Woman Survives 1,500-Foot Fall At Popular CA Mountain

MT. SHASTA, CA —A 31-year-old mountain climber is recovering after she fell more than 1,500 feet at Mount Shasta, officials announced on Wednesday.

On Sunday afternoon, rangers responded to a rescue involving a woman who suffered a serious fall while climbing the Left of Heart variation of the Avalanche Gulch route on Mount Shasta, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The climber was with a group of three novice people when she fell about 1,500 vertical feet, from around 13,000 feet to about 11,500 feet on the mountain, officials said.

Due to cloud cover, a rescue helicopter could not reach the distressed claimer. A Climbing Ranger Falconer climbed on foot to reach the woman, assisted by a climber who accompanied her to the mountain. A fourth climber also assisted the injured climber and remained with the group throughout the rescue, officials said.

The climber was found alert suffering from a suspected fractured right ankle and injuries consistent with a significant fall.

The patient was carefully lowered to Lake Helen. Around 5:30 p.m., a California Highway Patrol helicopter safely extracted the climber from Lake Helen and transported her to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta for further medical care.

No additional information about the climber's condition was known.

The U.S. Forest Service reminded climbers to honestly assess their experience and physical conditioning, carry and know how to use proper mountaineering equipment, climb with experienced partners, and have a plan for emergencies.