Mount Jefferson Hiking Incidents, Deaths & Rescues
Mount Jefferson appears in 6 documented incidents in this database — 1 survived and 5 fatal. The causes that recur most here are medical, hypothermia, lost. Higher counts partly reflect how heavily a peak is hiked, not just how dangerous it is — it’s hiked safely far more often than not, but it rewards real preparation.
Most common causes on Mount Jefferson
- Medical3 incidents
- Hypothermia2 incidents
- Lost1 incident
When incidents happen
Documented incidents by month. Darker = more. Incidents cluster in July; winter incidents skew toward ice and traction, summer toward heat and exhaustion.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Survived | 1 | |||||||||||
| Fatal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Based on incidents with a known date. Use it to plan the season — not to assume any month is “safe.”
Every documented incident on Mount Jefferson
Each links to the full sourced report.
- Rescue · Caps Ridge TrailJul 24, 2024
- Fatality · Caps Ridge TrailAug 29, 2014
- FatalityJan 15, 1994
- Fatality · Castle TrailMar 15, 1986
- Fatality · Caps Ridge TrailOct 13, 1941
- Fatality · Caps Ridge TrailJul 4, 1937
Frequently asked
Is Mount Jefferson dangerous to hike?+
Mount Jefferson appears in 6 documented incidents in this database, including 5 fatal. The most common contributing factors here are medical, hypothermia, lost. Higher counts partly reflect how heavily a peak is hiked, not just how dangerous it is — Mount Jefferson is hiked safely far more often than not. Check the forecast, carry the Ten Essentials, start early, and be willing to turn back when conditions or daylight run short.
How many people have died on Mount Jefferson?+
This database documents 5 deaths on Mount Jefferson out of 6 recorded incidents. The record reaches back into the historical archive and is updated as new reports are reviewed, so it captures the documented fatality record plus a growing, primary-sourced sample of rescues — not a complete tally of every call.
Part of the WMNF Hiker Incident Database. This tracks hiking and backcountry incidents — widely-cited mountain death tolls also count non-hiking fatalities (railway and auto-road accidents, aircraft, skiing, natural causes at the summit) that this database doesn't. Counts reflect the documented record, not every call NH Fish and Game responds to.