Climber Rescued After Falling 1,500 Feet on Mount Shasta

A 31-year-old novice climber fell 1,500 feet while ascending the Left of Heart variation of the Avalanche Gulch route on Mount Shasta, California. The incident occurred when she was approximately 13,000 feet in elevation, and she came to rest at about 11,500 feet. The U.S. Forest Service reported that the climber was with three other novice climbers at the time of the fall. A rescue operation was initiated by three U.S. Forest Service Climbing Rangers, assisted by the California Highway Patrol. Due to heavy cloud cover, one ranger continued the rescue on foot, aided by a member of the climber's party. The climber was found alert but with a suspected fractured right ankle and other injuries. After stabilization, she was lowered to Lake Helen and later evacuated to Mercy Medical Center in Mount Shasta for treatment. The Mount Shasta Avalanche Center noted that the route is steep and requires specialized gear and skills. Since 1916, nearly 50 fatalities have been recorded on Mount Shasta, highlighting the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering.