A hiker died this past weekend while trekking the 99 Switchbacks section of Mount Whitney in California. The Inyo County Search and Rescue team confirmed the fatality on Monday after two days of unsuccessful rescue attempts.
Body Discovered by Fellow Hiker
The incident took place around 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, when authorities were alerted that an unidentified hiker had fallen off of a cliff while hiking close to the Main Trail up Mount Whitney. The fall was investigated as a possible fatal accident since the beginning of the search and rescue operations.
“Mount Whitney is already experiencing winter conditions, including snow and ice, very low temperatures, and frequent windstorms,” Inyo County Search and Rescue said in an online statement, “the Main Trail is no longer a casual hike but a mountaineering endeavor.”
Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the continental United States, towering 14,505 feet in elevation. Parts of the Main Trail are simple in the summertime, but much more treacherous in winter conditions.
California Highway Patrol helicopters were not able to reach the point where the hiker had fallen to on Saturday due to high winds, delaying the rescue mission by a full day. On Sunday, rescuers from Inyo County and Mono County were able to reach the deceased, but were unable to evacuate them again due to inclement weather.
Body Removed After Several Days
The hiker was finally removed from the mountain on Monday, October 27, and was brought to the Inyo County Coroner. “It is best not to make assumptions regarding the events leading to the recovery,” Inyo County Search and Rescue said in its statement, “our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of the subject.”
Mountain Has Deadly Past
This most recent incident marks at least the sixth death that has occurred on Mount Whitney over the past two years. Most fatalities have taken place along the Mountaineers Route, a steep and rocky terrain off of the Main Trail. The 99 Switchbacks portion of the mountain, though, is dangerous in its own right. “The 99 Switchbacks are especially icy and slippery and should not be attempted without proper equipment, experience, and preparation,” said Inyo County Search and Rescue.
The identity of the hiker remains unknown, but a bystander on the scene reported that he was a man from Chula Visa, California.
