NewsSFistOctober 23, 2026San Francisco County
Bay Area Rescuers Evacuate Injured Climber from Mount Shasta
Photo: SFist
Multi-agency ground crews rescued a severely injured Florida man trapped in a crevasse on Mount Shasta after extreme weather prevented helicopters from reaching him for nearly three days. The 30-person rescue team navigated high winds, falling rocks, and sub-freezing temperatures to carry the climber down the mountain.
Read the full story at SFistWhy It Matters
A multi-county emergency response deployed specialized high-altitude teams, including high school volunteers, into hazardous conditions to extract a stranded climber suffering from severe injuries and .
Key Facts
- A 39-year-old Florida man fell through a snow bridge into a crevasse at about 12,600 feet on Mount Shasta after climbing the peak alone.
- The climber suffered a severe leg injury, leaving him unable to walk, and called 911 around 5 pm.
- Equipped with only a sweatshirt and sweatpants, the climber spent his first night on the glacier with minimal food and cold-weather gear.
- Two US Forest Service climbing rangers reached him Monday morning with warmer clothes and medical supplies, staying with him through a second night.
- A 30-person ground crew from multiple counties, including eleven Marin County Search and Rescue members and five high school students, carried out the evacuation.
- Rescuers faced 60 to 70 mph winds and falling rocks the size of soccer balls during the operation.
- Crews reached the injured climber around 1 pm on Tuesday and carried him across steep terrain to an elevation of 11,890 feet.
- A California Highway Patrol helicopter landed during a brief weather break around 5:30 pm and flew the climber to a hospital.
- Medical evaluation after the rescue revealed the climber sustained a severe leg laceration and frostbite to one foot.
Who's Mentioned
locationSan Mateo“County providing rescuers for the ground evacuation.”OrganizationCalifornia Highway Patrol“Provided helicopters that made repeated rescue attempts and ultimately evacuated”OrganizationMarin County Sheriff's Office“Commented on social media regarding the extreme challenge of the mission and int”locationJackson County“County in Oregon providing rescuers for the ground evacuation.”OrganizationSFGate“News publication reporting on the rescue mission details.”PersonNick Slaneck“Marin County rescuer who spoke to NBC Bay Area about the successful evacuation.”locationTrinity“County providing rescuers for the ground evacuation.”locationMarin County“Provided search and rescue members, including high school students, for the oper”PersonCody Davis“A 17-year-old senior at San Marin High School and Marin County search and rescue”locationNovato“City where San Marin High School is located.”OrganizationSan Marin High School“School attended by rescuer Cody Davis.”OrganizationNBC Bay Area“News outlet that interviewed rescuer Nick Slaneck.”OrganizationUS Forest Service“Climbing rangers reached the stranded hiker with warmer clothes and medical supp”locationWhitney Glacier“Route on the northwest side of the mountain where the climber fell.”locationSiskiyou“County providing rescuers for the ground evacuation.”locationShastina“Landmark near Mount Shasta used as a reference point for the helicopter landing ”locationMount Shasta“The 14,179-foot peak where the climber fell into a crevasse.”OrganizationBay Area News Group“News organization providing details about the climber's route and background.”locationAvalanche Gulch“Route the climber used to reach the summit.”