Two Hikers Rescued After 36 Hours on Mount Shasta
The Salt Lake City hikers became stranded in Cascade Gulch after missing the trail near Horse Camp, spending a freezing night and much of the next day on the mountain.
AT A GLANCE
Hikers: 19-year-old man and 20-year-old woman from Salt Lake City
Distress call: Monday night from about 11,000 feet
Temperature: Approximately 14 to 16 degrees
Time on mountain: About 36 hours
Found: Tuesday afternoon in Cascade Gulch
Condition: Both hikers were uninjured
Warning: SCSO says this was the third Avalanche Gulch rescue in the past month
Bunny Flat Search Response: Siskiyou County Search and Rescue personnel coordinate with deputies at the Bunny Flat Trailhead during the search for two missing hikers on Mount Shasta. Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.
MOUNT SHASTA, Calif. — Two young hikers were rescued Tuesday afternoon after spending roughly 36 hours on Mount Shasta, where freezing temperatures, dead cellphones, and a wrong turn eventually left them stranded between steep cliffs in Cascade Gulch.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said the 19-year-old man and 20-year-old woman, both from Salt Lake City, had set out around 4 a.m. Monday for what they expected to be a day hike in the Avalanche Gulch area while a friend continued toward the summit.
By 10:20 p.m., the pair called SCSO dispatch from approximately 11,000 feet, reporting that they were freezing and unable to complete their descent.
Temperatures on the mountain had fallen to between 14 and 16 degrees, according to the sheriff’s office. The hikers did not have adequate clothing, food, or water to safely spend the night at elevation.
Dispatchers advised them to continue descending to help maintain their body heat.
Around 2 a.m. Tuesday, the hikers called again and reported reaching Helen Lake at approximately 10,400 feet. Their cellphones died shortly afterward.
Cover Photo / Search Team on Mount Shasta: Search and Rescue personnel move through the Mount Shasta backcountry during Tuesday’s search for two hikers who became lost after descending from Avalanche Gulch. Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.
Search Begins at First Light
Search and Rescue volunteers were mobilized along with CHP Air Operations for a first-light search Tuesday morning.
“With winter conditions returning, it is imperative to research your route ahead of time and only choose objectives that are safe for the season, as a simple mistake can turn deadly in the Siskiyou County high country.”
At approximately 9 a.m., a CHP helicopter spotted two people waving from the mountain who appeared to match the description of the missing hikers. Searchers later determined the two were not the people they were looking for and did not need assistance.
Crews continued searching throughout the day.
Ground teams and aircraft concentrated on the upper Avalanche Gulch area, while a second Search and Rescue team and a U.S. Forest Service climbing ranger searched Cascade Gulch below Horse Camp.
At approximately 4 p.m., searchers heard shouting from the gulch.
They located the missing hikers at the bottom of the steep drainage, approximately 1,000 feet from the McBride Springs Trail.
Both were uninjured and were able to climb out with assistance.
Wrong Turn Leads Into Cascade Gulch
According to SCSO, the pair had been walking for approximately 36 hours by the time rescuers reached them.
They had left at 4 a.m. Monday and reached Red Banks around 5 p.m., approximately five hours later than the recommended turnaround time for climbing Mount Shasta.
By approximately 5 a.m. Tuesday, the hikers had descended to Horse Camp.
But they could not see the trail.
Instead of following the established route, they traveled northwest into Cascade Gulch, described by SCSO as a steep, dry river canyon.
The pair continued roughly three miles down the drainage before becoming stranded between two cliffs measuring approximately 30 to 50 feet high.
They remained there until searchers heard their calls later that afternoon.
Third Avalanche Gulch Rescue in a Month
The sheriff’s office said this was the third rescue involving the Avalanche Gulch route within the past month.
“Avalanche Gulch is not a recommended route this time of year due to deteriorating conditions, rockfall, and the onset of winter weather,” SCSO said in the release.
“This ordeal is also an important reminder for anyone hiking, climbing, or hunting to prepare for worst case scenarios, such as an unintentional overnight stay, inclement weather, or an injury,” the sheriff’s office said.
A warning is posted at the Bunny Flat Trailhead.
SCSO said anyone hiking, climbing, or hunting in the high country should prepare for the possibility of an unplanned overnight stay, changing weather, or injury.
“With winter conditions returning, it is imperative to research your route ahead of time and only choose objectives that are safe for the season, as a simple mistake can turn deadly in the Siskiyou County high country,” SCSO said.
The agency also urged visitors to research routes before leaving and choose objectives appropriate for current seasonal conditions.
Search and Rescue volunteers, Mount Shasta climbing rangers, and CHP Air Operations participated in Tuesday’s search.
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