Three hikers have been found dead on the perilous slopes of Mount Baldy in Southern California, after fierce winds thwarted multiple attempts by rescue crews to reach them. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department confirmed the tragic discovery on Monday evening along the notorious Devil's Backbone trail.
Failed Rescue Attempts in Treacherous Conditions
The emergency response was triggered by a distress call placed at approximately 11:30am on Monday. A member of the hiking group reported that their 19-year-old companion had fallen an estimated 500 feet (150 metres) down a remote mountainside. The caller had managed to hike to an area with cellular service to provide GPS coordinates to the authorities.
A rescue helicopter crew located the injured hiker and two other individuals from the air. However, powerful winds made it impossible for the aircraft to land safely. A second landing attempt hours later was also unsuccessful due to the persistent dangerous conditions.
A Tragic Discovery on a Notorious Peak
It was not until around 7:30pm that a medic could be hoisted down from a helicopter to the scene. Sadly, all three individuals were pronounced dead upon arrival. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, and the official cause of death remains under investigation.
The bodies were found on the Devil's Backbone trail on Mount Baldy, a peak that rises over 10,000 feet just east of Los Angeles. This area is tragically familiar with hiking fatalities. The incident occurred near where actor Julian Sands died during a solo hike in January 2023. His body was discovered five months after he went missing.
A Dangerous History and Concurrent Rescues
The mountain has a grim record. In the same month Julian Sands vanished, another 15 hikers were reported lost, injured, or killed on Mount Baldy. The recent tragedy underscores the peak's enduring dangers.
In a stark illustration of the risks, the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department announced it had rescued two other hikers from a different trail on Mount Baldy on the same day. An 18-year-old and a 31-year-old man were aided after one of them fell more than 100 feet from the path.
Just last October, three 20-year-old men were rescued without injury near the Devil's Backbone after taking a wrong turn and becoming lost. These repeated incidents highlight the critical need for preparation and caution when tackling one of California's most challenging and unforgiving terrains.
