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last mo.

Solo Hiker Found Dead on Mount Whitney After Partner Turned Back

Rescuers warn that winter attempts on Whitney require true mountaineering skills.

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Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous U.S., seen in 2023.
FILE: Morning sunlight over Mount Whitney, Oct. 8, 2014. The body of a hiker who went missing on Mount Whitney over the weekend was found Monday afternoon, officials said.
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Overview

  • Two hikers set out late Saturday; on Sunday near 12,500 feet one turned around as the other continued alone.
  • After the solo climber failed to return Monday, Inyo County Search & Rescue began a search with about six rescuers and a California Highway Patrol helicopter.
  • The helicopter crew located the body on the mountain’s north face below the “Final 400,” and teams completed the recovery.
  • Authorities have not released the hiker’s identity, and Tulare County was notified because the recovery site lies in its jurisdiction.
  • Officials note this is the third reported Mt. Whitney death this season and advise crampons, an ice ax, group travel, and satellite communicators for winter ascents.