EXPOSURE, PARTY SEPARATED, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT
EXPOSURE, PARTY SEPARATED, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT California, Mt. Shasta O n February 3, 1978, Ed Paterson and Ron Sova (34) attem pted a winter climb of Mt. Shasta. W hile Peterson and Sova were in the area of the Red Banks, a fierce winter storm ’s full fury hit the m ountain. Peterson and Sova became sepa rated. Sova had climbed Mt. Shasta before in the sum m er but had no winter ex perience. Peterson climbed down off the m ountain and notified Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and a search was begun. Because of continued snowing and storm conditions, a full search could not be attem pted until February 9, when at this time a break in the storm allowed the Sheriff’s Office to conduct a helicopter search of the area where Sova was last seen. Sova could not be found and the search was called off. On August 8, Sova’s body was found near the top of the Red Banks. He was wearing a ski sweater, down jacket, Levis, corduroy pants and leather flight boots. M ountaineering friends had given Sova a list of equipm ent items to take,
but none were in evidence. (Source: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and Punto Alto M ountaineering)
Analysis Sova was inexperienced and did not have the p roper clothing or gear to sit out a winter storm . Roping up and retreating in the conditions that prevailed were in dicated. (Source: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and Punto Alto M ountaineer ing)
but none were in evidence. (Source: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and Punto Alto M ountaineering)
Analysis Sova was inexperienced and did not have the p roper clothing or gear to sit out a winter storm . Roping up and retreating in the conditions that prevailed were in dicated. (Source: Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and Punto Alto M ountaineer ing)
