Matias Augusto Travizano, a 45-year-old tech entrepreneur and the co-founder and former CEO of San Francisco-based data analytics company GranData, tragically lost his life after falling 3,000 feet during his descent from Mount Shasta in Northern California.
Travizano had successfully summited the 14,162-foot mountain on September 12th. While descending via the Clear Creek Trail, he and another climber became separated from their group and found themselves stranded on the icy Wintun Glacier at an elevation of approximately 13,500 feet.
According to reports, the pair attempted a controlled slide down the glacier to reach safer ground. During the slide, Travizano reportedly lost control, striking a boulder. After regaining consciousness, he slipped again and fell over an edge, disappearing from view.
His body was later recovered by a California Highway Patrol helicopter unit near the glacier’s base, at an altitude of about 10,200 feet.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office noted that while the Clear Creek Route is generally considered safer, climbers can easily become disoriented in low-visibility conditions, especially during the descent. This can lead them into more hazardous areas where accidents are more probable.
Travizano was recognized not only for his professional achievements but also for his personal qualities. He was a trained physicist and had served as a government adviser in Argentina. Colleagues and friends remembered him for his warmth, humor, and dedication to his family.
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