Shasta-Trinity National Forest

News Release

US Forest Service

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

No sign of climbers missing on Mount Shasta as search continues

MOUNT SHASTA, Calif. – The search continues for two climbers missing since Saturday on northern California’s 14,162 foot Mount Shasta.

An Air National Guard Blackhawk helicopter from Mather Air Force Base, Calif., equipped with infrared and night vision technology arrived at around 9 p.m. last night and began night search operations.

Additionally, search crews from the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Posse stood watch at trailheads on the north and west side of the mountain throughout the night.

At 6 a.m. today, full search operations resumed, which included two Air National Guard Blackhawk helicopters and two California Highway Patrol helicopters. A Blackhawk helicopter inserted four U.S. Forest Service Climbing Rangers and four Siskiyou County Search and Rescue personnel near the summit to conduct searches in crevasses and snow banks at 13,000 feet and above.

Additional search and rescue teams have been ordered including a team from Jackson County, Ore., with experience in search and rescue operations in the Cascade and Siskiyou mountain ranges.

Mount Shasta remains open in the hope that recreation climbers may aid in locating the missing climbers.

"We are informing climbers about the two missing persons and hoping climbers can augment our search personnel and bring a quick and positive end to this search," said Forest Service spokesperson Michael Odle.

As of Sunday afternoon, Forest Service officials counted approximatley 120 climbers actively exploring Mount Shasta.

Search coordinator Deputy Ken Richardson with the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department said the use of four-wheeled vehicles will be used below the wilderness boundry for search operations by the afternoon in case the couple grew disoriented and veered off course.

"We are utilizing all available tools, techniques and experience to find these missing individuals," said Richardson.

Forest Service officials said the missing persons left the Bunny Flat Trailhead on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and ascended the mountain using the popular Avalanche Gulch route on the south side of the mountain.

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 locate the missing couple.

The missing persons have been identified as Patricia Giamoni of Apex, N.C. and Salvador Frias from the Bay Area.

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