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Tragedy on the Trail: Teen Falls 120 Feet After Hallucinations on Mount Whitney
What was meant to be a meaningful bonding trip between father and son turned into a nightmare when 14-year-old Zane Wach plunged off a cliff after suffering a terrifying bout of altitude-induced hallucinations.
The fall—witnessed in horror by his father—left the teen with critical injuries and a long road to recovery, sparking an outpouring of support and a plea for help with mounting medical expenses.
A Journey Meant to Inspire
On June 10, Zane and his father Ryan Wach set out to conquer Mount Whitney—the tallest mountain in the contiguous U.S.—with the goal of sharing their first real mountaineering experience together. Fit, active, and accomplished in sports like triathlons and swimming, Zane seemed more than ready for the challenge.
But the trip took a frightening turn on the descent from the summit.
According to SFGate, Zane began experiencing vivid hallucinations, describing visions of “snowmen” and even Kermit the Frog. At first, his father thought it was temporary altitude fatigue, and the two continued down the mountain.
Mental State Unraveling
What followed was a rapid mental decline. Though Zane briefly seemed to recover, his perception of reality became increasingly distorted. Ryan recalls his son repeatedly questioning, “Is this real life?” and becoming convinced that they were stuck in a dream or looping through the same hike over and over.
“He just wasn’t himself,” Ryan explained. “He started believing we were already back at the car, or that the trail had changed.”
Concerned, Ryan slowed their descent and tried to reason with Zane—but the teen’s grip on reality was slipping. Zane began to resist moving forward, insisted he was ready for “dinner,” and at one point wandered dangerously close to a cliffside.
The Fall
In one heartbreaking moment, Ryan turned away for just a second to wipe away tears—and when he looked back, Zane was gone.
“I saw him take a step and just disappear,” Ryan said.
Zane had fallen an estimated 120 feet into a rocky ravine.
Nearby hikers, one of whom was a trained EMT, rushed to help while Ryan scrambled down the slope. A rescue team was dispatched, but rough terrain and fading daylight delayed the operation. It would take six long hours before a helicopter was able to extract Zane and fly him to safety.
A Fragile Fight for Life
Zane was airlifted first to Southern Inyo Hospital, and later transferred to Sunrise Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas for specialized care. There, he was placed in a medically induced coma due to the extent of his injuries: a traumatic brain injury, a fractured pelvis, a broken ankle, and a shattered finger.
Despite the trauma, doctors say it’s a miracle he survived the fall at all.
Experts believe Zane was suffering from High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)—a rare but life-threatening form of altitude sickness that causes the brain to swell due to low oxygen levels.
It typically affects climbers at elevations over 13,000 feet—Mount Whitney’s summit stands at 14,505 feet.
Community Rallies Around Zane
In the wake of the incident, Zane’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the significant costs of his recovery. The outpouring of support has been immediate and heartfelt, with friends, hikers, and strangers alike sending messages of hope and healing.
Ryan, still shaken but resolute, expressed gratitude for the medical teams, the hikers who helped, and everyone who’s reached out: “We’re clinging to every sign of progress. We just want our boy to come back to us.”
Beyond the Summit: A Sobering Reminder
Zane Wach’s story is more than a freak accident—it’s a harrowing reminder of how quickly things can go wrong at high altitudes, even for the young and fit.
His fall has ignited new conversations about the risks of elevation-related illness, and the urgent need for awareness among outdoor adventurers.
As Zane fights to regain consciousness and reclaim his life, one thing is clear: his survival is