#siskiyoucounty — Public Fediverse posts

(hikers rescued after using Google Gemini AI to plan their hike)

Three Hikers Rescued After Becoming Stranded on Mount Shasta

"September 1st, 2026 - The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team assisted US Forest Service Climbing Rangers on Mount Shasta yesterday, when three novice hikers became stranded on the Clear Creek Route.

The three young men from Roseville, CA made camp at approximately 8,400 ft on Saturday, August 29th, then departed with daypacks for Mount Shasta Summit at 3:00 am on Sunday, August 30th. The men summited at 7:00 pm that evening, well after the recommended turnaround time of 12:00 pm, and descended in the dark. An hour into their descent, the party called the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch to ask for directions, but eventually wandered off-route into the Mud Creek Canyon.

Later that night, one member of the party fell and sustained a knee injury. The group became stranded in Mud Creek Canyon, and were forced to bivouac in the steep drainage until they were met the following morning by the USFS Climbing Rangers. Medical aid was provided, and the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Volunteers were deployed to assist. Fortunately, all three hikers and rescue teams returned to the trailhead without incident.

At the conclusion of the rescue, the men told a Sheriff’s Deputy on scene that they had relied heavily on Google’s Gemini AI to provide them with information about the route as well as what to pack for their trip. This was a critical misstep, as they were advised by Gemini to bring far less food and water than their group required, especially when their planned 8 hour ascent became a multi-day ordeal. It is always advisable to call the local USFS Mount Shasta Ranger station ahead of your trip to ensure you have the most accurate information, and to never rely solely on AI for your trip planning.

This search and rescue operation also underscores is the importance of adhering to the 12:00 pm turnaround rule. If you have not reached the summit of Mount Shasta by noon, turn around while you (or a potential rescue party) still have sufficient daylight to hike out. In addition, have multiple methods of wayfinding - do not simply rely on your cellphone or Garmin, and stop to verify that you are on the correct route often. While the Clear Creek Route on Mount Shasta is not a technical mountaineering route, it still requires climbers to be physically fit and prepared for unforeseen circumstances, such as an injury, inclement weather or unplanned overnight stay. Serious accidents and fatalities occur on the Clear Creek route when individuals become lost and wander into more dangerous terrain, such as the Mud Creek drainage.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the USFS Climbing Rangers and Siskiyou County Search and Rescue volunteers for their tireless work to ensure these three hikers returned home safely. "

#siskiyoucounty #SiskiyouSheriff #searchandrescue #mountshasta #climbingsafely

(Orig: hxxps://www.facebook.com/SiskiyouCountySheriff/)

#SearchAndRescue #SAR #AI #AIpocalpse

Forest Service Kidnapping Near Mount Shasta Ends With Hostages Freed, Two Charged

https://thedemocracyadvocate.com/us-news/forest-service-kidnapping/

[3/3] The final day of our 3 day loop offered up a minor challenge to our return followed by a major challenge. Once surmounted, we were back to amazing high mountain walking on the side of Ray's Peak and further ridge walking back to the Hull Cabin site where we started.

For more details, click here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/05/cabins-high-ridges-to-hull-cabin-site.html

#California #TrinityCounty #SiskiyouCounty #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #TrinityNationalForest #KlamathNationalForest #TrinityAlpsWilderness
#hiking #backpacking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #wildflowers
#footpathFriday

[1/3] Once more into the Trinity Alps Wilderness, this time to wander among many cabins. The 1st day of the 3 day loop started with flowers on the way to long sections of ridge walking. It featured many birds and burned areas to complete the day where a fire lookout once stood at the top of Cabin Peak. Except the day wasn't quite done because we did still need to get back to camp.

For more details, check here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/05/cabins-limestone-ridge-and-cabin-peak.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #TrinityCounty #KlamathNationalForest #TrinityNationalForest #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #TrinityAlpsWilderness
#hiking #backpacking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #firelookout #peakbagger

Deer are already using a #WildlifeBridge over a crash-prone highway in #California

The crossing will not be complete until fall, but animals have already been spotted using the structure, including three deer and a bobcat.

By Brian Lada, Jun 10, 2026

"A new wildlife crossing in Northern California is already doing the job it was built to do, even before construction is officially finished.

