Florida Man Rescued From Mount Shasta After 2 Nights Stranded

A 39-year-old Florida man spent two nights stranded in Mount Shasta’s freezing backcountry after suffering a serious leg injury, equipped with little more than running shoes and a sweatshirt. His rescue ultimately required a large, coordinated effort involving helicopter crews, climbing rangers, sheriff’s deputies and volunteers.

The operation was complicated by severe mountain conditions. Helicopter evacuations were repeatedly delayed by bad weather, while rescuers on foot faced subfreezing temperatures, rockfall hazards and winds estimated at 50 to 60 mph.

The climber reached Mount Shasta’s 14,179-foot summit Sunday afternoon. But an incorrect GPS route directed him toward Whitney Glacier, where he fell through a snow bridge at approximately 12,600 feet and badly injured his leg.

He called 911 at about 5 p.m., reporting that he had only a small supply of food and water, trekking poles and clothing that offered little protection against an overnight stay in the high-altitude cold.

“At the time of his distress call Sunday evening, the injured climber was wearing only sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and running shoes, and was not equipped for an overnight stay on the glacier,” the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said.

Whitney Glacier is considered the coldest area on Mount Shasta, and temperatures had already dropped below freezing. Strong winds and limited visibility prevented rescuers from reaching the climber until late Monday morning, when two US Forest Service climbing rangers made contact.

The rangers treated his injured leg and signs of frostbite and hypothermia before attempting to arrange a helicopter evacuation. As weather conditions worsened, the aircraft could not safely reach them, forcing the rangers to spend the night with the climber at roughly 12,500 feet.

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At the same time, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office began organizing more than 30 additional search-and-rescue personnel for a ground operation.

“The USFS Climbing Rangers had to then spend another harrowing night at 12,500 ft with the injured man, as the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office mobilized over 30 additional search and rescue personnel to perform a ground extraction,” deputies said.

By Tuesday, officials said the climber’s condition was “deteriorating rapidly.” Rescue teams continued upward through dangerous terrain as winds reached between 50 and 60 mph.

Crews reached him at approximately 1:30 p.m. and carried him lower down the mountain. When the weather briefly improved, a California Highway Patrol helicopter landed near the team at Shastina Peak and transported the injured man to safety.

He was taken to a hospital with multiple injuries, including frostbite affecting his foot and leg.

Authorities have not released the man’s name or identified his hometown in Florida.

Volunteers from the San Francisco Bay Area and Oregon were among those who traveled to Mount Shasta to assist with the difficult rescue.