Magic in the Mountains

This article originally appeared on The Trek, which you can read here.

A hiker died on California’s Mount Whitney over the weekend after slipping and falling from the trail, according to Inyo County Search and Rescue. The organization mobilized a rescue team within hours of receiving a report of a possible fatality on the mountain last Saturday, according to a Facebook post from the agency.

Mobilizing a Recovery Mission

A hiker had reportedly slipped off the trail near the “99 switchbacks” and fallen from a cliff. Three rescuers coordinated with a California Highway Patrol helicopter to depart from Lone Pine to assist in the recovery effort. Due to high winds and severe weather, the attempt was postponed.

A second team mobilized the following day. After confirming the fatality, Inyo County Search and Rescue partnered with Mono County Search and Rescue to hike to the location of the incident. The hiker’s remains were recovered and moved to a more accessible location; however, inclement weather once again made helicopter extraction impossible. On Monday, October 27, the decedent was successfully airlifted from the mountain.

Tragedy at High Elevation

At this time, little is known about the deceased or the circumstances surrounding the fall. In its original Facebook post, Inyo County Search and Rescue stated, “It is best not to make assumptions regarding the events leading to the recovery.”

A commenter on the Facebook post claimed that he witnessed the hiker in distress. “On our descent down the mountain, I saw him and used Starlink via my iPhone to contact my father, who called the report in,” the user said. The Trek has not verified this claim. 

Mount Whitney is an iconic climb for both thru-hikers and day hikers. Standing at 14,505 feet, it is the highest summit in the lower 48 states. Many Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers take a side trip from the PCT to bag the legendary peak, and the John Muir Trail ends at its summit. Most day hikers begin on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada at the Whitney Portal trailhead and take the roughly 22-mile round-trip Mount Whitney Trail.

The incident on October 25 occurred approximately seven miles up the Mountain Whitney Trail along the 99 switchbacks.

This tragic incident is a sobering reminder that winter has already arrived in the high mountains. Inyo County Search and Rescue urged hikers to remember “that Mount Whitney is already experiencing winter conditions, including snow and ice, very low temperatures, and frequent windstorms.”

Hikers should always plan and prepare, but be ready to turn around if conditions become unsafe. High-alpine objectives are best put on hold until more favorable conditions return in the warmer months.

At this time of year, attempts to summit Mount Whitney and other high-elevation peaks should only be made by those with proper equipment, such as ice axes and crampons, and mountaineering experience.

Inyo County SAR

Inyo Search and Rescue is an all-volunteer, professional 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in cooperation with, and under the authority of, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office. To learn more about the organization and its work, visit its website or Facebook page.