"Three deer became the first animals to use the nearly completed wildlife bridge on U.S. 97 in #SiskiyouCounty since the project began in summer 2024, according to information Caltrans District 2 shared with AccuWeather. Since the deer have been spotted in late May, other animals have been seen using the crossing, including a bobcat.

"Caltrans called it 'a major milestone,' adding in a Facebook post that, 'while the contractor is still completing final touches, it’s incredible to see wildlife already embracing the new structure.'

"The bridge itself is about 100 feet long and 140 feet wide, with roughly 2 miles of 8-foot-high wildlife exclusion fencing along both sides of the highway to help funnel animals toward the crossing instead of the road.

" 'The project area has the highest recorded wildlife-vehicle conflict rate in District 2, with over 50 deer and 16 elk fatalities recorded between 2015 and 2020,' Caltrans said. 'The new structure will allow safe passage for wildlife across the highway, improving driver safety and ecological resilience.'

"Construction on the Siskiyou County projects is expected to wrap up this fall.

"About a mile down the same highway, a #WildlifeTunnel is also under construction. The reinforced concrete culvert will expand crossing opportunities and strengthen the larger effort to reduce crashes."

Read more:
https://www.accuweather.com/en/travel/deer-are-already-using-a-wildlife-bridge-over-a-crash-prone-highway-in-california/1900516

#SolarPunkSunday #WildlifeCorridors #WildlifeCrossings #Bobcats #Wildlife

3rd day: Heading down Kelsey Creek from Paradise Lake with a lot less snow on the ground than when we climbed.

Lots more details here: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/04/paradise-kelsey-creek.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNationalForest #MarbleMountainWilderness #KelseyNationalRecreationTrail
#hiking #nature #backpacking #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #KelseyCreek #wildlife

2nd day: Starting off fighting snow, heading north on the PCT as the trail eventually gets to a ridge line walk. We headed up, appropriately, Big Ridge for the day's destination, then returned to Paradise Lake.

All the details: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/04/paradise-big-ridge.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNationalForest #MarbleMountainWilderness #PacificCrestTrail #PCT
#backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #peakbagger #snow #lakes

The high country shouldn't be accessible yet, especially just a few days after a storm, but it was already like June out there. We headed up to Paradise Lake on the Kelsey Trail and had the popular spot all to ourselves. Hiking around once there was more limited, but possible.

1st day: Up along Kelsey Creek to Paradise Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail among the Marble Mountains.

Excruciating details and mounds of photos: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2026/04/paradise-paradise-lake.html

#California #SiskiyouCounty #KlamathNationalForest #MarbleMountainWilderness #KelseyNationalRecreationTrail
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #backpacking #snow #wildflowers #KelseyCreek

The Pacific Crest Trail was looking a lot easier to travel as we left than when we passed the day before.
#footpathFriday

I finished up another set of backpacking posts, but am busy so might not get to advertising them before wandering off to more adventure.

#California #SiskiyouCounty #MarbleMountainWilderness #KlamathNationalForest #PCT #PacificCrestTrail

The 2nd day backpacking around Mount Eddy, we headed up to the top of Mount Eddy itself, then wandered the trails south toward Toad Lake before returning north to our camp.

For more, check https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/12/eddy-mount-eddy-and-toad-lake.html

#California #ShastaTrinityNationalForest #ShastaNationalForest #TrinityCounty #SiskiyouCounty #MountEddy #DeadfallLakes #ToadLake #PacificCrestTrail #PCT
#hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains#peakbagging #blogpost

The third and last day backpacking near Seiad on the Pacific Crest Trail had a bit more ridge view, some search for a different short way down, then a long route around passing a pair of waterfalls.

For more information, check this link: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/11/twizt-red-devils-echo-lake.html

#California #RougeRiverSiskiyouNationalForest #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouNationalForest #RedButtesWilderness #SiskiyouCounty
#PacificCrestTrail #PCT #backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #lake #snow

The second day backpacking, there was much ridge views and even a peak to bag (Rattlesnake Mountain) along both the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and the Boundary National Recreation Trail.

For more info, check this link: https://valhikes.blogspot.com/2025/11/twizt-red-devils-rattlesnake-mountain.html

#California #RougeRiverSiskiyouNationalForest #KlamathNationalForest #SiskiyouNationalForest #SiskiyouCounty #RedButtesWilderness
#backpacking #hiking #nature #landscape #travel #hike #outside #mountains #peakbagging #PCT #PacificCrestTrail #BigfootTrail