Southern California’s Mount Baldy has tragically claimed the lives of three hikers during a period of hazardous winter conditions, including a 19-year-old who fell approximately 500 feet (150 meters) while traversing one of the region’s most perilous peaks.
According to Jenny Smith, spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, rescue teams discovered the teenager’s body alongside two additional deceased hikers during search operations. The two other victims were not hiking with the teenager, and investigators have not determined how long they had been deceased on the mountain.
The tragic incident unfolded on December 29th when the teenager, accompanied by a friend, embarked on a hike despite clear visibility across the region. After the fatal fall near the Devil’s Backbone trail, the companion hiked to an area with cellular reception to alert emergency services, providing GPS coordinates that guided rescue teams to the location. The surviving hiker emerged physically unharmed.
Recovery operations faced significant challenges due to severe high winds that prevented helicopter extraction on Monday. The operation was successfully completed on Tuesday when conditions improved sufficiently for crews to retrieve all three bodies.
Mount Baldy, officially named Mount San Antonio, rises 10,064 feet (3,068 meters) in the San Gabriel Mountains and has gained notoriety as one of America’s deadliest peaks. The mountain’s proximity to Los Angeles attracts both experienced mountaineers and ill-prepared novices, creating a dangerous combination especially during unpredictable winter weather.
Authorities revealed that rescue teams have saved five other hikers from the mountain over the past five days alone. Since 2020, the mountain has claimed more than 14 lives, including British actor Julian Sands whose remains were discovered five months after his disappearance in January 2023. During the same period, over 100 individuals have required rescue from the treacherous peak.
In response to the recent tragedies and repeated emergency operations, authorities have temporarily closed all trails on Mount Baldy until the new year. Officials strongly advised against any hiking attempts during current conditions, particularly emphasizing the dangers of the Devil’s Backbone trail which Smith described as ‘one of the most dangerous trails in our area.’
Despite recent precipitation across Southern California, December 29th presented deceptively clear conditions with sunshine and exceptional visibility that extended to Catalina Island. However, Mount Baldy’s weather remains notoriously unpredictable, with conditions rapidly shifting to treacherous ice and snow that require specialized equipment including crampons and ice axes for safe passage.
The identities of the deceased hikers have not been released pending family notifications.