Three hikers found dead on California’s Mt Baldy

Three hikers, including a 19-year-old who fell approximately 500 feet (150m), have been found dead on Mt Baldy, a looming snow-capped mountain known to be one of the most dangerous to climb in Southern California.

Rescue workers found the 19-year-old dead and discovered two other dead hikers during the search, Jenny Smith, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, said during a news conference.

The other two dead hikers were not hiking with the teenager, and it is not clear how long they had been deceased on the mountain.

The teenager went hiking on 29 December with a friend who was able to call for help after the teen fell. The friend had to hike away from the fall site near the Devil’s Backbone trail to an area with cell reception and provided their GPS location to rescue crews, authorities said. That companion was unharmed.

Due to high winds, emergency crews were unable to complete a recovery operation by helicopter on Monday, but were able to recover the bodies on Tuesday.

Ms Smith said they’ve rescued five other hikers from the mountain over the last five days.

Rising 10,064 feet (3068m) in the San Gabriel Mountains, Mt Baldy – officially known as Mt San Antonio – has become one of the deadliest peaks in the United States.

More than 14 people have died on the mountain since 2020, including British actor Julian Sands in January 2023, although his remains were not found until five months later. More than 100 people have been rescued from the mountain since 2020.

Proximity to Los Angeles means Mt Baldy attracts experienced and inexperienced climbers, and authorities urged people to stay off the mountain, especially during such unpredictable winter weather.

“It is one of the most dangerous trails we have here in our area,” Ms Smith said of the Devil’s Backbone trail. “We don’t want novice hikers going up and hurting themselves.”

Southern California has been blanketed in rain and snow over the last week, but on 29 December, when the teen went hiking, the sun was shining, and the skies were blue with unusually clear visibility across the region.

Mt Baldy was visible across Southern California, with breathtaking views from as far away as Catalina Island.

The weather can change quickly on Mt Baldy, and conditions can be treacherous with snow and ice. Climbers venturing along the Devil’s Backbone trail are advised to carry crampons and ice axes.

Authorities have not identified the deceased hikers.

Trails on the mountain have been temporarily closed until the new year following the deaths and the repeated rescue responses. BBC