A prominent Argentine tech executive and passionate climber tragically lost his life earlier this month during a descent from Mount Shasta’s summit in Northern California. Authorities reported that he fell thousands of feet after becoming disoriented on a glacier.
According to a news release from the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, Matias Augusto Travizano, 45, was one of three climbers who had successfully summited the mountain on the morning of September 12. Standing at just over 14,100 feet above sea level, Mount Shasta ranks as California’s fifth-highest peak and the second-highest in the Cascade Range.
During their descent, Travizano and a fellow climber inadvertently strayed from the designated path, finding themselves marooned on the edge of Wintun Glacier at an elevation of 13,500 feet. Realizing their error, they attempted a controlled slide, known as a glissade, to rejoin the correct route below, the sheriff’s office stated.
Tragically, Travizano lost control during the maneuver, plummeting approximately 2,000 feet down the icy glacier. He appeared to lose consciousness upon impact with a large boulder, according to the sheriff’s report.
The second climber followed, but as he neared within 80 feet, Travizano reportedly stirred, seemingly regaining consciousness and beginning to move.
However, this brief movement proved fatal, dislodging him from the rock. He then slid uncontrollably down the remaining stretch of the glacier, vanishing from view, the statement concluded.
Around 2:27 p.m., a 911 call was placed by the third climber, who had reunited with the second. He reported that a man had fallen down the Wintun Glacier and was no longer visible.
Following an extensive search lasting several hours, Travizano’s body was eventually recovered near the foot of the glacier, the sheriff’s office confirmed.
Martin Varsavsky, an Argentine entrepreneur who had known Travizano for over ten years, described him as an enthusiastic hiker. They had plans to embark on a hike together in Mendoza, Argentina, in December. Varsavsky emphasized, “He was truly well experienced.”
Mount Shasta, a prominent double-peaked volcano, draws a diverse range of outdoor enthusiasts, including climbers, skiers, and hikers. However, its slopes and glaciers are notorious for unpredictable weather, sudden wind shifts, and severe storms. Travizano had chosen the Clear Creek route, generally regarded as one of the mountain’s safer paths. Yet, even on this route, climbers can easily become disoriented in poor visibility, leading them into more perilous terrain, as outlined in the sheriff’s statement.
Travizano, a physicist and entrepreneur, resided in California. He was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley’s HuMNet Lab, which focuses on human mobility and urban networks. He is survived by his wife, Kristen Durham, and their infant son, Kai.
His professional background on LinkedIn indicated his role as a founder and managing partner of Sur Ventures, a venture capital firm. He also founded and formerly chaired GranData, a San Francisco company specializing in artificial intelligence, data, and privacy solutions. Although he sold GranData in 2024, he continued to serve as an adviser.
Even while living in the United States, Travizano maintained strong ties to his Argentine heritage. He actively contributed to his alma mater, the University of Buenos Aires, and engaged with the government of President Javier Milei, notably assisting in organizing Mr. Milei’s 2024 Silicon Valley tour.
Chris Carr, an experienced guide and climber on Mount Shasta for three decades, explained in an interview that just below the summit, it’s common for climbers to inadvertently stray from the plateau onto the glacier. This area is typically hard-packed and dry following the summer months.
Carr elaborated, “During this season, cloud cover often forms on the upper mountain, leading to disorientation. Visibility can become so poor that you can barely see your hand in front of your face.”
He stressed, “Climbing Mount Shasta in September is far from easy. It’s simple to lose your way, and the terrain is extremely perilous.”
This incident follows another tragedy in July, when a different hiker was discovered deceased near the 10,000-foot elevation, also off the Clear Creek route.