Argentinian hiker plummets 2,000 feet to death off mountain in California

Image: Cody Duncan Photography

A 45-year-old man from Argentina tragically died after falling approximately 2,000 feet while descending Mt. Shasta earlier this month, officials confirmed late last week.

Matias Augusto Travizano reached the summit on the morning of September 12 via the Clear Creek Route, a trail regarded as one of the safer paths up the mountain, according to the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office.

However, during the descent, Travizano and another climber—who had reached the summit around the same time—lost their way. Both hikers veered off the trail and became stranded on an ice sheet near the northern edge of Wintun Glacier at roughly 13,500 feet elevation.

Recognizing they were off course, the men tried to glissade—slide down the ice—to reconnect with the trail, sheriff’s officials said. Unfortunately, Travizano lost control during the slide, tumbling down the glacier and hitting a boulder 300 feet below, which knocked him unconscious.

Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County, California (AP Photo)

The other climber managed to reach Travizano within minutes and provided aid. Travizano briefly regained consciousness and started moving, but this movement caused him to dislodge and slide further down the glacier, disappearing from sight.

A third hiker, positioned more safely on the mountain, called 911 just before 2:30 p.m., triggering a search and rescue operation by the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Forest Service climbing rangers at the Clear Creek Trailhead.

After several hours, California Highway Patrol’s Northern Air Operations found Travizano deceased near the base of Wintun Glacier at 10,200 feet.

“It’s challenging to find the trail on the way down, and many hikers unintentionally wander into hazardous areas,” said sheriff’s spokesperson Sage Milestone. “If you’re unfamiliar with the terrain or visibility is poor, it’s easy to get lost.”

Tragically, this isn’t an isolated incident. Just a month earlier, a 50-year-old man died on the same trail after losing his way during a summer snowstorm.

Mt. Shasta, a 14,179-foot stratovolcano in Northern California’s Cascade Range, attracts over 5,000 summit attempts annually. While it’s popular for its accessibility and stunning views, the mountain presents serious dangers, with roughly one fatality each year on average.

“Don’t underestimate Mt. Shasta as an easy climb,” Milestone warned. “Weather and conditions can change quickly, even if it seems calm at lower elevations.”

This year alone, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has conducted 15 rescue missions on Mt. Shasta, with nine requiring helicopter assistance and six needing ground search and rescue teams.

Original Source