If you dream of being an alpinist, then Mount Shasta is a great destination for you. It is often described as a beginner's big mountain and is a great place to hone your skills. Nevertheless, it is still a challenging climb, and you should not attempt it unless you are fully prepared. Unfortunatley, two alpinists ended up having an unfortunate experience during their hike that ended in an emergency. Rescue teams had to be called in to save a climber after he miraculously survived a 700-foot fall.
Climber Miraculously Survives 700-Foot Fall
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Outsideonline shared the details surrounding the ordeal. The two alpinists were ages 19 and 20 and were excited for their trek up Mount Shasta. The 14,179-foot mountain is just a four-hour drive from San Fransico, making it a popular choice among hikers. The top portion of the trek features year-round winter conditions, and you will need crampons and an ice ax for the climb.
However, even with all of that, the outlet shared that you do not necessarily require an "expertise in a rock climbing gym" to enjoy the climb. The things that you will need are a respect for the mountain and ample preparation. Without both of those, things could turn dangerous very quickly. Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office shared that "the two climbers called for help after one of them lost his footing and plunged 700 vertical feet down Avalanche Gulch."
While it was fortunate that the climber survived the fall, he did not do so without injury. During the fall, the climber "sustained significant injuries to his shoulder, hand, and ankle." Due to his injuries, he was unable to descend any further down the mountain. To make matters worse, the two climbers had assumed they would complete the hike in just one day. Therefore, they had no overnight gear or extra provisions.
Making a night rescue was dangerous, so the pair had to wait for rescue teams to arrive the following morning. Fortunately, everyone made it out.
