"A recovery operation is underway after three hikers were found dead Monday near Devil's Backbone on Mount Baldy, California, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. At about 11:30 a.m. on December 29, the Fontana Sheriff's Station and volunteer Search and Rescue teams responded to a call regarding an injured 19-year-old male who had reportedly fallen roughly 500 feet from a ridgeline trail. The hiker's companion found cell service and provided GPS coordinates to rescuers."
"Ground crews began ascending the mountain while Sheriff's Air Rescue units launched an aerial search amid strong winds. During the search, deputies located the injured hiker and discovered two other individuals nearby. Authorities said all three were unresponsive. High winds prevented the helicopter from safely conducting a rescue operation. At approximately 7:30 p.m., an airship from Los Angeles County arrived to assist, allowing an air medic to be hoisted down to the site, where all three victims were confirmed deceased."
"Recovery efforts continued into the evening and have since turned into a technical recovery mission due to high winds and challenging terrain. Authorities have not yet identified the victims. Mount Baldy, one of the most popular peaks in Southern California, has been the site of multiple hiker fatalities in recent years, often linked to severe weather and icy conditions along exposed ridgelines like Devil's Backbone."
Rescuers responded about 11:30 a.m. on December 29 to reports of an injured 19-year-old who reportedly fell roughly 500 feet from a ridgeline trail on Mount Baldy; a companion provided GPS coordinates after finding cell service. Ground crews and Sheriff's Air Rescue units began searching amid strong winds and located the injured hiker plus two other nearby individuals, all unresponsive. High winds initially prevented a helicopter rescue; an LA County airship arrived about 7:30 p.m. and an air medic was hoisted down, where all three were confirmed deceased. Recovery shifted to a technical mission due to winds and terrain. Victims remain unidentified. Officials warn hikers to exercise extreme caution in winter. Tips can be reported to the Fontana Sheriff's Station at (909) 356-6767, Sheriff's Dispatch at (909) 387-8313, or anonymously via We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME or wetip.com.
Read at SnowBrains
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]