Tragedy after hiker kept climbing dangerous California mountain alone when friend turned back over treacherous conditions
A hiker tragically died alone while climbing a dangerous California mountain after their friend turned back because of the treacherous conditions. The Inyo County Search and Rescue (SAR) started searching for the unnamed hiker on Mount Whitney after a report came in on Monday stating they failed to return.The agency, which works under the authority of the local sheriff's office, said two hikers started climbing the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States around 11.30pm Saturday. By 3.30pm the following day, while near the 12,500ft elevation, one of the hikers turned around and descended after determining the conditions were too dangerous. The second person remained on the journey, ascending toward the summit, the SAR said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. But when that hiker failed to return the next morning, someone reported them to the Inyo County Sheriff's Office. The SAR immediately responded as six rescuers coordinated with the California Highway Patrol Inland Division helicopter out of Apple Valley to get to Mount Whitney. The chopper arrived by 2pm, and after an aerial and thorough search of the mountain, the hiker was located below the 'Final 400' stretch - a very steep chute along the route that is especially hard to navigate during the winter. A hiker tragically died after climbing California's Mount Whitney (pictured) all alone after their friend decided to turn back over treacherous conditionsThe person was pronounced dead at the scene and a second rescuer was flown in to assist with recovery operations. Fortunately, all rescuers returned home safely around 5.50pm Monday. The identity of the deceased hiker and their companion has not been released. The SAR stressed how dangerous Mount Whitney can be, as there have been multiple recent fatalities there and at California's Mount Baldy.For one, the agency said that trekking out to the mountains this time of year is not considered a hike, but 'serious mountaineering endeavors.' 'Winter conditions leave little margin for error, and the consequences can be severe. 'Additionally, many fatalities occur when individuals travel solo or when groups separate. If someone in your group expresses safety concerns, those concerns should be taken seriously,' officials said. The SAR also said that fatigue often affects a hiker's ability to explore safely. 'Extended periods of exertion negatively impact decision-making and increase the likelihood of missteps and falls. Knowing when to turn around can save lives,' they stated. The person was pronounced dead at the scene and a second rescuer was flown in to assist with recovery operations. The identity of the deceased hiker and their companion has not been released. (Pictured: File photo of hikers)The Daily Mail contacted the SAR for comment. The most recent death comes just about a month after an internet star was found dead after going missing while climbing the snowcapped peak. Joseph Brambila, 21, was reported missing on Mount Whitney on November 12, and police said a 'deceased individual' was uncovered in mid December. Brambila failed to return home after a birthday trip to Mount Whitney in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Hiker Luis Buenrostro is believed to have been the last person to see the missing adventurer and YouTube star on the 14,500-foot peak.He told the Los Angeles Times he believed Brambila was planning to take a shortcut to save time by glissading down the slope, which may have caused his death.By glissading - sliding down steep snow or ice on their butts - hikers can safely shave an hour off a treacherous mountain descent, if done in the right spot.But the practice is fraught with potentially deadly dangers and remains one of the leading causes of serious injury and death among mountaineers, according to the American Alpine Institute. The recent death comes just a month after internet star Joseph Brambila, 21, was found dead during a hike up Mount WhitneyJust the month before - during a season when the mountain is prone to sudden and severe blizzards - temperatures quickly plummeted, and Brambila reportedly planned to glissade to escape the cold.However, he was missing two key pieces of equipment - a helmet and ice axe - that could have mitigated some of the dangers of glissading, Buenrostro said.'He said he was gonna be good, so I thought, he's gonna be good,' he told the LA Times.Brambila vanished and hikers later reported spotting a body on the broad slope descending from Trail Crest.'He always said he loves to disconnect from the real world,' Darlene Molina, Brambila's girlfriend, told The Times. 'He just wanted to be out there and enjoy life,' she added.
