Body of hiker found within 400 feet of Mount Whitney summit

"The hiker was discovered close to the summit of the mountain at the "final 400" of the mountaineering route. Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in the continental U.S., reaching 14,505 feet in elevation. Search and rescue officials said in the post the hiker had a hiking partner and they started their climb around 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 17. However, after 16 hours of climbing, one of the individuals decided to turn around."

""At approximately 3:30 p.m., while near the 12,500-foot elevation, one hiker determined it was safest to turn around and descend," search and rescue officials said in the post. "The second hiker continued ascending toward the summit." When the hiker who continued their ascent did not return by the following morning, the Inyo County Sheriff's Office and the Search and Rescue team were notified. They found the body of the deceased hiker on Monday afternoon."

A hiker who continued an overnight ascent of Mount Whitney was found dead near the summit's "final 400" feet after failing to return. The pair began their climb around 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 17; after about 16 hours, one hiker turned around near 12,500 feet and descended at approximately 3:30 p.m. The other hiker continued toward the summit and did not return the following morning. The Inyo County Sheriff's Office and Search and Rescue were notified and located the body on Monday afternoon. Mount Whitney reaches 14,505 feet in elevation. Winter conditions leave little margin for error, and many fatalities occur when individuals travel solo or when groups separate. Recent months included three deaths on Mount Baldy in December and another Mount Whitney fatality in November.

Read at SFGATE