Sheriff: Rescue crew finds body of missing California climber in Mount Shasta snow cave

California climber found dead on Mount Shasta

MOUNT SHASTA, Calif. — A rescue team on Thursday recovered the body of a missing climber who was stranded near the summit of Mount Shasta in Northern California.

Rangers found the body of 26-year-old Thomas Bennett of Oakland in a snow cave where his friend had left him before going for help, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office said.

Rescuers had been trying to reach Bennett since his climbing partner Mark Thomas, 26, of Berkeley, called 911 Sunday to report that Bennett had collapsed near the summit. The two experienced climbers were trapped Saturday night by severe winds.

A joint statement released by Thomas and the family of Bennett said the two men dug a snow cave for shelter and had the necessary gear to spend the night.

Thomas recounted, however, how quickly Bennett’s health deteriorated as they broke camp Sunday.

Within minutes, Bennett reported “an inability to see well and could barely stand or put on his crampons,” the statement read.

The climbers attempted to descend but Bennett could no longer walk, so they went back to the cave where Bennett fell unconscious and stopped breathing.

The statement said Thomas tried to resuscitate Bennett and started down the mountain only after he was certain there was nothing more he could do for his friend.

Thomas was rescued Monday. He was able to show authorities Bennett’s location on a map but stormy weather and poor visibility had prevented rescuers from attempting a search on the 14,126-foot mountain near the California-Oregon border.

The search and rescue team encountered heavy snow and high winds Thursday. Rescuers were able to locate the snow cave by spotting a black avalanche marker described by Thomas.

An autopsy will be done to determine Bennett’s cause of death.