Rescuers say hiker died on Mount Whitney over the weekend

TO A hiker died on California’s Mount Whitney over the weekend after slipping and falling off the trail, according to Inyo County Search and Rescue. The organization mobilized a rescue team within hours of receiving the report of a possible fatality on the mountain last Saturday, according to a post on facebook of the agency.

Mobilizing a recovery mission

A hiker had reportedly gone off trail near the “99 bends” and fallen off a cliff. Three rescuers coordinated with a California Highway Patrol helicopter to depart Lone Pine to assist in recovery efforts. Due to strong winds and bad weather, the attempt was postponed.

A second team mobilized the next day. After confirming the death, Inyo County Search and Rescue partnered with Mono County Search and Rescue to walk to the scene. The hiker’s remains were recovered and moved to a more accessible location; However, inclement weather once again made helicopter extraction impossible. On Monday, October 27, the deceased was successfully removed from the mountain by plane.

Tragedy at high altitude

At this time, little is known about the deceased or the circumstances surrounding the fall. In its original Facebook post, Inyo County Search and Rescue stated, “It is best not to make assumptions about the events that led to the recovery.”

A commenter on the Facebook post claimed they saw the hiker in distress. «On our way down the mountain, I saw it and used Starlink through my iPhone to contact my father, who called to report,» the user said. The Trek has not verified this claim.

Photo via Inyo County Search and Rescue

Mount Whitney is an iconic climb for hikers and day hikers alike. At 14,505 feet, it is the highest summit in the lower 48 states. Many Pacific Crest Trail hikers make a side trip from the PCT to reach the legendary peak, and the John Muir Trail ends at its summit. Most day hikers start on the east side of the Sierra Nevada at the Whitney Portal trailhead and take the approximately 22-mile round-trip Mount Whitney Trail.

The Oct. 25 incident occurred approximately seven miles off the Mountain Whitney Trail along the 99 switchbacks.

This tragic incident is a sobering reminder that winter has already arrived in the high mountains. Inyo County Search and Rescue urged hikers to remember “that Mount Whitney is already experiencing winter conditions, including snow and ice, very low temperatures and frequent wind storms.”

Hikers should always plan and prepare, but be prepared to turn around if conditions become unsafe. It is best to put high mountain goals on hold until more favorable conditions return in the warmer months.

At this time of year, attempts to summit Mount Whitney and other high-elevation peaks should only be made by those with the proper equipment, such as ice axes and crampons, and mountaineering experience.

Photo courtesy of the Inyo County Search and Rescue Facebook page.

Your SAR county

Inyo Search and Rescue is a professional, all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in cooperation with and under the authority of the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office. To learn more about the organization and its work, visit its website either facebook page.

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