09/01/2026
AUG. 31 RESCUE ON MOUNT SHASTA
On Aug. 29, a party of three young, novice climbers set off from the Clear Creek Trailhead to climb Mount Shasta. They arrived at the head springs of Clear Creek late in the day, around 8 p.m., where they established a base camp (on an prohibited site within the water/spring-zone).
At 3 a.m. Aug. 30, the party began their climb from base camp, carrying enough food and water for an 8-hour climb. The group made slow progress up the mountain. Around 1 p.m., they reached 11,000 feet and had a conversation about whether or not to turn around. They decided to proceed. Around 3 p.m., the party rested at Mushroom Rock (12,800 feet). While resting, they spoke with two other climbing groups, one of which advised that they turn around and another that encouraged them to continue to the summit. The party reported not feeling great, but decided to proceed. At 7 p.m., the group of three reached the Mount Shasta summit.
Around 8 p.m. on their descent near 12,800 feet, the party called 911 for directions. They continued descending but ended up well off-route, eventually entering the upper reaches of Mud Creek Canyon. One member of the party had a mobile mapping app (AllTrails). The group used the app on the ascent, but the phone battery had died. The group also carried a backup mobile battery charger but it did not work to charge the group member’s phone with the mapping app. As a result, the group relied primarily on sight to descend (though one group member wore a Garmin watch).
At around 11,500 feet on their descent, one member of the party lost their balance, fell, and sustained a left knee injury. At the time of the fall, the individual reported feeling off and lacking sure footing. Additionally, the individual was not wearing a headlamp (even though they had one, they were trying to save battery and it was in their backpack) and instead relied on light from the headlamps of the other two group members.
The party continued to descend. Around midnight, they stopped and spent the night near 11,000 feet in a remote location in Mud Creek Canyon. The party was not prepared to spend an open night on the mountain, and lacked adequate food, water, warm layers, or an emergency bivy.
At 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 31, Forest Service Climbing Rangers reached the party. The group was exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. Climbing Rangers found the patient’s knee to be stable and provided minor first aid, as well as food and water for the group.
Despite the efforts of California Highway Patrol, a helicopter hoist was not possible from this location. Climbing Rangers assisted the party out of Mud Creek Canyon. The injured patient was ambulatory. By 12 p.m., the group reached the rim of the canyon and mellower terrain on the southeast slopes of the mountain.
Another helicopter hoist was attempted at 12:30 p.m. but abandoned due to strong winds. The group continued descending on their own power with Climbing Rangers and reached their base camp at the Clear Creek springs around 3 p.m.
Members of Siskiyou Search and Rescue responded to assist the climbers back to the trailhead from their base camp. At 6:30 p.m., the party reached the Clear Creek trailhead to conclude the rescue.
Some key factors in this incident: The group reported using an AI platform, YouTube videos and AllTrails to plan their climb. Specifically, they relied on AI to determine what types of food to bring, and how much food and water they would need for the trip.
The group reflected that they carried enough food and water for an 8-hour climb, not a 16-hour ascent. They also reported that AI recommended simple carbohydrates for their climb, rather than fats because they "take too long to digest." In their words, “We relied too much on AI rather than our own critical thinking.” While they noted they were aware of the www.shastaavalanche.org website, they didn’t use it.
It’s important to use reliable information sources for climbs like Mount Shasta, and to have backups to any electronic navigation you might use (paper maps of the route are a good choice). It’s also important to have an established turnaround time and stick to that. Finally, on a mountain the size of Mount Shasta, it’s critical to have enough food and water for a long day or two, and to have adequate clothing and supplies in case you have to spend an unexpected night on the mountain. Excellent information about the mountain can be found on the Mount Shasta Avalanche Center website.
📸Forest Service photos by Christian Jordan showing Monday’s rescue on Mount Shasta and the terrain where it occurred.
