Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Climbing Fatality on Mt Shasta 7/04

In my short duration since taking up mountaineering this is the 3rd time that a fatality happen while I was on the same mountain. Here is the news:
http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jul/06/shasta-climb-turns-deadly/

I was solo on the AV Gulch route Sun 7/04, but there were about 30 other climbers spread out on the slope from Helen Lake to the Red Bank, and we were dodging snow balls even in the early hours 2am, the largest one being the size of a tire. I eventually turn around just before Red Banks when the snow balls just kept on coming.

It is sad to hear the helicopter coming to the mountain, and even more so when she did not make it. The lady was on the West Face route not known for falling snow ball. It just shows you that the risk is every where. Everyone be carefully and safe.

I was up on Shasta last month with Shasta Mountain Guides. After getting bombarded by ice fall, we also turned around just below the Red Banks. Then spent the remainder of the day watching as the helicopters attempted to land, and then eventually landed to pick up the injured. The mountain seems to be in no mood for visitors this year. My sympathy to the friends and family.