SISKIYOU COUNTY, CA — Two local hikers were safely rescued from Black Butte on Wednesday, January 29, after icy conditions left one with a head injury and both unable to descend the 6,334-foot peak, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office announced.
At approximately 3:19 p.m., the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) team responded to a 911 call from the hikers, who had attempted to summit Black Butte earlier that morning. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the pair encountered snowbanks and increasingly icy terrain on the steep trail, prompting them to turn back after one hiker slipped, fell, and sustained a head wound.
A SAR “hasty team” first made contact with the hikers to assess injuries and confirmed the injured individual was stable. Five additional SAR volunteers later joined to assist in the technical descent. The group reached the trailhead safely just before sundown.
In a written statement, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office emphasized winter hiking safety protocols, urging the public to:
- Research routes using trail reports or by contacting land management agencies.
- Carry traction gear (e.g., microspikes, crampons) and an ice axe in snowy conditions.
- Hike with a partner, noting the injured hiker’s companion provided critical aid before rescuers arrived.
- Avoid overestimating abilities in hazardous weather.
The Siskiyou County SAR team, composed of unpaid volunteers, conducts roughly 40 rescues annually in the region’s rugged terrain. Wednesday’s operation highlighted the risks of winter hiking in the area, where trails like Black Butte’s south slope can rapidly transition from manageable to treacherous.
“We’re grateful for our SAR volunteers’ swift and skilled response,” the Sheriff’s Office stated. “Their training saves lives.”
Resources:
- For trail conditions: Contact the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Service at (530) 926-4511.
- To join SAR: Visit siskiyousar.org/join-the-team.
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