A 24-year-old San Jose man is describing how he survived a roughly 500-foot slide down Mount Shasta and then crawled through the night after losing his gear, in an ordeal that nearly cost him his life.
Zubayir Kazi told NBC Bay Area he reached the mountain’s summit on Sept. 10 during his first icy summit attempt, only to lose control on the descent.
“Everything I had with me just goes out of my hand and I find myself flying down the mountain,” Kazi said.
The U.S. Forest Service said Kazi lost control while attempting to glissade down the snow and ice-covered Avalanche Gulch after reaching the summit. He suffered significant lacerations and injuries to his feet.
In the fall, Kazi lost his food, water, cellphone and light, cutting off any way to call for help. Alone and injured, he made a grim calculation.
“My mentality became very one dimensional. I don’t know what’s the optimal thing to do, but I just know that I have to go lower because if I stay here and fall asleep, I’m going to die,” he said.
Swelling eventually forced Kazi to remove his boots, and he crawled through the night until he reached Horse Camp Cabin. His friends, having lost contact with him, reported him missing, setting off a multi-agency search.
A hiker found Kazi inside the cabin the next day and gave him food and water before rescuers arrived.
“When the officers came in, it was the first time I really realized how badly I was injured. They said ‘You have no skin behind your leg,'” Kazi said.
Kazi told NBC Bay Area he suffered significant skin and nerve damage along with serious internal complications, and that doctors told him he could have died within hours.
The Forest Service praised Kazi for knowing his route and having told friends of his climbing plans, but urged anyone attempting the mountain to carry backup electronics, allow enough daylight and be prepared to self-rescue.
Kazi said the experience has permanently changed how he approaches climbing.
“It is very important to fully and properly account for all of the requirements and safety considerations necessary to complete a hike like this and not miss a single one — and I’d say to definitely not go alone,” Kazi said.
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