The situation
Real talk: Mount Shasta is not the one to play with. A 19-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman from Salt Lake City learned this the hard way after getting trapped on the 14,179-foot mountain for 36 grueling hours.
The duo set out for a day hike on Monday, Oct. 12, but things went south quickly. They reached the Red Banks area around 5 p.m.—which the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office says was five hours past the recommended turnaround time. By 10:20 p.m., they were lowkey spiraling; they were exhausted, freezing, and called for help. With temperatures dropping to a brutal 14–16 degrees, they were completely ill-equipped for the night.
The rescue
They tried to descend, reaching Helen Lake by 2 a.m. Tuesday before their phones died. Say less—the search-and-rescue teams launched a massive effort, including California Highway Patrol Air Operations. It was highkey stressful; at one point, the helicopter spotted two people waving for help, but it turned out to be the wrong group.
Finally, around 4 p.m. Tuesday, searchers heard shouting from a dry river canyon. The hikers had wandered into Cascade Gulch near the bottom of the mountain and got trapped between 30-to-50-foot cliffs. Thankfully, they were uninjured and managed to climb out with help.
Why it matters
This isn't just a one-off; it's the third rescue on the Avalanche Gulch route in just one month. The vibes are officially off for that trail right now. Officials have warned that the route is dangerous this time of year due to rockfall and winter weather. If you’re planning a hike, take the trail warnings seriously—nobody wants to spend their trip trapped between cliffs. Stay safe, besties.
