"A teen has died after a fall while hiking on Mt. Baldy, and two other hikers were found dead nearby amid harsh weather conditions that have prevented authorities from recovering their bodies, officials said Tuesday. On Monday, Dec. 29 at about 11:30 a.m., rescuers with the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department and the Fontana Sheriff's Station responded to a request to find an injured 19-year-old hiker who reportedly had fallen roughly 500 feet near Devil's Backbone, the sheriff's department said in a news release."
"Mt. Baldy has been closed through Wednesday, Dec. 31, after the discovery of the three bodies as well as a rescue of two other hikers on Monday. The 19-year-old man's friend hiked to an area with cell service and provided GPS coordinates to rescuers, said Gloria Orejel, a department spokeswoman. During an aerial search, deputies located the injured hiker and the other pair of male hikers nearby. But powerful Santa Ana winds made it unsafe to land the rescue helicopter, officials said."
"At about 7:30 p.m. Monday, an airship from Los Angeles County assisted in the effort. Strong winds again prevented a hoist operation; however, an air medic was hoisted down and confirmed all three individuals were deceased. RELATED: Why Mt. Baldy can be deceptive, deadly for novice and skilled hikers alike Orejel didn't know yet the ages of the two other people discovered near the fallen hiker, but authorities don't believe the pair knew the 19-year-old."
On Dec. 29 rescuers located an injured 19-year-old who reportedly fell roughly 500 feet near Devil's Backbone on Mt. Baldy. Two other male hikers were found dead nearby during the aerial search. Powerful Santa Ana winds made it unsafe to land a rescue helicopter and prevented a hoist operation until an air medic was lowered and confirmed all three deceased. Mt. Baldy was closed through Dec. 31 after discovery of the bodies and the rescue of two other hikers. Separately, a San Bernardino County Air Rescue team hoisted two hikers near Ontario Peak, one of whom fell about 100 feet and was injured; the two called 911 around 1:44 p.m.
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