2 Backcountry Snowboarders Injured in Mt Shasta Avalanche, 11 hour rescue ensues at 13,000 feet

Two climbers were caught in a wind slab avalanche on Mount Shasta, California on Saturday, April 27, prompting a prolonged and but successful ground rescue by Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Forest Service. 

The climbers were ascending to the left of The Geart in Avalanche Gulch carrying snowboards when they triggered a slide that carried one of them about 800 vertical feet down the hill. One of the riders sustained severe injuries, breaking his femur and suffering a "deep crampon puncture wound", according to officials. His riding buddy, who ended up closer to the slab, was able to self-arrest and self-rescue despite sustaining an internal knee injury. 

Authorities received a 911 call at 12:21 p.m. but adverse weather conditions, including strong winds and limited visibility, prevented the helicopter from landing safely close to the climbers. The SCSO Search and Rescue Team, along with the USFS Climbing Rangers and a team of pro mountain guides, initiated a ground-based rescue operation, which was, after stretching into the night, inevitably successful.

It is also important to note that the two victims caught in Saturday's avalanche were highly equipped, highly skilled mountaineers with plenty of experience on Mount Shasta. However, no level of preparation or skill removes one from the natural hazards encountered in the backcountry, and the unpredictable weather conditions on Mount Shasta that day (and everyday) turned a relatively straight-forward rescue into an hours-long ordeal involving scores of people. 

Regardless, we are happy to report that both climbers and all rescuers made it home safe, broken legs notwithstanding.

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