his way down without a map after his phone died.
Mount Shasta is located in Northern California, about 60 miles north of Redding.
