Shasta-Trinity National Forest

News Release

US Forest Service

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Search continues for missing couple on Mount Shasta

MOUNT SHASTA, Calif. – The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest resumed their search at 6 a.m. this morning for a couple on Mount Shasta missing since yesterday evening at 9:30 p.m.

The search and rescue was initiated by the Siskiyou County Sheriff's office with assistance from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and the California Highway Patrol, just before 9:30 p.m.

The climbers have been identified by authorities as Patricia Giamoni of Apex, N.C. and Salvador Frias from the Bay area. Giamoni contacted 911 yesterday at 9:25 p.m. and said she was in trouble, indicated high winds and provided a description of their location and coordinates just before the cell phone signal was lost. Authorities tried to regain communication with the caller, but were unsuccessful.

According to the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department, the coordinates provided did not match the description of the location of the missing couple.

A helicopter with the California Highway Patrol searched up to 12,000 feet yesterday, but due to temperature, was unable to go to higher elevations.

The couple went for a day climb out of the Bunny Flat Trailhead on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, according to Forest Service Climbing Ranger Eric White.

Rescue efforts by climbing teams were suspended late last night because of increasing winds and lack of light. But search coordinator Deputy Ken Richardson with the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department said crews interview family members and reanalyzed the information in an effort to narrow the scope of the search area.

"This is large mountain and there is a lot of ground to cover, but we are being systematic and thorough in our search," said Richardson. "The dedication of the people out there tackling this effort is amazing."

An Air National Guard helicopter is en route to search between 12,000 feet and the summit of Mount Shasta, 14,162 feet.

Search and rescue teams from the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California Highway Patrol and California Air National Guard continue to work from the ground and the air as they try to find the missing woman.

This is the third rescue on Mount Shasta in the last 24 hours, according to Forest Service officials. Yesterday a male was rescued with snow blindness and was able to walk out with rescue officials and a California Highway Patrol helicopter transported a man to Mercy Medical Center Mount Shasta with a broken leg.

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