California Climber Survives 500‑Foot Fall, Crawls to Cabin After Night‑Long Descent

A San Jose climber fell 500 feet down Mount Shasta’s Avalanche Gulch after a failed glissade, sustaining severe lacerations and foot injuries. His cellphone died shortly after reaching the summit, leaving him unable to call for help. The injured mountaineer removed his boots and crawled through the night to the remote Horse Camp Cabin. Friends reported him missing to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, prompting a multi‑agency search that included the Mount Shasta Climbing Rangers, the county’s Search and Rescue unit, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter. Rescue crews located him inside the cabin two hours after the search began. Officials praised his self‑rescue efforts and his prior check‑in with friends, and used the incident to urge hikers to plan daylight hours, carry backup electronics, and rely on navigation skills if devices fail.