Three Mount Shasta climbers rescued after relying on AI to plan climb
Three novice climbers were rescued from Mount Shasta on Sunday after becoming lost, running low on supplies and spending an unplanned night in Mud Creek Canyon,
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SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. — Three novice climbers were rescued from Mount Shasta on Sunday after becoming lost, running low on supplies and spending an unplanned night in Mud Creek Canyon, the U.S. Forest Service - Shasta-Trinity National Forest (USFS) said.
The group began its climb from the Clear Creek Trailhead on Saturday, Aug. 29, and set up camp near the head springs of Clear Creek at about 8 p.m. Officials said the site was prohibited because it is within the water and spring zone.
The climbers started toward the summit at 3 a.m. on August 30, carrying food and water for what they expected to be an eight-hour climb. They made slow progress and reached 11,000 feet around 1 p.m., where they discussed turning around but decided to continue.
Around 3 p.m., the group stopped at Mushroom Rock, at about 12,800 feet. The USFS said other climbers gave them different advice: one group suggested they turn around, while another encouraged them to continue. The three climbers said they were not feeling well but continued and reached the summit around 7 p.m.
About an hour later, the group called 911 for directions while descending near 12,800 feet. They continued down the mountain but went far off route and entered the upper part of Mud Creek Canyon.
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One climber had used the AllTrails phone app during the climb up the mountain, but the phone battery died. A backup battery charger did not work, the USFS said. The group mostly relied on sight while descending, though one climber had a Garmin watch.
At about 11,500 feet, one climber lost balance and hurt their left knee. The USFS said the climber did not have a headlamp on at the time, despite carrying one, because they were trying to save its battery. The climber instead relied on light from the other two climbers’ headlamps.
The group continued downhill before stopping around midnight near 11,000 feet. They were not prepared to spend the night outside and did not have enough food, water, warm clothing or emergency shelter supplies, officials said.
Forest Service climbing rangers reached the group at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday. The climbers were exhausted, hungry and thirsty. Rangers treated the injured climber’s knee, which was stable, and gave the group food and water.
The injured climber was able to walk. A California Highway Patrol helicopter could not hoist the group from the canyon, and a second hoist attempt around 12:30 p.m. was called off because of strong winds.
Rangers helped the climbers out of Mud Creek Canyon and back to their base camp near Clear Creek Springs by about 3 p.m. Members of Siskiyou Search and Rescue then helped them return to the trailhead, where the rescue ended around 6:30 p.m.
The USFS said the climbers told them they had used an artificial intelligence platform, YouTube videos and AllTrails to plan the trip. They said they relied on AI to decide what food to bring and how much food and water they would need.
The group said it packed supplies for an eight-hour climb, not its roughly 16-hour ascent. The climbers said AI recommended simple carbohydrates instead of fats because fats “take too long to digest.”
“We relied too much on AI rather than our own critical thinking,” the group told rangers.
Officials said climbers should use reliable sources, carry paper maps and other backup navigation tools, set a turnaround time and follow it. They also urged climbers to bring enough food, water, warm clothing and emergency supplies for a long day or an unexpected night on the mountain.
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