Roseville hikers rescued on Mount Shasta after given bad advice from AI

Three young novice climbers from the Roseville area were rescued on Mount Shasta after becoming lost, injured and hungry. According to the U.S. Forest Service - Shasta-Trinity National Forest, what was intended to be a short day trip of hiking turned into a frightening and potentially dangerous situation, in large part because the group relied on bad information and advice from AI. On Aug. 29, the three set off from the Clear Creek Trailhead to climb Mount Shasta. The group arrived at the head springs of Clear Creek around 8 p.m., where they established a base camp; Forest Service officials point out they opted to camp on a prohibited site within the water/spring zone. Forest Service officials say around 3 a.m. on Aug. 30, the party decided to climb from base camp, only carrying enough food and water for an eight-hour climb. Progress up the mountain was slow and around 1 p.m., the group reached 11,000 feet and began pondering if they should turn around or move forward; they decided to keep going. Later in the day, the party rested at Mushroom Rock (12,800 feet) and at that time encountered two other climbing groups. One of those groups advised them to turn around. Despite not feeling good, the group decided to plow forward and at 7 p.m. they reached the Mount Shasta summit. Shortly after this point, the trip took a negative turn. Around 8 p.m., while the group was descending, they opted to call 911 for directions; as they continued their trek, they wandered well off-route, eventually entering the upper reaches of Mud Creek Canyon, according to the Forest Service. One member of the group was using the app AllTrails; the group was relying on that app on the ascent but their phone battery had died during their descent. So, they were relying mainly on sight to descend. Around 11,500 feet, one member of the party lost their balance, fell down and hurt their knee. At the time of the fall, the climber said they felt off and lacked sure footing. While the party continued its descent, they stopped and spent the night near 11,000 feet in a remote location in Mud Creek Canyon, but Forest Service officials said they were not prepared to spend an open night on the mountain as they lacked adequate food, water and warm layers. Around 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 31, Forest Service Climbing Rangers reached the group; they were described as exhausted, hungry and thirsty. Because of the location, a CHP helicopter hoist was not possible, so Climbing Rangers helped the party out of the canyon. The injured person was still reportedly able to walk. Once the group reached more tame terrain, rescuers tried a helicopter hoist again, but strong winds prevented it so the group continued the rescue journey on foot. Eventually, authorities were able to help the climbers back to safety off the mountain. After the rescue, Forest Service officials say the group reflected on making some regrettable mistakes, such as relying too heavily on an AI platform, YouTube videos and AllTrails to plan their climb. An example of how AI steered the group wrong: They reportedly asked AI what nutrition they should pack for the trip, how much water, etc. The group said AI recommended simple carbohydrates for their climb rather than fats because they "take too long to digest." The group said they were also advised to only carry enough food and water for an eight-hour climb, not a 16-hour trip. Forest Service officials say its important to use reliable information sources for climbs like Mount Shasta, and to have backups to any electronical navigation you might use (paper maps of the route are a good choice). It's also important to have an established turnaround time and to stick to it. Finally, on a mountain the size of Mount Shasta, it's critical to have enough food and water for a long day or two, and to have adequate climbing supplies in case you have to spend an unexpected night on the mountain.